Entrepreneur's Business Revival
A local businessman is looking to promote his ultra-stylish vintage clothing shop to the people of Hartlepool and beyond, where he promises they will find unique pieces at a snip of the high-street cost.
Hartlepool man Jeff Rudd opened his store, Revival Boutique, on York Road in October 2008. In a completely exclusive market to Hartlepool, it sells vintage and retro clothing that expands across the decades from the 1940s to the 1990s.
The first impression to hit most customers upon entry to the store is its massive collection of stock. Supplying both men’s and ladies’ wear, shoppers can spend hours looking through the diverse range of shoes, jackets, jeans, t-shirts, dresses and tops, as well as fashion accessories such as bags, sunglasses and belts.
In addition to the classy vintage wear, Revival Boutique also produces brand new clothing from re-customised clothes or materials. This may include trendy denim shorts, individually styled dresses or distinctive summer tops.
Jeff comments: "There is no other shop like it in Hartlepool, and vintage clothing is a great alternative to everyday high street lines that are produced on a mass scale. Customers can purchase an item at Revival Boutique confident in the knowledge that they will be the only person wearing this piece, but without having to pay ridiculous designer prices.
"All of our clothing is 100% authentic and represents some of the great vintage eras. The re-customised clothing is also really popular because it takes original clothing and re-works it into the latest retro styles of the current day."
Regular customers to the shop vary greatly, from young teenagers through to shoppers in their 60s, and Jeff believes this is not only down to the diverse range of stock but also to the wide appeal vintage clothing offers to all age groups and tastes. He runs a discount scheme for school pupils and students, which offers a 10% price reduction on all purchases made in the store except for sale items.
Furthermore, Revival Boutique has just opened a brand new sale room, an extension to the store offering great items from just £5. Jeff explains: "The popularity of the shop so far has meant that we were able to extend the shop area out, providing a dedicated section for our great value sale stock.
"I conducted an extent of market research before launching the sale room, within the value high street stores, and found there was certainly a niche for cheaper clothing but even more so with the added bonus of providing a unique and unusual look."
Revival Boutique has so far relied on word of mouth and passing trade to generate good levels of business, coupled with its online success through eBay. Jeff’s brother Matthew takes care of the business’s online presence, with eBay hits exceeding 5000 every month both domestically and internationally.
An established entrepreneur and businessman, Jeff spotted the opportunity to diversify into vintage clothing following his presence within the fashion market in a previous venture. His knowledge and expertise within the industry enabled him to identify a clear gap within the market, and within several months the business was up and running. He now hopes to firmly establish Revival Boutique within the town and then may look to open a second store elsewhere when the time is right.
Revival Boutique can be found at 156 York Road in Hartlepool, or alternatively visit its eBay shop ‘Revival Boutique UK’. The store can be contacted on 01429 231000.
