MUSE Womenswear has its sights set on expansion beyond just fashion after being crowned Lancashire Telegraph Small Business of the Year.
The store was founded in the up-and-coming market town of Ramsbottom by Amanda Heath in 2005, aimed at 30 to 50-year-olds who were fed up having to travel into Manchester to be served by "aloof sales assistants".
Like many fledgling companies, Muse encountered problems such as overstocking, having no system in place for recording what lines were selling well, and having three accountants in the first 12 months.
Miss Heath used knowledge gained from her masters degree in business management to overcome these problems, developing a stock management system, and finding a new accountant.
It was spotting these weaknesses and acting upon them, as well as Muse's clear rationale, continued growth, and focus on customers, which won the business the award.
Miss Heath said: "I'm absolutely shocked. I truly never thought I'd win because I was up against such great businesses such as the Fat Giraffe.
advertisement
"That I'm in such good company makes winning the award even more special.
"I think a lot of the success lies in the fact that customers respond well to a more personal and friendly service."
Muse met a niche demand for high-quality and designer womenswear in the North West outside of cities.
Mum-of-one Miss Heath travels to London and Paris several times a year to buy new the latest designer lines, and attract new clients.
Muse was chosen as an outlet for some of the world's top designers, including Nicole Farhi, and dressmaker to the stars Alice Temperley.
Earlier this year the shop was also chosen among only a handful of retailers in the North to stock Hudson Jeans, favoured by Hollywood stars including Angelina Jolie, Sienna Miller and Jessica Simpson.
A key area of the business which Miss Heath is keen to drive forward is its online store.
The online business is still very much in its infancy, but has already attracted customers from across the UK and as far away as Los Angeles.
Another long-term aim of the company is to set up its own fashion label, with in-house designers producing clothes for sale in the shop, and in other outlets.
And Miss Heath has plans to grow the business by branching out into lifestyle products.
"I've got big plans for the next couple of years," she said, "to make Muse more of a woman's lifestyle boutique, selling make-up and perfumes, as well as clothes.
"Since I opened, the highs have been highs and the lows have been lows, but it's great to get recognition for the successes."
She credits the Ramsbottom business community for giving her support.
Miss Heath said: "Ramsbottom is a good place to have a small business because the town is built on them, and that gives you a support network.
"East Lancashire as a whole has great business potential because of those sort of networks."
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
