R E TA I L
A FLAIR
FOR FASHION
Guisborough’s newest clothing store - Solo Boutique - opened its doors to rave reviews in
September. Solo is the brainchild of Normanby-based Helen Oliver – a former fashion buyer
who wanted to open a shop specifically aimed at the over-40s' lady who wants to look
fabulous without breaking the bank. Tees Life discovered more….
Hi Helen, congratulations on your new
venture! How are things going?
It’s going amazingly well. The customers are
loving the shop and I’ve had an amazing and
positive response.
Why Solo?
I decided to open the shop because I felt
there was a huge gap in the market for
everyday wear at decent prices for women
over 40. The high street tends to cater mainly
for the younger market - think Topshop,
River Island etcetera - or slightly older, such
as Marks and Spencer and Debenhams.
Myself and so many of my friends feel like
we fall somewhere in the middle. Zara is
great but we don’t have one nearby. There
are some good websites but a lot of women
over a certain age just don’t feel comfortable
shopping online and prefer to go into a
shop and try things on and get the customer
service.
SOLO
Do you have a fashion background?
Yes, I was the womenswear buyer at Psyche
in Middlesbrough for 29 years so I have had
a lot of experience in womenswear and feel I
have a good idea what women want clothing
wise.
What’s so different about Solo Boutique?
Instead of having sizes, 90 per cent of the
stock in Solo Boutique is one size and the
concept really works. One size fits roughly
size 8 to 10 up to a 16 or occasionally up to
size 18 to 20. All the pieces are chosen by
me and are very versatile. They can be worn
to work, on lunch dates or dressed up with
heels for a Friday night in the pub.
And at incredibly reasonable prices…
Oh yes, all my clothes come at guilt-free
prices!
What are your best sellers so far?
My best sellers are jersey tops and super-soft
knits. Animal print is working well at the
moment too. I also have a great selection of
scarves and jewellery and will be offering gift
vouchers soon, ready for Christmas.
BOUTIQUE
WOMENSWEAR
Opening hours
Open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm
2 Church St | Guisborough | TS14 6BS
Tel 075701 10722
SOLO Boutique
Soloboutiquewomens
tees-life.co.uk
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