Whalley shoe firm expands into Manchester (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Whalley shoe firm expands into Manchester

9:06am Monday 26th October 2009 in

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A FASHION expert who brought “Sex and the City” glamour to East Lancashire is setting her sights on the Manchester glitterati after launching a glamorous new store.

Emma Stanworth, who grew up near Fence, opened Whalley boutique Poshu – where customers can pay £600 for a pair of shoes and £1,000 for a bag – three years ago.

Last week the 36-year-old, who now lives in Whalley Banks, branched out by opening a new store in upmarket Police Street, in Manchester.

The launch was attended by celebrities including current Miss England Rachel Christie, Coronation Street star Julia Haworth, and Waterloo Road actress Chelsee Healey.

Emma said: “It was a really exciting night because I have always wanted to branch out into a big city and Manchester seemed the perfect place.

"But Whalley was a great place to start because it is such a nice little place.

"And we have a big client base with people already coming from Manchester.”

Emma, who studied at Nelson and Colne, Burnley and Blackburn Colleges, decided on a change after working in human resources for much of her career.

She said Poshu had been well-received by Whalley residents, and attracted famous faces, including former footballer Lee Sharpe.

And with the credit crunch claiming a number of high-street victims in the past year, Emma said she was grateful her “luxury market” had not been affected so far.

She added: “We are a new business, which helps, but we have not noticed things dropping off in this market.

"Things have been really positive over the last few years.

"I have always been into fashion, and felt there was a niche in the market, helped by TV programmes like Sex and the City.

"Sometimes if you have a dream, you have just got to follow it, believe in it and be positive.”