VINTAGE designer clothing for women of all shapes, ages and sizes will soon be on sale at a new garden centre boutique named after one of the county's most in-vogue canines.
Fashionista Laura Healy, 23, opened Princess and Pugs in Wickford on March 19 after spotting what she believes to be a gap in the market.
Now, along with her pug Ivy, she is looking forward to getting to know the locals and supplying them with the "feminine, girly things" they might need.
Miss Healy, who is from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, moved to Essex with her partner in December and thought that Wickford would be the ideal place to set up her shop – a business which, she insists, will not just cater for those aged 25 or under.
After setting up home in Laindon, she found a unit at the Alpha Garden Centre on London Road and fell in love with the place.
"It's quite a quirky building with a thatched roof which is just how I wanted it," Miss Healy said.
"Princess and Pugs will sell second-hand designer clothes for women of all sizes, ages and tastes.
"Lots of places only focus on high-end garments but I want a variety and don't want to just cater for 25-year-olds."
Miss Healy previously worked from home selling second-hand clothes online.
"I get my clothes from all over the place, from flea markets in Paris and auctions to private sellers," she explained.
"As far as I know, there are no other shops around here which sell both vintage and modern pre-loved clothes so there's a gap in the market.
"I chose the name Princess and Pugs as I'm a little bit obsessed with pugs and have one myself, named Ivy.
"They're also very current and particularly popular in Essex.
"I also think people associate fashion with the word princess – with feminine, girly things."
She added: "I think Wickford will be a great place to be based."
Miss Healy has long wanted to run her own business and since leaving school after finishing her A-levels she decided not to go to university and focused her efforts on starting up her own enterprise.
She has run the business from home since she was 20, before then working in administration.
She said: "I will be running the shop entirely by myself and, although it is daunting, I believe it's people starting up small business like this which will pull us out of the recession.
"I love interacting with people and it's that that shines through – there's nothing worse than seeing someone working in a shop who looks like they would rather be anywhere else than there."
Miss Healy will also run private clothes parties and home visits on request.
If clothes she has bought from private buyers are not sold within four weeks she will sell them at a reduced rate with all takings donated to The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths.
Miss Healy has a personal connection to the charity as her brother died of cot death when she was a toddler.
She said: "Anything I can do to help them I will and this is the best way I can do that."
The shop can be found at Unit 14, at the Alpha Garden Centre, in London Road. It will be open between 9.30am and 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday.
Visit www.princessandpugs.co.uk
