Small Business Saturday Blog
How taking matters into her own hands led to huge success for Revival Retro
Saturday, June 08 at 23:43
A passion for retro events plus frustration at not being able to find the right clothes and shoes to compliment this look led to Rowena Howie opening Revival Retro boutique in 2011.
Since its opening as both a gorgeous store in the heart of London and an online boutique, Revival Retro has gone from strength to strength, thanks to its beautiful design, bespoke variety of clothing and shoes, impeccable customer service, and offering a definite point of difference in the market place. Rowena has found her business has also received a great boost from being an ambassador for the Small Business Saturday campaign and being included in the Amex Shop Small offer for a number of years now.
“One of my qualms was how to find a stunning retro outfit that looks great, has a definite 30s/40s style, but won’t fall apart when you wear it or try to clean it?” explains Rowena Howie. “Why was all gorgeous vintage clothing too small for me? How do I avoid yet another unsuccessful foray into moth-balled cupboards, sifting through endless eighties sequined jumpsuits labelled as ‘vintage’? This is why I decided to take matters into my own hands.”
And what hands! Not only has Revival Retro stacked up awards since its incarnation seven years ago, but it has built a huge digital presence and following all around the world, and currently has nearly 33k followers on Instagram.
Rowena herself is prolific in banging the drum for small business owners and is a huge part of the Soho community, supporting fellow business owners and being at the forefront of issues impacting small business owners in the area and nationwide. Before opening her boutique, she did a lot of research about the viability of opening a brick and mortar store in one of the most expensive cities in the world.
“From the very beginning I used workshops at the British Library to further my knowledge about running my own business. Long before I ever opened the bricks and mortar store, I was examining the viability, profitability and likelihood of scale for the venture. I started the business because I was thirty-something and couldn’t envisage ever owning my own home on the salary I was earning. The drive for me to learn and grow was fundamental to commercial success of the business, helping me achieve my personal goals.”
The award-winning team at Revival Retro’s success lies in not only offering a beautiful range of clothing, footwear and accessories but being passionate about helping women feel good, and they do this by offering second-to-none customer service and really listening to and understanding their customers' needs.
“There is nothing worse and soul destroying that being shoehorned into an outfit that you feel hideous in – we’ve all been there! We want our customers to love our clothes as I believe there is the perfect outfit here for every woman, and we pride ourselves on our knowledge and expertise to find it and leave our customers feeling wonderful. Clothes are such a powerful thing used well.”
Rowena continues to be an ambassador for this year’s Small Business Saturday UK campaign, and an AMEX Shop Small Merchant, and will be sharing her success story, insight and experience with fellow business owners in the lead up and inspiring like-minded business owners all over the UK. Watch this space!
Click here to visit the Revival Retro online store, and click here to find out more about the Amex Shop Small campaign.
Interested in writing a Blog Post for Small Business Saturday? Here are our guidelines.
Categories:
- Accounting (1)
- Brand (1)
- Branding (1)
- Budgeting Tips For Small Business (1)
- Business (1)
- Collaboration (1)
- Customer (1)
- Digital (6)
- Economy (1)
- Exhibiting (1)
- Finance (2)
- Getting Online (2)
- HR (3)
- How To (4)
- Inspiration (1)
- Inspire Series (1)
- Legal (1)
- Marketing (3)
- Plan (2)
- Planning (3)
- Protect (1)
- Quick Guide (3)
- Recruitment (3)
- Small Biz 100 (2)
- Small Business (9)
- Small Business Saturday (10)
- Small Business Saturday Uk Champion (2)
- Smallbiz100 (1)
- Social Media (3)
- Start-Up Support (1)
- Top Tips (10)
Latest Posts:
- Feeling lighter than air at The Float Spa4 Weeks Ago
- At the cutting edge of local community5 Weeks Ago
- Sewing the seeds of success in Scotland5 Weeks Ago
- Joco's leap of faith pays off6 Weeks Ago
- No messing around! How Tom Foolery Coffee Company pivoted during the pandemic6 Weeks Ago
- How Mandira’s Kitchen has its eye on spicing up your freezer7 Weeks Ago
- Wild about keeping it local and healthy in Bristol8 Weeks Ago
- Award winning small business announced at Blue Tie celebration13 Weeks Ago
- Free leadership training for SME leaders delivered by leading Business Schools5 Months Ago
- Six things you can do in your business right now7 Months Ago
- How can my employees return to work safely and legally after Covid-19?7 Months Ago
- What is it really like being a #SmallBiz100? – Stamptastic spill the beans7 Months Ago
- Why apply to be a #SmallBiz100 2020?8 Months Ago
- Why embracing technology should be your New Year resolution12 Months Ago
- Starting a new business: financial tips for start ups13 Months Ago
- Top 10 security tips for small businesses storing personal data13 Months Ago
- From architect to artisan at the Dumfries Larder13 Months Ago
- Putting down new Roots in Abergele14 Months Ago
- How Amazon is helping one woman tackle taboos and period poverty14 Months Ago
- Creating a community: What it means to be a small business14 Months Ago
- Building an enabling bridge, brick by brick14 Months Ago
- Get ready to rock with Rockit15 Months Ago
- How to create an event for Small Business Saturday UK15 Months Ago
- Jampacked with passion: the local cinema that’s giving back15 Months Ago
- Celebrating the North East’s cycle stars16 Months Ago
- Don’t know what to write about? 9 ideas for your next business newsletter, blog or social media post16 Months Ago
- Take a butcher’s at the first of the #SmallBiz100 201917 Months Ago
- 7 essential growth tips that small businesses need to know17 Months Ago
- Making a great first impression: photography & small business17 Months Ago
- Strength in numbers18 Months Ago
- How to choose the right pricing strategy for your business19 Months Ago
- How taking matters into her own hands led to huge success for Revival Retro19 Months Ago
- Why apply to be a #SmallBiz100 2019?19 Months Ago
- 5 content ideas every small business needs20 Months Ago
- The Flour Pot Bakery's secret to success20 Months Ago
- How to harness the power of Instagram and drive your business forward - the GB Labels way21 Months Ago
- Making Tax Digital is here! What does it mean for your business?21 Months Ago
- How we should champion success for International Women's Day22 Months Ago
- Step aside Mystery Shopper scheme - hello new Public Procurement Review Service!23 Months Ago
- The top three causes of entrepreneur burnout and how to avoid it23 Months Ago
- Get a great digital ad for your business for just £50, and help tomorrow’s entrepreneurs learn with iDEA!2 Years Ago
- Badge Your Brilliance with iDEA2 Years Ago
- How to make your Christmas the most successful yet!3 Years Ago
- Life in the fast Laine3 Years Ago
- Small businesses shine at launch of Silver iDEA Award St James's Palace3 Years Ago
- Local and sustainable is winning formula for SmallBiz100 Hays Hampers3 Years Ago
- Red Herring Games – Case Study3 Years Ago
- Going for gold with the Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award!3 Years Ago
- Keeping Up With The Tylers: How To Move With The Times3 Years Ago
- How to open a corner shop3 Years Ago
- Making our own kind of music at the Blue Tie Ball3 Years Ago
- How to guest blog (and look like you know what you’re doing)3 Years Ago
- How to market your small business on a budget3 Years Ago
- Top summer marketing tips!3 Years Ago
- Purposely: embedding purpose into the heart of your small business3 Years Ago
- A ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ for Britain’s small businesses3 Years Ago
- Your iDEA Award questions answered!3 Years Ago
- Five ways to make your business successful in five years!3 Years Ago
- SmallBiz100 Mooch revive the local high street3 Years Ago
- Why apply to be a SmallBiz100 2018?3 Years Ago
- SmallBiz100 Julu on design, manufacturing, and building an online business with friends3 Years Ago
- Small Business Champion Series From Rich Brady ... Setting Business Goals3 Years Ago
- SmallBiz100 Techsixtyfour on how to successfully build an online business3 Years Ago
- SmallBiz100 Frequently Asked Questions3 Years Ago
- Small Business Champion Series from Rich Brady...Putting the Family into Family Business3 Years Ago
- Exporting - not just for the big!3 Years Ago
- Can Giving Really Be Good for a Small Business? Spoiler: Yes!3 Years Ago
- Let's get organised....3 Years Ago
- Is your business leaking money?3 Years Ago
- Podcasting - The Ultimate How-To Guide - Part 23 Years Ago
- Podcasting - the Ultimate How-To Guide - Part 13 Years Ago
- Save time with automation3 Years Ago
- Setting BIG goals – why do it and how to go about it3 Years Ago
- International Women's Day 20183 Years Ago
- 9 tips for Business Success - it's all about love.3 Years Ago
- Demystifying LinkedIn for Small Businesses3 Years Ago
- 10 Top Money Tips for Small Businesses3 Years Ago
- Organising a Small Business Event - Tips from the Experts3 Years Ago
- 12 Top Tips for Micro-businesses3 Years Ago
- ACCA on board the Small Business Saturday Bus Tour4 Years Ago
- There is still time to get involved!4 Years Ago
- Is Britain Becoming a Cashless Society?4 Years Ago
- Small Business Spotlight - How Technology Can Help Small Businesses4 Years Ago
- Better people for Better business4 Years Ago
- Taking Your Business Beyond the High Street4 Years Ago
- Five reasons to be optimistic about access to finance in 20184 Years Ago
- Small Business Saturday App!4 Years Ago
- The Importance of Customer Service4 Years Ago
- Sign up today for free business mentoring!4 Years Ago
- 5 Ideas to Improve your Time Management4 Years Ago
- The Small Business Saturday Bus Tour launches across the UK for its fifth year!4 Years Ago
- 5 minute interview with Nick Entwistle from One Minute Briefs4 Years Ago
- Say Hello to the 2017 Small Business Saturday Champions4 Years Ago
- 5 ways to save money on your business energy4 Years Ago
- Establishing a Small Business through Online Branding4 Years Ago
- Get by with a little help from a friend4 Years Ago
- How Small Businesses Should Deal With Adversity4 Years Ago
- Three helpful ways your phone can reduce paperwork4 Years Ago
- How to Set Up Your Own Business4 Years Ago
- Give Your Business a Boost with Improved Conversion Rates4 Years Ago
- Protecting Your Business Against Risk4 Years Ago
- Small Business Budgeting Tips4 Years Ago
- Hiring tips for start-ups4 Years Ago
- How small businesses can build their online presence4 Years Ago
- Leading business experts come together in one-off inspirational event4 Years Ago
- Five Tips to Effectively Market your Business4 Years Ago
- Nottingham's Lady Bay Vintage Midcentury Antiques Fair5 Years Ago
- Spend with small busisness on Small Business Saturday up 15% year on year to £717 million5 Years Ago
- Why you need to add exhibiting to your marketing mix5 Years Ago
- Seven ways you may be able to reduce your tax bill5 Years Ago
- Practical advice from Acas to help small businesses succeed5 Years Ago
- Automatic enrolment problems? The PLSA has a Pension Solution5 Years Ago
- Ideas and Innovation Dens: help tease out those great ideas and turn them into reality faster.5 Years Ago
- Black & Gold: Supporting other local businesses through partnerships5 Years Ago
- Interview with Paul Gardner founder of the East End Trades Guild5 Years Ago
- Fully Funded Essential Management Skills Training5 Years Ago
- What I learnt in my first year in business5 Years Ago
- 4 Invoicing Mistakes you Should Avoid in your Small Business5 Years Ago
- Interview with Small Business Saturday Champion Elaine Pritchard from Caittom Publishing5 Years Ago
- A Guide to: Handling Small Business Disputes5 Years Ago
- Communication is key5 Years Ago
- How to get your small business found5 Years Ago
- Is cloud hosting for you?5 Years Ago
- Is cloud hosting for you?5 Years Ago
- How to: Get your product in a magazine5 Years Ago
- How to: Get your product in a magazine5 Years Ago
- Is Beer Brewing The Next Big Thing For The Hospitality Industry?5 Years Ago
- 5 tips to make starting your business easier5 Years Ago
- Do not underestimate the power of the internet5 Years Ago
- A Beginners Guide to Corporate Wiki5 Years Ago
- How to use social media to grow your small business5 Years Ago
- Recruiting for your small business5 Years Ago
- 5 Customer Experience Tips for Small Businesses5 Years Ago
- Effective interviewing techniques5 Years Ago
- How Your Small Business Should Go Digital5 Years Ago
- How to write the perfect job advert5 Years Ago
- Hiring a VA: What's it all about?5 Years Ago
- Surviving and thriving as a small business5 Years Ago
- Why job descriptions matter5 Years Ago
- Music makeover5 Years Ago
- Five things all SMEs should know when applying for funding5 Years Ago
- Self-assessment help for small businesses5 Years Ago
- Making the most of Small Business Saturday5 Years Ago
- Finding alternative sources of finance for your small business6 Years Ago
- Small Business Saturday 2015: Burton6 Years Ago
- Top tips for finding a great office for your small business6 Years Ago
- Interview with Martin George of the Post Office6 Years Ago
- Colourful New Photo Exhibition of Levenshulme Small Businesses6 Years Ago
- Small business and accessibility6 Years Ago
- 3 Online Tips for Small Business Saturday6 Years Ago