Member Article

Pre-loved clothes store is town’s hidden treasure!

A mother of three who dropped two dress sizes for her son’s wedding has launched her own fashion boutique.

Karen Lynagh decided to lose weight and with the help of her local Slimming World at Sacred Heart School, she was back in a size 12 by the summer of last year. By Christmas, less than a year after she started, she had lost over two stone.

Determined not to put the weight she’d lost back on, Karen decided to have a clear out of her wardrobe and sell the quality clothes which were too big for her.

And it was from here that the self-employed mortgage broker, who lives at Bishop Cuthbert in Hartlepool, came up with the idea for Trading Treasures, a fashion store which sells nearly new high street and designer clothing and accessories which are brought in by members of the public.

Karen said: “When I lost my weight I was determined that it would not go back on and for me that meant clearing out my bigger clothes so there wasn’t the temptation.

“But that presented me with a dilemma as I couldn’t afford to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe. So I decided to sell what no longer fit at Hartlepool Enterprise Centre’s Christmas Fair. I’d also asked friends and family if they had anything they wanted me to sell and I ended up with 104 items. I had no idea it would be so big and that led to the idea to set up a website, www.tradingtreasures.co.uk

“I started to think about how many clothes us ladies have in our wardrobes that we never wear but can’t seem to part with because quite often we paid a lot of money for them. And that’s where the idea came from.”

Trading Treasures was launched at the start of February and is based at Hartlepool Enterprise Centre in Brougham Terrace. The shop sells everything from smart casual and going out clothes to prom dresses, wedding outfits, footwear and handbags. Clothing must be nearly new and either good quality high street or designer brands. Karen also runs a hat hire service for race days and weddings and has started selling nearly new children’s clothing from well known labels.

She added: “Since launching the business in February, the response has been great. We have everything from Next clothes to Gucci shoes and people are coming in to snap them up as they may have only been worn once or twice but they could be less than a quarter of the original price.

“I just need more people to know we are here. I want them to come in and have a look through our range as there’s something for everyone and every occasion, or to give me a call to discuss items they may wish to sell.”

Karen is also passionate about supporting local charities and is currently helping the South Cleveland Heart Fund and the Denise Taylor Trust by donating some of the commission earned from sales in her shop. During the next quarter of trading she will be supporting Hartlepool Hospice.

Trading Treasures is open 10am - 4pm Tuesday and Thursday and 10am until 2pm Friday. Other times are available by appointment.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Publicity Seekers PR .