Bridal buyer

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FAST TALKING

How has business been so far this year?

Better than last year! It started well in January and February,

March was quieter than we would have liked but it has been

steady since.

What are your best-selling styles?

Lace is still doing well, with high necklines and jackets

being popular. Our best-sellers are totally different ends of

the spectrum, one being a fi tted lace with a high neckline

and the other being a corset bodice with full-netted skirt.

What is the average price of dresses sold?

£1,000

What are the most in-demand styles and fabrics?

Lace or chiffon, mermaid or full princess with a dropped

waist.

What are the most popular options for bridesmaid

dresses?

Vintage pastels with girls going for matching dresses but in

different colours - pinks, greens, pale blues – defi nitely full

length chiffon has been most popular.

How confi dent are you feeling about the rest of the year?

Very – the new collections we have coming in in August have

been really well received on our designer preview days so I

think it will improve by the end of the year.

How has business been so far

this year?

A little unpredictable. Sales vary

week-by-week and there’s no real

pattern like there used to be.

What are yourbest-selling

styles?

I have just walked into my

storeroom and had a look through,

because it is always diffi cult to tell.

I would say a lot of girls walk in

wanting to try on the fi shtail look

because that’s what they are seeing

in the magazines and possibly

that’s how they dream of how they

would like to look but many don’t

end up buying that look. We sell

all styles and sizes. As for average

price, I have seen that drop this

year. Last year it was more than

£1,200, but this year so far I would

say it’s around £1,000 to £1,100. I

have noticed more girls out there

asking for the cheaper gowns too.

What are the most in-demand

styles and fabrics?

If you’d have asked me last year it

was lace, but now I am often told “I

don’t want lace, anything but lace”.

Tulle is making a bit of a return

SHARON HIGGS FROM JUST A DAY

BRIDAL IN IPSWICH, SUFFOLK

Opened: First shop launched in 1993, but

Just a Day moved into its second store in 1997

and into its present location two and a half years ago.

Stocks: Justin Alexander, Justin Alexander Signature,

Sincerity, Sweetheart, Mark Lesley, Lou Lou, Mori Lee,

Kenneth Winston (Private label by G) and soon Dona

Solado. On bridesmaids Just a Day stocks Dessy, Mark

Lesley and Private label by G

with organza and girls seem to

want big again.

Bridesmaids?

Pale pink, pale green, pale grey,

pale peach, and of course purple is

still there.

How confi dent do you feel about

the rest of the year?

Pretty positive after picking my

new collection of dresses in London

and, seeing new things coming

through, I am looking forward to

them arriving in October. I have

put into action some new things

in the shop to help create positive

footfall, which hopefully will turn

into sales. The staff and I have

decided together that a quiet week

is not a negative time and we must

use it for training and look on it

as time to improve. We also launch

our new website within the next

couple of weeks, that is good too.

I would guess quite a few bridal

stores have seen a change in their

sales fi gures over the last couple

of years as there is no pattern

anymore. I believe we must stay

positive and confi dent and look for

new and modern ways to improve.

DEBI REIDY-BOND, OWNER OF

BURY BRIDAL ROOMS, IN

BURY ST EDMUNDS, SUFFOLK

Opened: August 2011

Stocks: Kenneth Winston, Ella Rosa, Grace

Harrington, Fulara & Zywczyk and Eden Bridals

SUFFOLK

SUFFOLK

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