Graham Norton helped give my Poulton business a boost this week - here’s how
A Poulton shop owner has revealed how a light-hearted experiment with artificial intelligence helped boost his business.
Peter Starbuck, owner of Best Friends Gifts shared an image on social media appearing to show TV favourite Graham Norton visiting his shop.
The post quickly gained traction prompting a flood of messages from people convinced the presenter had genuinely popped in.
Mr Starbuck later confirmed the image was AI-generated though he said the reaction had exceeded all expectations.
Several earlier attempts using cartoon-style images and other celebrities had fallen flat, but the Graham Norton image proved strikingly realistic.
He said: “It was just a fun post. January is always a quiet month, so I was just thinking about how I could get a bit of interest and traction on the page and hopefully get customers through the door.
“I’d been experimenting with AI and tried cartoon characters and a few celebrities, but they didn’t really work.
“When I tried Graham Norton, the image came out really realistic, that’s why people genuinely thought he’d been in the shop.”
As speculation grew, customers contacted the shop asking whether the broadcaster had really visited and what he might have bought.
Peter Starbuck said he later posted again to clarify the situation, choosing to address it in a playful way that kept the tone light-hearted.
He said: “I started getting loads of messages asking if he’d really visited and what he’d bought. It was never meant to mislead anyone, it was just a bit of fun, but it definitely did its job.
Best Friends Gifts has been trading in Poulton for 13 years and sells a wide range of items, including handmade glass vases and novelty gifts.
He said: “Best Friends Gifts has been going for about 13 years now. We sell all sorts, from fun gifts to handmade glass vases and I try to support independent makers as much as I can.
“January is hard for everybody, so if doing something a bit different helps bring people into the shop, then it’s worth trying.”
He said the response showed how modern technology, when used creatively and responsibly, can help independent businesses stand out - particularly at a time when many are struggling with reduced footfall.