Hania McIntyre, the lady behind Carlisle’s former independent shop Beau Boutique is moving onwards and upwards in an online direction as she steps out of her shop unit and into the virtual world of online retailing.She opened Beau Boutique in 2010 with the intention of offering the people of Carlisle more than what your average high-street store can.
Hania said:"I wanted to open a shop since 2004 when I was at Uni studying Business. I have always shopped online or in different places as I like something different to the high street so thought a boutique would be nice.
I wanted to offer a nice environment with good service and to bring labels that celebrities wear that are affordable."
Hania did this specifically by stocking celebrity fashion in the form of day dresses and casual items, through to the more statement pieces for occasions and more glam events.
These include: Sugarhill Boutique, Jovonna London, Jovonnista, Ruby Rocks, Helen Rochfort and Hybrid Fashion.
"I have been online since Summer 2011 and by the end of last year it was slowly starting to pick up whereas the shop was getting quieter. I decided to see how Christmas went and when it was really quiet I thought, 'Why have the overheads and travelling when I can do it online only?" explains Hania.
Having recently shut the shop in Carlyle Court on the 16th March, Hania now has a lot more freedom, a lot less travelling, and the ease of working from home! With this, she is now experimenting in a new and exciting way with her stock and the labels she carries.
Besides running the online version of the shop, in the same way Ann Summers do the infamous Ann Summers parties, Hania is now looking at doing clothes parties with her items. She currently has a few bookings for May.
“I am really looking forward to doing the clothes parties as they are a new and different venture for me. The service will be personal and any requirements will be arranged before the party," says Hania.
The parties are free and Hania is prepared to travel around Carlisle and Dumfries and Galloway in the initial stages.
The host is entitled to a 20% discount on the stock they purchase at the party, and the other guests get a slight discount for attending.
The age of the group, the sizes and the styles within the party are all discussed prior to the event so Hania can bring the right stock with her.
"For my first party in Carlisle the girl says her and her friends are going on holiday and they are all in their early 20s, so I showed her my new stock by AX Paris and it's exactly what they are looking for. I will take some of the other labels that I think they might like," says Hania.
The parties are free and Hania is prepared to travel around Carlisle and Dumfries and Galloway in the initial stages.
The host is entitled to a 20% discount on the stock they purchase at the party, and the other guests get a slight discount for attending.
The age of the group, the sizes and the styles within the party are all discussed prior to the event so Hania can bring the right stock with her.
"For my first party in Carlisle the girl says her and her friends are going on holiday and they are all in their early 20s, so I showed her my new stock by AX Paris and it's exactly what they are looking for. I will take some of the other labels that I think they might like," says Hania.
Alongside the clothes parties, Hania is also keen to get involved with clothes shows to show off her ranges and get them into the public eye in a different way.
She is at the Girls Day Out event this weekend in Glasgow (21st/22nd April), where she will be doing her best to promote her new ranges, her current stock, and get people interested and involved about her exciting party service!
Hania added: "I am also taking part in a charity fashion show at Austin Friars this Friday. I organised one myself on 23rd March for Dumfries Neo Natal unit and raised £700. I plan to make this a regular event and have got together with a few local businesswomen to arrange one for September in aid of Breast Cancer awareness."
She is at the Girls Day Out event this weekend in Glasgow (21st/22nd April), where she will be doing her best to promote her new ranges, her current stock, and get people interested and involved about her exciting party service!
Hania added: "I am also taking part in a charity fashion show at Austin Friars this Friday. I organised one myself on 23rd March for Dumfries Neo Natal unit and raised £700. I plan to make this a regular event and have got together with a few local businesswomen to arrange one for September in aid of Breast Cancer awareness."
The beauty about Hania’s stock is that the pieces are all affordable so the customer feels as if they are getting a really good item, with first class customer service,and it hasn’t broke their bank.
As well as the current labels (previously mentioned) that she stocks, Hania is also getting involved with more labels, and she is venturing further than clothes alone.
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| Ruby Rocks 'Sophie' (available July) |
For next month, Hania has ordered several beauty buys!
"I plan to bring in velcro sleeprollers and the lip tattoos as well as looking into false lashes," says Hania.
What this means is that the ladies of Carlisle and the surrounding areas, can see first hand how the products really work before they buy them should they book a party with Hania, and they will then have somewhere to purchase that previously unavailable item close to home!
Watch this space and best of luck to Hania!
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