It is already a famous name among north-east traders, and now the reputation of Banff’s Spotty Bag Shop has spread worldwide.
Joan Spruce has been travelling from her native Falkland islands for almost half a century to pick up items she cannot find back home.
And the 68-year-old always makes a point of stocking up on the famous sturdy spotty bags, so she can put them to good use in all kinds of ways.
The far-flung fan been making the 8,000 mile trip from the Falklands to her Fordyce holiday home every summer for 24 years.
She said: “We are famous for penguins down here, and both my husband, Terry, and I have casual work in the summer with tourists.
“We always have a spotty bag in the rucksack, ready to whip out at a moment’s notice.
“I don’t really know why the Spotty Bag shop is so popular – I think in a way it was a sort of fascinating Aladdin’s cave originally. It was almost an entertainment to go there.
“I could do about 20 minutes up and down some of the aisles then have to go out for fresh air to re-orientate myself before going inside for another session.
“Nowadays, we can buy a huge range of items in the Islands, but there is always stuff to buy on our UK shopping list. The spotty bags are used as packaging for things in the boxes and are reused in the islands for a multitude of purposes.”
Des Cheyne, the owner of the Spotty Bag Shop, said he counted Mrs Spruce as one of his most devoted customers.
“We know it’s special and it’s incredible to think that people in the Falklands are aware of it now.
“People come from miles around to visit us, but I think 8,000 miles must be a record – unless of course someone knows differently.”