Taking a chance on dressing up

Despite opening during the recession, women's boutique Bow & Pearl in Ranelagh village in Dublin has become popular with fashionistas countrywide.

What sets your business apart from competition?

A unique shopping experience. We do that by looking after the interior and merchandising. We very much focus on the visual aspect of the store to make the experience as memorable as possible for customers. We have a lot of colour in the shop and choose collections that are colourful and bright. Having a boutique shopping experience at an affordable price also sets us apart. We are offering the customer prices that are competitive with the high street.

Our staff is also a huge part of the shopping experience: we have fantastic staff and we wouldn’t be able to do it without them.

The best business advice you've ever received?

The most important piece of advice was to create a unique brand identity. We are aware of our competitors but we do not follow them. We do what is right for our brand and our customers.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in business?

We like to think of mistakes as learning curves, everyone has to make mistakes to learn and we have learned a lot over the past six years. We did too much at the start. We were very eager to succeed, especially in the middle of a recession. We said yes a lot and it’s important to say no and to do what’s right for the business. It’s important to focus on the thing that will make your business succeed.

Major success to date?

Remaining in business for six years through the recession is a major success. The boutique business is a difficult industry and we feel grateful every day to still have our doors open. Every customer we make happy is a success.

Who do you admire in business and why?

It’s a more country than a person. We stock a number of Danish brands and often attend trade shows in Denmark and we are always amazed and inspired by the efficiency and consistency in how they conduct their business. Everything is carried out with such precision and accuracy. The professional service they give in business is admirable and something we strive to do. Their deliveries are always on time and their customer service is great, they have a professional service from beginning to end.

Are Irish banks open for business with SMEs?

Yes we believe so, once you have a plan in place with an original idea and realistic figures, the banks will be willing to work with you.

What one piece of advice would you give the government to help stimulate the economy?

Lower the VAT rate, which would make it more enticing for start-up retailers. The rates are also exceptionally high and are a struggle for many businesses.

What has been the biggest challenge you have had to face?

We opened up in 2010 in the height of the recession so the biggest challenge was getting through the first year of business. Luckily our affordable price point was what customers were looking for so we managed to stay afloat and continue on. We are so grateful to be here six years on.

How do you see the short-term future of the business?

Our overall goal is to increase sales. We are linking up with events that are happening until the end of the summer and building social media campaigns around them. The races are very big and we sell a lot of dresses and hats so we are doing social media campaigns and competitions. We have a newsletter we send out every week so we focus our newsletter on these events. We are showcasing a few Irish milliners which is really exciting. July can be quiet in retail and we have to think of ways of getting business in the door. We are focusing on social media and our website and putting a lot of work into that, trying to increase traffic to the website and increase social media followers. We hope that will increase sales.

What’s your business worth and would you sell it?

There isn’t a value we could put on Bow & Pearl, we do it for the love of the business, nothing more.