Stephanie Moran, local bridal designer announces the opening of her first showroom after securing an investment boost taking her from back bedroom to boutique business. The grand opening of the ‘by appointment only venue’ marks Stephanie’s first foray into the bridal world.
Thanks to the AD:VENTURE start-up and growth grants, which provide businesses with the opportunity to reach their potential within the first three years of trading, Stephanie secured £3,800 to help towards creating a welcoming and individual environment and experience for the modern bride and bridal party.
During a meeting with a business advisor from Business Support North and North Yorkshire (BSYNY), Stephanie realised that to expand her company and push forward with her plans she would benefit from additional support and guidance.
Referred to a dedicated advisor from AD:VENTURE, Stephanie worked through the programme to identify her goals and put together a more formal business plan, whilst also receiving further details about the AD:VENTURE start-up and growth grants.
Stephanie comments: “I was working as a freelance and although I was securing commissions I was finding it hard to work out how to take my business to the next stage. That’s when I was informed of AD:VENTURE and I realised that with some support I could put my plans into practice.
“I knew that my real ambition and longer-term goal was to open a couture bridal boutique with studio and showroom, thanks to the opportunity to gain funding, I was able to do this. My brides deserve the very best and with the boutique that’s exactly what I am able to give them.”
Celebrating the recent opening of Stephanie Moran Couture, the Tadcaster boutique showcases an exciting and diverse environment where brides can create their own unique bridal vision. The boutique also houses the first signature collection and also offers a sketch to dress experience for brides-to-be up and down the country.
In addition to the personal bridal service that the boutique can now offer, Stephanie will also work with other outlets to offer her designs and extend her audience to include trade suppliers as well as direct customers.
The Leader of Selby District Council, Cllr Mark Crane, said, “We’ve been investing to deliver a range of business support, as part of our work to offer practical help to businesses across the Selby district who want to grow. This is about us helping to bring investment to our town centres, to ensure they thrive into the future. Tadcaster is definitely on the up again after the floods of a few years ago and through programmes such as AD:VENTURE we help the town to reach its potential.”
AD:VENTURE, the ERDF funded programme providing dedicated support to eligible young and new businesses who have strong growth ambitions, provides enterprises with the chance to apply for a match-funded Grant of up to £25,000.
To benefit from the programme, companies are asked to evidence through a written business plan how the contributions would be used to support the next steps in their business journey and what difference it would make to their future success.
Recognising that start-ups and smaller enterprises may not have a formal business plan in place, and that the process may be somewhat overwhelming, AD:VENTURE also provides practical support through a network of dedicated advisors.
As well as providing guidance, AD:VENTURE business advisors can also provide access to a schedule of master classes, workshops and events that focus on a range of essential areas such as marketing, branding, market research and financial forecasting that applicants may want to attend in order to strengthen their applications.
