Inverness wardrobe women add touch of style to awards shortlist
A new venture between two businesswomen is turning out to be a real glad rags to riches story for themselves – and their customers.
Maggie Blyth and Suzi Stewart opened their boutique dedicated to second-hand designer clothing and accessories in Inverness city centre just seven months ago.
They have now been shortlisted for two awards in the finals of Highland Business Women’s Club Awards - the Best New Business and the Most Enterprising Business.
"We are overwhelmed and very proud to be short-listed at this stage with a start-up business," Ms Stewart said. "It is fantastic."
Based in Drummond Street, the Maggie and Suzi Boutique allows women to make money from top-quality items which would otherwise languish in their wardrobes.
According to research, the majority of women have at least seven pieces of clothing in their wardrobes they have never worn.
"I would say that is a very conservative estimate," Ms Stewart said. "Further research shows women wear 20 per cent of their wardrobe 80 per cent of the time."
The shop does not buy the clothes but sells them on behalf of clients who either receive 40 per cent commission of the final sale price by bank transfer, or 60 per cent if they choose to spend in store.
They accept items with labels such as Vivienne Westwood and Gucci as well as some High Street designers including Hobbs, Kaliko, Coast and Whistles but not fashion shop labels.
Previously, Ms Blyth ran a boutique in Beauly which featured a "pre-loved" collection while Ms Stewart worked in sales and marketing for Sky TV in Northern Ireland and in London. She also ran an on-line business, What’s In Your Wardrobe.
After deciding to join forces, the pair found premises in the city’s Old Town. "Taking a risk to open in the Old Town is quite massive when you look at the number of empty premises but people, when they find us, do come back again and again which is fantastic," Ms Stewart said.
"We are doing really well. It is a gorgeous shop with lots of original features."
As well as taking clothes by prior appointment, the shop also takes deliveries of items from other parts of the UK, Ireland and the South of France.
They also take the collection out on the road to places such as Skye and are planning to set up an on-line shop later this year.
* The Highland Business Highland Business Women’s Club Awards ceremony will be held on Friday, March 18 at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness.
