Boutique Opening Times:Monday Tuesday
9:00am-5:30pm Wednesday - Closed Thursday Friday
9:00am-5:30pm Saturday
9:00am-5:00pm Sunday - Closed |
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Boutique Magazine, November 2010, Issue 1 INTERVIEW, pg.16&17 |
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Boutique Magazine, November 2010, Issue 1
INTERVIEW, pg.16&17
‘Girls just wanna have fun’
Bunty and Co. epitomises happiness and nostalgia in hooded tops and t-shirts. Gemma Ward meets founder Nicola Scott to discover the brand’s story…
With its tongue-in-cheek prints, girlie colour palette and ethical production process, it’s easy to see why the first Bunty and Co. collection sold out when it was first unveiled at the Clothes Show Live 2008. But for founder Nicola Scott, who also owns the Bunty and Co. boutique in North Yorkshire, the designs are merely an extension of her fun-loving personality.
At just 29-years-old, Scott (or ‘Bunty’, as she is fondly known) runs her store by day and burns the midnight oil designing her own clothing range by night. And even though she admits that running the two businesses is extremely hard work, she wouldn’t have it any other way: “I’m doing what I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember” she says.
In just four years, her store - which is located in the market town of Pocklington - has gone from strength to strength. Having gained a cult following in the area, it attracts a wide range of customers “from teens to yummy mummies and even some women aged 60-plus.” But while her customer’s ages are diverse, they share one thing in common: their desire to find something different. And that’s exactly what Bunty and Co. has got down to a tee.
Set over two floors, the 600sq ft shop is compact. However, what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in “hidden gems.” And with its “nicely cluttered” interior with stock lovingly positioned on every surface, Scott has succeeded in her aim to create a treasure trove that “people want to explore.”
Inside story
Equipped with an indisputable talent for creativity, the owner designed its interior herself, aiming to create a welcoming and homely vibe where her customers would, above all, feel comfortable and relaxed enough to “rummage around”. Scott explains: “The boutique itself is like a little house. I wanted people to feel like they’re browsing through a friend’s wardrobe when they come in. There’s a Louis XIV style fireplace, a chaise longue, French-style armoires instead of rails and dressing tables. In fact, it’s just like somebody’s bedroom.”
This personal touch is also reflected in Scott’s relationship with her customers. At present, the boutique stocks over 20 clothing brands including the likes of Maison Scotch, Traffic People, Numph and Lisa Jayne Dann. But the list gets tweaked every season, with Scott relying on her customers to tell her what they do like and answering truthfully when she asks them about something that they don’t. “Our customers come to us because they know they can’t get what we offer anywhere else in the area,” says Scott. “I try to find labels that offer something different and we specialise in local independent designers as well as small Danish brands.”
Indeed the flexibility of partnering with independent labels means that Bunty and Co. can offer its customers special one-off pieces made in “different colours or fabrics.” Moreover, as Scott only buys a limited amount of the same item, her customers can rest in the knowledge that they are highly unlikely to turn up at a local event wearing the same outfit as another attendee. Whereas for extra special occasions, such as school proms and weddings, the owner keeps a list of who has bought which dress so she can inform other customers before they make a purchase. “We’re a very chatty shop,” she says. “I like to speak to people, help them put outfits together and ask for their feedback. Interaction and having a good relationship with your customers is important because they’re ultimately who you’re going to be selling to.”
Label of love
But it wasn’t customer service that originally inspired Scott to open her own boutique. In fact, it was actually a lifelong desire to launch her own clothing label.
After completing a BA in Textile and Design at the Leeds College of Art and Design, the young designer began working as a returns administrator for award winning retailer, Sarah Coggles. And after going up the ranks for three years, Scott was eventually given the chance to design for the store: “When I saw the positive reaction my designs got, I realised that I wanted to be doing it for myself,” she says. And knowing that her own shop would be the perfect platform for a label, she went with her instincts as soon as the right premises came along.
Scott initially began adding embellishments to garments and customising pieces to sell alongside other independent labels. But she eventually realised that there simply wasn’t enough time in the day to do both. “So I started designing prints instead,” she says “And found a manufacturer and an agent.”
Soft launch
Made up completely of casual hoodies and t-shirts, the first Bunty and Co. range sprang from the idea of school-time doodles that Scott thought would “allow people to revisit their youth in an acceptable way.” Her first design - an illustration of ‘Bunty’ emblazoned with the words, ‘Bunty loves you… more than tea xx’ – remains the brand’s best seller. And after just two seasons, Scott has added more and more quirky designs and captions to the label including ‘Boys Smell (fact!)’ as well as ‘Oui Oui, Cup of Tea’.
Today it is stocked by around 25 boutiques up and down the country and Scott remains focused on building the brand and adding new designs. This season saw the introduction of cropped jumpers while next year’s line will also feature jumper dresses.
But for Scott, the motivation has never been about fame and fortune, although she does admit she’d love Bunty and Co. to become the “Jack Wills of the north.” Instead, her aim is to raise awareness of her boutique and website, win some more accounts, and basically just carry on doing the job she clearly adores.
“I never envisaged that the range would be so big that it would be sold in other boutiques,” she says. “But after I decided to go for my dream, the reaction has been brilliant. And I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
STORE STATS
NAME: Bunty and Co.
OWNER: Nicola Scott (AKA Bunty)
ESTABLISHED: August 2006
SIZE: 600sq ft
STAFF: Three
CLIENTELE: Late teens right through to women aged in their 60s “looking for something a bit different.”
STOCK: Clothing, accessories, footwear, beauty, home-ware and gifts.
KEY BRANDS: Bunty & Co., Maison Scotch, Numph, Traffic People, Brat and Suzie, Lisa Jayne Dann, Yumi and Love Our Stuff.
PRICE RANGE: Mid-price points
CONTACT: buntyandco.com |
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