I get between 10 and 30 emails a week from our website.  I get requests for jobs, internships, enquiries about what stock we have, people asking our terms and also lots of emails from afar asking can we sell online.  This little blog is to explain why we currently don’t.

At Love Is Boutique, the standard of service you get is far superior to that of the high street.  The customer in the shop is No 1.  We found that, with our limited staffing, we could not provide that same service via the internet. Now, if we were turning over half a million squid a year, we would employ two full time people to run an internet shop.  It takes many hours to photograph, measure, list and upload items and we were finding we had normally sold them in the shop before they hit the internet.  It was very frustrating. And with our vintage items, it’s difficult to sell them online as they need to be touched, seen and tried on to appreciate how special they are.

Because all our items are one offs, it’s a constant drain on our staffing to keep up with the speed of the internet. We can never be ASOS or Net a Porter nor would we want to be. We have a very different business.

So when you look online and you are disappointed we no longer have a shop (I know our video mentions you can ‘shop online’ as at the time we aimed to be up and running again), send us an email and tell us what it is you are looking for.  I’m sorry you can’t browse our rails virtually, but if you are looking for something special, we may be able to help.  If you buy over the phone with us, you are protected by the distance selling regulations and will be entitled to a refund should the item not fit or you change your mind……

I am up at the crack of dawn in my study. Sometimes blogging comes as naturally as having a chat in a coffee shop over latte’s and shortcake biscuits.  Sometimes it’s like trying to draw a circle with the pencil in-between your toes (I can actually do this but thats another story).  As some of you will know, I love a chat! To get to talk with my customers, new people every day, is a massive plus for me.

Not every one wants advice or to talk about clothes, some just want to unload about their week, their divorce, their unruly kids and some are, quite clearly, lonely.  Some days it feels as if Lynne and I do little to dress ladies but instead are advising customers on everything from good lawyers to who does the best Brazilian blow dry in town.  We get to know EVERYTHING and if we can’t help immediately, we normally go and find out.

What I’m trying to say in this rather short blog post is that we both aim to make sure that we tell all our customers about other businesses in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas.  Our little shop has had an ethos since I opened it in December 2009 and that is to help and support other local small business owners in the hope that they support you back.

It’s word of mouth that keeps little places like ours alive. We are doing very well at Love Is Boutique as we already have a loyal customer base, but since 2010, over 300 businesses in our area have closed.  So today’s simple message is to spread the word and keep places you love at the heart of the community. After all, what would you do without us!?

End of sermon……

You never know, you may see this on the window....

What a fab week at LiB!  Lots of happy customers and two very happy boutique owners! Nothing makes us smile more than when we are given a consignment of jewellery to sell on behalf of someone very special.

On recommendation (always the best way) we met with a new customer to Love Is who had inherited a huge amount of costume jewellery. Let me first tell you a little bit about it’s owner.

Mary was born in Surrey in 1925. A rather glamourous young lady, she was art school trained and then was sent to finishing school.  Mary had some pretty interesting jobs during her life.  She entertained at the American GI’s Club in London, she was a Twirler for the Coldstream Guards, a bit part and extras actress (starring in the very first Titanic film) and was a buyer and valuer for Harrods for many years, in their furs and fine jewellery departments.

But what made our hearts sing was hearing that Mary had been a dancer for Gypsy Rose Lee in the 50′s.

It makes perfect sense that Mary was a valuer at Harrods – this woman had an eye for beautiful things.  We spend over a week researching some of the jewellery, Lynne burning the midnight oil to make sure we understood where everything had come from.

These are Christian Dior pearls designed between ’52 and ’56 by Mitchell Maer. They have two rhinestone clasps that mean you can have one long link or two short links. So stunning, like new and will never date.

This crystal art deco cuff from Boucher was made in 1955. Mary had a safety chain added to make sure she didn’t loose it.  Obviously loved, as in mint condition.

Here is Mary (second from left) in her ‘Winter’ costume when she danced for Gypsy Rose Lee. The outfits were pretty racy for then! A body stocking with some strategically placed sequins!!  This photo was taken in the early ’50′s!

Mary loved her pearls! This double layer set has a sterling silver clasp that is set with rhinestones. A bit of history, a lot of glam and a piece of jewellery you could keep forever.

NOW these kinds of stories are what makes this the BEST JOB IN THE WORLD.

Thank you so much to Mary’s niece for kindly letting us write about her beautiful Aunt Mary and for using her photographs. We have a collection of Mary’s jewellery in the shop from cocktail rings to brooches and necklaces. We won’t have it for long. That’s a fact.

With weather that is changeable, the shops choka-blocka with sale items from seasons ago and a miserable economic outlook for the year, it’s no wonder January is a totally hideous month.  We are getting lots of our lovely clients in, but none of you gals know what to buy!  We are just starting to take spring stock, no more coats or heavy knitwear. And we want some colour!!!

Starting to get the new season stock in is the most exciting time in the boutique. Our rails slowly morph from black, navy and chocolates into a rainbow of pastels and colour blocks, prints and patterns.  So what to buy now from LiB?  We’ve just had some great named jeans in – JBrand, Seven for all Mankind, Paige – and we are laden with designer handbags at some very good prices. We have 6 Gucci bags alone swell as Anya Hindmarch, Chanel, Mulberry, Celine and Tods.

If you’re ever looking for something a little special, why don’t you come and talk to us. We provide a sourcing service, so if we know what you want, we shall be on the look out for you.  You only have to ask!