An antiques dealer who lost her business in a huge mill fire last week has revealed she will have to start from scratch.
Nina’s Apartment was one of at least six businesses hit by the blaze at Lethenty Mill, north of Inverurie, last Thursday.
Yesterday owner, Nina Eggans, said she was going back to the drawing board as she looks to the future of the business – left a “shell” of what it was.
More than 50 firefighters battled the blaze at the historic mill after it broke out at about 4.20am on the day.
Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
The Garioch mill was described as a “community of craftsmen” following the blaze.
Along with Mrs Eggan’s premises, Lethenty Cabinetmakers, Cinecosse, Lethenty Mill Furniture, Joss Engineering and Jim King Autotune were all badly damaged.
Mother-of-two Mrs Eggans sold vintage furniture and home decor, and estimated some £10,000 worth of stock had been lost in the fire – including Scandinavian items from the 1960s.
The 37-year-old yesterday returned to the mill to inspect the damage, having not been there since Thursday.
She the loss was “slowly sinking in” and added she would receive no compensation as her insurance policy did not cover her for fires.
She added: “There is nothing left of my shop, there is nothing recognisable as stock. Unfortunately at this time I had quite a few valuable pieces in it.
“Some parts of the building are OK, parts of the cabinetmakers is salvageable. My shop is a shell, my whole place is gone.
“My time has been there. People have been really kind. People are incredibly supportive up here when things happen.
“They have offered storage space, I have been offered stock and even some business owners have offered me space to trade again or a corner of their shop.
“I am looking at my options. I think I am going to take the summer off. I have got a few events planned, a few vintage fairs, I am just going to stock up and go to the fairs and trade online.
“I am determined I am not going to give up, it is not in my system.”
Police and the fire and rescue service have teamed up for a joint investigation into the blaze.
