Christmas hook up: Lunacy

Christmas time means present time!

Over the next two weeks, we’ll be highlighting our fave online shops, writing letters to Santa and hooking you up with some vay cool pressie ideas - today we are all over:

www.lunacyboutique.co.uk
This shop rock our socks - the site is adoreable and the prods are sweet-as-sugar - your Christmas wish list starts here…

Describe Lunacy in five words…
eclectic, quirky, chameleon, daring, passionate

Who are the ladies behind Lunacy?
Moi, Rebecca Bogue and my sister Emma Hanford

You own real life shops – tell us about them!
The real-life shops are a fashionista and chameleons dream. The colour scheme is pink, black, mint green and gold – so you guys at Pink world would love it! We really mix up styles so that we offer a great selection to all women. We also offer free styling advice if required and as we are a small, independent company we know a great deal in terms of product knowledge etc. The atmosphere in the boutiques are very relaxed with life size flamingoes and great 50’s cocktail bars as our counters. So its very kitsch!

We never stock huge volumes of the same garment and prefer up and coming independent labels to the big brands therefore providing the customer with originality. Also as a boutique we do offer an alternative to the high street as our price points are reasonable.

Our shops are in Cardiff and Port Talbot.

You have an online boutique too, www.lunacyboutique.co.uk what’s the difference between running the two?
In some ways they are the same and in others very different. The great thing with an actual shop is the personal level, the fact that you get to interact with a customer etc. The great thing with an online shop is that you get to view everything up close as in an actual shop you can miss things due to décor, where its displayed etc, where as an online shop you can view everything really clearly. Both however are fabulous when you get a purchase especially when a customer comments that she is really happy or later rings you up and tells you that she is really pleased with her purchase! That’s the best feeling.

What’s it like working with your sister?
This has only been of late, as Sister Emma bought in to business so we could open 2nd store in Cardiff. However Emma has always helped out here and there, been up to see suppliers in London, helped organize fashion shows etc. Of course we do argue, however due to the blood tie its always forgotten within minutes. Between us we alternate and work between the two shops. We are still getting into the swing of it due to the Cardiff shop only opening on 13th of October.

What’s the secret to your success?
We’ll tell you in a couple of years as still trying to make it a success at the moment. It takes hard work, drive & determination plus a huge dose of passion. Of course at times you do think. ‘Why am I doing this?’ But it’s the passion that keeps you going. As for time we don’t have any spare! It’s manic so Lunacy is a great name for us!

What’s your best selling item?
We don’t have one really because we don’t mass buy anyone product instead we prefer to get new items in therefore there is never one best selling item as such. However, the meadow dress has been a great success and with this item we had to reorder due to appearing in the press therefore the demand was high!

What’s your Style bible?
We love 60’s fashion. We have loads of books on display to read in our shops such as biba, jean muir, ossie clarke etc. Also love the old now no longer produced Nova magazines due to the variety, controversy and such inspirational magazine covers. We also love your site of course! Especially as its pink!

Give us a Lunacy style tip?
Wear the item don’t let the item wear you. Confidence is the most important aspect to fashion.

What makes you jump-in-the-air happy?
Clothes of course, vice and vanity jewellery (we are the UK only stockists of), diversity, high heels esp Minnie mouse-esque ones (round toes), hairbands (we are currently making our own to sell both in the boutiques and online) rainbows, clouds, buttons, huge hair, dolly parton, 60’s fashion, fasle eyelashes….the list is endless

What would a lunacy playlist sound like?
It would be really diverse therefore if only one artist I think it would be quite beck like, so a little indie, edgy, punk etc. Plus we would have to mix in a little roisin Murphy for the disco sound and a bit of kings of leon and dolly parton for a country edge. We are simply about anything goes! We are MAD about fashion!

What would your advice be to girls who wanna open their own shop?
Be prepared to be skint for several years, be passionate, be aware that Rome wasn’t built in a day and your shop certainly wont be either!

The colour pink. Discuss.
It’s lovely, girly colour reminds us of candyfloss, poodles, little girls and friendly people. Thumbs up to pink.