MEDIA RELEASE
Dunfermline BIDS Funding Recipient Nominated for Scottish Fashion Awards
It has been announced today (9th July) that Maggie’s Farm Boutique, a funding recipient of Dunfermline’s BID company, Dunfermline Delivers, has been nominated for an award at the prestigious Scottish Fashion Awards. The boutique and beauty salon, based in Dunfermline’s New Row, is up for the Scottish Retailer of the Year Award, which will be presented in a London ceremony this September. Previous winners in the category include Schuh, Shhh-Ooh’s, Rox, Cruise and Ultimo.
The Scottish Fashion Awards recognise the best in Scotland’s outstanding fashion and textiles industry. The 2014 event will be hosted by Laura Whitmore and co-hosted by Alistair Carmichael MP and founder of the awards, Dr Tessa Hartmann. As always, it will welcome a VIP guest list of the fashion world’s most influential figures and famous faces. Maggie’s Farm owner, Laurissa Drysdale, will be in good company at the event, with Christopher Kane, Vivienne Westwood and Harvey Nichols nominated in other categories.
During 2013, BID company Dunfermline Delivers, in partnership with Fife Council, provided access to grants to support business growth in Dunfermline. Maggie’s Farm was one of the successful applicants, accessing the fund to initially raise the ceiling height to allow space to add on a hair salon, nail bar and make up counter to the existing boutique.
Laurissa started her first shop in Dundee with only £2,000 at the age of 23 after working as a stylist at Topshop in Edinburgh and graduating with a First in Business Fashion at Heriot Watt University.
Recently involved in the Test Town project, a concept devised and supported by the Carnegie UK Trust to encourage young Scottish entrepreneurs to help reinvigorate the high streets with new approaches to retail, Laurissa was on the judging panel for 2013 scheme, which found fellow Dunfermline businesswoman Emma Pauley the overall winner. Miss Pauley’s shop and craft centre opened in Chalmers Street at the end of 2013.
Maggie Mitchell, Chief Executive of Dunfermline Delivers said:“I am absolutely over the moon to hear that Maggie’s Farm has been nominated for this award. Laurissa is a savvy young businesswoman with her head firmly screwed on and has done exactly what we imagined for with the BIDS funding. She has grown her business and the store is a great success story, which in turn brings business and interest back into Dunfermline’s city centre. We are extremely proud to have been involved and have our fingers crossed for September!”
Maggie’s Farm owner, Laurissa Drysdale, said: “I am so excited! It’s really hard to even get nominated for the awards, so I’m hoping it helps promote the shop and the area more. Just goes to show, you don’t need to be in the city to be a success in retail and fashion. I wish people would invest in the small towns more! A special big thank you to Dunfermline Delivers for all its help in bringing Maggie’s Farm to Dunfermline.”
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