Member Article

Mother and daughter team take on wedding franchise

An award-winning business, established by Northumberland entrepreneur Sarah Pittendrigh, has launched in the Dundee, Perth and Fife regions with a mother and daughter team at the helm.

Susan Boyle and her daughter, Vicki Cairney, have established Simply Bows and Chair Covers, specialists in hiring chair covers, table linen and sashes to transform weddings, private parties and corporate events.

Susan joins Simply Bows and Chair Covers following 12 years in the leisure industry in Scotland having worked for David Lloyd Leisure and is currently working as a bridal consultant.

Susan’s daughter, Vicki, works alongside her and brings with her a variety of experience from the fashion industry. Also, having recently planned her own wedding, Vicki is passionate about the creative aspects and importance of organisation in wedding planning.

Susan and Vicki will work around the Dundee and Perth region providing a bespoke service and top-of-the-range products made to measure for a variety of locations such as hotels, country houses and private homes.

Susan said: “I’ve worked in the leisure and weddings industry for many years and I know, from experience, the difficulties of getting the finishing touches just right. There’s a major gap in the market for good quality table linen and chair sashes as events these days are full of very personal touches and creativity.

“Simply Bows and Chair Covers is a well-known brand in the wedding and events sector and becoming a franchisee means you have the full support of an experienced team and an established brand. I’m thrilled my daughter is also on board as our skills and experience work well together and offer our customers the best possible service.”

Simply Bows and Chair Covers is a franchised business and is on target to open 30 franchises by 2013. The company has 11 other franchises in locations such as Harrogate, Lancashire, Berkshire and around the North East and Yorkshire.

Plans are also being made to take Simply Bows and Chair Covers into Europe and beyond after receiving enquiries from countries such as France, Spain and the UAE.

Northumberland-based entrepreneur, Sarah Pittendrigh, established Simply Bows and Chair Covers in 2008 and has won a series of awards since then including best website finalist, second only to McDonalds, in the Franchise Marketing Awards in 2010; Winner of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum ‘If We Can You Can Challenge’ in 2010; Winner of Business Growth Award – Entrepreneurs Forum 2011; and Winner of North East Business Awards 2012 in the Newcomer category.

Speaking about the new franchisees, Sarah said: “Susan and Vicki in Dundee bring exceptional flair and dedication to Simply Bows and Chair Covers with great experience in the wedding sector. They have a potent mix of creativity and industry knowledge to help boost events in the Dundee and Perth area.”

http://www.simplybowsandchaircovers.co.uk/

ENDS

Editor’s Notes

• Sarah Pittendrigh set up her company in 2008 after being made bankrupt when the national events company she worked for suffered the effects of the economic downturn. Sarah discovered a gap in the market for stylish, high-quality chair covers and linen whilst helping to organise her brothers wedding and came up with the idea for Simply Bows and Chair Covers.
• Before becoming a successful entrepreneur, Sarah Pittendrigh worked in marketing for brands such as Land Rover and Jaguar as well as being a national events organiser.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Addison .