Abi Neill

As an industry player and Business Coach, it’s been an amazing year with the retailers I’ve coached; picking up awards, increasing their conversion rates and literally SMASHING it! I was thrilled to be asked to present to all JA global retailers during their incredible Stylist Summit as well as judge the TWIA awards again. I also rolled out my new ‘Next Level Bridal’ coaching programme for retailers wishing to smash it out of the park in 2023! As a boutique owner, we’ve achieved our greatest ever annual unit sales number in 17.5 years in both Menswear and Bridal, which is incredible. We put this down to a combination of social media, marketing, sales training, strong labels and an absolute focus on our goals, targets and conversion rates.

Jo Stott

My personal industry highlight is of course the 100’s of incredible bridal stores and industry businesses I work with daily. But one particular store touched my heart in 2022.

A bridal store in Bolton, Manchester reached out to chat - not knowing too much about the work I do through our wonderful partnership with Maggie Sottero - but nevertheless asking for some help. We chatted over the phone and arranged a visit. I met with the owners, having a strategic management conversation about improving their bridal business of 30 years, and strengthening their current team towards brilliance.

The reason for their pivot in seeking advice and support from us was due to the untimely loss of their precious dad to Covid in November 2021. Devastated by his loss and wanting to keep his memory alive (so similar to my story and my reasons for entering bridal), I began working with this passionate family to rebuild, help redesign and create a change culture which is positive, emotive and successful.  

I have since visited this bridal store twice, coaching and training their lovely team. Their redesign of their store and rebrand is well underway, and they are due to reopen on 4th February 2023, with their new bridal name incorporating their precious dad’s initials. They stole my heart and I know they will achieve greatness because of their story and drive. 

Megan Garmers

In-person events: It was so great to see everyone back in full swing this year in person and have the conversations and connections in real life instead of just online.

Grace Bunk

To be honest, it’s so hard to choose just one. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time in the UK this year at both London and Harrogate markets. We have also enjoyed some incredible conversations this year with designers, manufacturers, and markets. If there is anything that “fills up our cup”, it’s the opportunity to expand our perspective. Our goal has always been to pull back the curtain and do better business and we are grateful for the opportunities we have had this year to sit down with so many sides of this industry. On a personal note, I have 54 expired boarding passes in my phone from this year, which I think that says it all. It really is such a privilege to get to know more and more of this industry and I know that the best is yet to come.

Maria Musgrove-Wethey 

For Pantiles Bride, it was being shortlisted for Bridal Buyer’s Long Standing Retailer award and having a glittering evening at Awards night. For Get Savvy it was being given the opportunity to meet and help bridal retailers as part of Bridal Buyer’s Business Advice Clinics at both London and Harrogate. 

Anna Hare

Buying face to face again has been fabulous, and for me personally, Bridal Week Harrogate Harrogate was an all-time best. There was a really incredible array of designers, both longstanding and brand new to the UK market and the choice for us as retailers has never been so vast. Seeing so many familiar faces and catching up with industry friends was long overdue, I loved it!

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