What inspired you to open your own boutique?

My journey founding Confetti began in June 2019 when my best friend asked me to be her chief bridesmaid. This is an honour held by many women across the world and I was so happy to accept, therefore I said yes immediately.

However, following my initial excitement, my thoughts turned to what I would wear for the big day. I could not have imagined that it would be such an uphill struggle. We visited a plethora of stores in search of the perfect dress and repeatedly left empty-handed.

I also had 15 years’ experience in the bridal industry alongside fabric development and production, so after experiencing this niche gap in the market that I could fill, I decided to go for it and open my own shop.

Read More: Starting or Enhancing A Bridal Business

Can you tell us more about the offering at Confetti Bridesmaid?

We pride ourselves in offering a personal service together with excellent knowledge of bridesmaid dresses. We want to offer all of our bridesmaids a comfortable and memorable shopping experience while finding the perfect outfit to compliment their wedding party.

We have a selection of beautiful, high-quality dresses from designers from all around the world. Each offers a diverse range of sizes, styles and colours to suit everyone. All of our dresses are elegantly crafted and expertly fitted with sizes ranging from 8-18 with prices starting from £215-£700.

How was the business set up?

When coming up with the business structure and setting up the shop I had to consider the needs of all women. I had to consider everyone’s individual shapes, personalities and tastes as no bridesmaid should be asked to wear something they don’t feel comfortable in.

Following this, I had to go out and scout brands that would suit my business idea. Discovering new brands and purchasing stock was probably one of the most enjoyable parts for me - who knew there were so many inclusive, fashionable bridesmaid’s brands out there!

However, one of the more challenging elements of setting the business up was finding the perfect location. I always knew I wanted a split-level premise but it still had to be perfect.

However, after visiting over 20 locations, I found the perfect spot which is situated in a wonderful and exciting new space in south-west London.

Read More: How to Host a Successful Event in Your Bridal Boutique

How did you decide what your shop would look like?

I really loved the look and feel of EL&N in London and I took a lot of inspiration from this. However, I knew that no matter what I did it had to be ‘Instagrammable’ and look good on social media. I found most of my inspiration on Pinterest – I pinned over 20 boards and when I gathered all the elements I liked, I merged them together to create my vision.

What sort of marketing have you done prior to the opening of your boutique?

Firstly, I set up a Google My Business account, as this will help me engage with my customers on Google for free. I then created social media pages including Facebook and Instagram to get more exposure and traffic for the boutique. I’m also currently working on a website for my business which is under construction - I’m hoping it will be live in the next few weeks. In addition to all of this, on the 13^th February, I will also be hosting a launch party for friends, family, industry professionals and the press.

How do you generate appointments?

We are already seeing an interest in the boutique via our social media channels and I am hoping that once we have the website up and running, we will get many of our appointments through there. In addition to this, I have also invested some money into digital marketing and I am already reaping the benefits.

Read More: Getting the Word Out About Your Shop

Where do you see your business in five years’ time?

In five years’ time, I hope the business will be a huge success, so much so that we are able to move to a larger premise or open a second shop. I also want to extend the offering in my boutique with more styles from international fashion brands.

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