Crossword Genius

Herb had years to build shop (12)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

haberdashery

'shop' is the definition.
(haberdashery is a kind of shop)

'herb had years to build' is the wordplay.
'to build' indicates anagramming the letters.
'herb'+'had'+'years'='herbhadyears'
'herbhadyears' with letters rearranged gives 'HABERDASHERY'.

(Other definitions for haberdashery that I've seen before include "Sewing accessories" , "Pins and needles etc." , "Buttons, thread, etc." , "shop" , "Buttons and bows etc" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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