A rare retail success story

A celebrity-inspired fashion retailer is on track to pass the £1m turnover mark in its first year after recording a 100% growth in monthly sales in the festive period.

Newcastle-based PinkBoutique.co.uk was launched six months ago by 24-year-old journalism graduate Alice Blackie to target what she viewed as a gap in the market for glamorous yet affordable fashion for 16 to 30-year-olds.

The online retailer has already grown its workforce to eight and set up base in Newcastle city centre.

Having seen a 100% rise in monthly trade in December, the company is fast approaching the £1m annual turnover mark and last week relaunched its website to improve its user experience.

Alice, a self-confessed fashion lover, started the business part time as she worked in the education sector.

The brand has since achieved a sizeable social media following with 36,000 Facebook fans and 10,000 Twitter followers.

“I have always had great ambition to set up my own business, and I am absolutely delighted with the success PinkBoutique.co.uk has had to date despite the current economy we are currently operating in,” said Alice.

“The combined effort of our new website and the backing of my strong team will be a key partnership in enduring the expansion of the business, with the aim to offer loyal customers the product offering and high quality customer service they have come to expect.”