COMPANY PROFILE 17 PATRICIA EVE T: +44 (0)1423 885 374 www.patricia-eve.co.uk How do you keep your designs fresh and current? Do you follow trends? Our designers are very well travelled, sourcing the latest fabrics from a fashion sense, but equally an ecological one too. Using the most up-to-date technologies, with our Modern Miracle being one of those right now, a liquid lycra application that is simply game changing. What sets you apart from your competitors? Great day-to-day service, we offer free carriage, no minimums, same-day despatch, early payment discount, with stock on hand in our warehousing, so you can buy what you need, when you need. Couple this with our traditional values, making sure all our accounts are treated as an equal, regardless of size or spend. How are you finding the current climate in the UK? Is it affecting business? It has been a very challenging start to the year for pretty much everybody, and not just the UK market. However, we’re seeing really strong sales in the swim and resortwear now, with shapewear and fashion accessories sales really moving, green shoots for sure and finally an air of positivity for all. How do you view the future of independent retail? Mixed, but hopefully bright for those that wish to stand apart and not try chase the value market. If you’re passionate and are prepared to offer a point of difference with great service, I feel that more and more consumers will come flooding back to the mini highstreets, the more local affairs with smaller groups of shops working together. Customers still love to touch, feel and view first hand, they like to get out and be looked after and guided by the wonderful people whom are the true champions of trade, not working solely by the numbers. Are you active on social media? How is this important for the business? From a business stand-point, we are loosely, but in all honesty, we simply don’t have the time – we’re not the brands we present or the shops we sell too, so there is little point, unless directly to our customers and retailers. Do you have any advice for new businesses starting out in the world of gifts? Have a passion and desire for what you are going to be doing, make sure you have a point of difference, and can afford to properly stand alone for at least 6-12 months. Buy from people whom you can trust and get a good mutual working relationship – remember you both want to succeed, and not just for the initial sale, it’s a team effort. What can we expect in the future from the company? Very much the same core values, great service, levels of care and advice, and us always striving to find the next-best-thing to present that will excite and make us all money, bringing a smile to the table too.
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