Member Article

Landlord swaps London for Sunderland with vintage clothing venture

A former landlord has ditched her pumps for vintage clothing and returned to her native North East to establish a retro clothes shop.

Until recently Angela Kirtley ran a pub in London but decided to sell up after spotting a gap in the market for vintage clothing in Sunderland.

After dabbling in car boot fairs and vintage markets the former landlord decided it was time to up a permanent shop.

Scout Vintage Clothing on the city’s Frederick Street is now open for business and Angela says she is serious about making it a competitive high street business.

Angela said: “I’d been wanting to get out of the pub trade for some time. When I first moved back up here I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do, but I’d had this idea years ago - and now felt like a good time having more business experience from running the pub.

“It’s something I really enjoy doing. The trade in nostalgia has boomed in the last decade and the way vintage clothes are viewed is different now. It’s not just about fur coats and lacey gloves, it’s more in line with the things I like, such as 80s clothing and americana.”

Having invested her own money in the venture, Angela took advantage of Sunderland City Council’s current free business rates for new businesses.

Angela added: “All the local business neighbours have been really supportive and they’re helping to spread the word. I really had to put my money where my mouth is because the banks weren’t interested.

“I’m not too precious about the stuff we’ve got in. I don’t want to look at it - I want to sell it. People have only got so much to spend and I’ve got to be competitive.

“The business rates scheme means I can keep costs low and I really hope they continue it.”

As Scout grows Angela hopes to take on other members of staff, and possibly a fashion apprentice.

Space in the shop will also be dedicated to promoting a local fashion graduate who works with vintage materials.

For more information on Scout, visit https://www.facebook.com/scoutfashion.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .