FAMILY-run businesses have unique strengths.

In fact, according to the Institute for Family Business (IFB), there are around three million family firms in the UK.

Tailor Made was established by a team of two sisters, and their husbands.

The idea was hatched by the family collectively.

Hamid Hussain and Naveed Hussain said: “During our research we found that there are many shops in the Blackburn and East Lancashire area that sell ready-made clothes, and fabric from the Indian sub-continent.

“However, there were not very many who sell everything associated with haberdashery, crafts, wedding accessories, and clothes, all under one roof.

“If you are a budding fashion designer, a design student, or just someone who enjoys making their own clothes and making your own alterations, it’s always a struggle finding simple materials.

“Also, if your child wanted craft items to make something for a school play or art project, we found there wasn’t anywhere locally to source these things. “Hence the idea for Tailor Made was born.”

Thrifty and innovative fashion has certainly become a by-product of the recession, a concept that Tailor Made has capitalised on. “Tailor Made stocks a wide array of items for the would-be designer, the seamstress or tailor – from the basic picker, or measuring tape, to the more exquisite things, such as hand-embroidered silk and cotton lace, motifs, buttons, cuff links and threads in more than 200 colours.

“We also provide a button-making service.

“This is very popular for traditional Asian clothes in particular.

“The customer brings in the fabric and we make you up the buttons. “The same is for cuff links for men.

“Glass and stone diamontes are also very popular, and are the simple way to add bling to an outfit.

“We also stock items that children need for art and crafts, including colourful beads, wool, crochet cotton, fabric glue, felt, glitter and glitter glue. We even receive requests from pastry chefs for cake ribbons.

“In effect, we sell pretty much most items associated with haberdashery and crafts.

“And if we don’t have it, we will strive our best to source it, and buy it for our customers. It’s that personal service that keeps our customers coming back.”

Any successful business today must create a unique appeal in the current market, an ethos adhered to by Tailor Made.

“For us Tailor Made is home to thousands of items associated with haberdashery and crafts, clothes, sewing and weddings. Our most recent addition to Tailor Made is ready-made outfits from the Indian sub-continent, which has been hugely popular with our customers.

“We aim to become the one-stop shop for all things relating to creativity and making things.

“Almost like the Whalley Range’s answer to Hobbycraft.

“Tailor whatever you want made. That is what the name stands for.”