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WHEN starting a business or buying a house, it’s the most important factor to bear in mind. Or so say the experts. When Wendy and Ian Leat decided to open a unique and elegant, high-end ladies’ clothes boutique, they chose a site In Stone Street, right in the heart of charming Cranbrook. They presented their cashfl ow


forecast to MFW Partner, Martin Humphreys, whose offi ce is just across the road, and he thought they were being too ambitious. “But I was wrong,” he says. “The Leats had done their homework and in the fi rst year they were well ahead of their forecast and in the six years The Find has been open, it has gone from strength to strength.” After a successful three years in Cranbrook, Wendy, Ian and their daughter Georgie, decided it was time to expand, and after meticulous market research, they settled on a prime site in London Road Sevenoaks. You would think that in the stockbroker belt of Sevenoaks there would be the ideal clientele for an exclusive boutique with designer labels not available elsewhere in the area,” said Wendy. “Wrong! It appears that the ladies of Sevenoaks tend to do their clothes shopping in London or at Bluewater, which is a shame because we have some exclusive names and designs here on their doorstep.”


While the Cranbrook branch of The Find continues to thrive, the Sevenoaks branch struggles. “It is a conundrum and we are at a loss to discover why.” But the solution could be on the horizon in the shape of Mary Portas who continues to impress in her television role as Mary, Queen of Shops. “We entered a national competition run by The Draper, the leading magazine in the


LOCATION


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Left: Wendy Leat outside the highly successful Cranbrook branch


fashion industry, to win a


scholarship at the Mary Portas Guide of Successful Retailing. “Up against a large number of independent fashion retailers from across the UK we had to submit a written application and be


interviewed by phone before being invited to attend the prestigious Drapers Fashion Summit in London.


“We were judged to be the winners after


CLIENT PROFILE


being featured in a video presentation and then


interviewed by


Mary Portas herself,” said Wendy. “I am a great fan of Mary Portas and if anyone can help turn around the fortunes of the Sevenoaks shop, it is she.” For the next year, Wendy will be involved in one-to-one sessions with Mary Portas as well as attending her seminars in London. Mary will visit the boutiques and will make suggestions. She has already hinted that maybe the Sevenoaks shop should be closed and the online shop further developed in its place. “We will listen to what she has to say obviously,” said Wendy, “but ideally we would like to make the Sevenoaks shop a success as we have in Cranbrook.


High quality designer style is a hallmark of clothes at The Find as Wendy explains to Martin Humphreys


“If we have a promotion in the Cranbrook branch we are


overwhelmed by the response, but in Sevenoaks, out of a database of more than 900 clients, just three took advantage of the two-day promotion we were running with complimentary wine and nibbles, and we didn’t even open one bottle of wine!” she said. The Draper magazine will


chart the progress of The Find as Mary Portas hopefully weaves her magic, and we will also be reporting on the outcome later in the year.


“Independent womenswear is a highly competitive business and you’ve got to keep at the very top of your game to run a successful business like ours, particularly when your businesses are located out of the main shopping centres,” said Wendy. “We will be focussing on online expansion which Mary Portas has encouraged.” Ian Leat is a former UK distribution and contracts manager for fashion logistics fi rm DTS Logistics and the couple’s daughter, Georgie, is currently in charge of the Sevenoaks shop. Martin Humphreys added: “This family concern deserves the success it has already enjoyed in Cranbrook and we all hope that Mary Portas can fi nd an agreeable solution to the Sevenoaks predicament.” Wendy said she went to McCabe Ford Williams as soon as they decided to set up the fi rst shop. “It was a wise decision and Martin is always there when we need him with valuable advice and support.” For more information visit: www.thefi ndfashion.co.uk


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Queen of Shops, Mary Portas, to lend


Wendy a helping hand


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