Essential Shops is the brainchild of married couple, and parents-of-two, Sean and Chrissy Proctor and has now expanded so much that it has five separate online stores and is about to move into new premises, three times the size of its existing one.

In a market as competitive as the board game one, Essential Shops has managed to establish itself in the top five Google hits when you type in 'board games'.

Mr Proctor said: "Winning two awards doesn't change anything in some respects but to be honest I don't think I've ever been so proud because it gives you a little reward for the effort you've put in over the years.

"When someone gives you a pat on the back for what you achieve, it's great."

Mrs Proctor added: "Hopefully this year we can build on last year and keep pushing forward. We have lots of ideas we want to put in place."

Plan X, an internet consultancy business, is also run by Mr Proctor and it is down to him that his and Mrs Proctor's Essential Shops venture has gained such a firm foothold in the markets it is attacking.

Essential Bits was the first of the five, with Essential Board Games, Essential Toys, Essential Crafts and Essential Dress-Up following close behind.

Essential Bits supplies household goods and the rest each do what the title says.

They aim to have two more set up by the end of the year and a further three in place during 2009, and that has sparked the plans to move from Hollands Business Centre to a new development at Maple Park in Falconer Road.

It is certainly a far cry from the early days of the business when stock was piled high in their conservatory at home, the hallway was set up for dispatch and labelling was done in the lounge.

derek.bish@haverhillecho.com