Expansion suits vintage fashion business
A vintage fashion store in Cornwall is set to expand with funding from the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme.
Love of Lemons first opened its doors in Nansledan, Newquay, in 2021, after owner and former teacher Bex Osman finally realised a lifelong dream of running her own fashion business.
Back then, she successfully applied for a Start-Up Loan through British Business Bank and was able to turn her online store into her own shop, full of hand-picked, one-off vintage pieces, alongside sustainable and unique brands of clothing and accessories.
Love of Lemons soon built up a loyal customer base and this year, Osman decided she could branch out. She applied for a further Start Up Loan of £12,000 and has just moved Love of Lemons to a larger brand new unit in Nansledan, with plans to open a sister store in the same complex, called Love of Vintage, later this summer. Both units have been built by the Duchy of Cornwall, which is developing Nansledan as a sustainable extension to Newquay.
“I’m really loving what I’m doing and I felt the time had come to give Love of Lemons a bit of a twist,” said Osman, who worked as a stylist and buyer when she left her teaching career and has always had a passion for vintage clothing.
“This move will be something new and exciting for all the lovely customers who have supported me on my journey so far.”
She says she wouldn’t have considered taking her business to the next level without the Start Up Loan. She is full of praise for the scheme, which includes 12 months of free mentoring to help new firms succeed.
“The whole process teaches you so much about business that you wouldn’t necessarily know. I can buy clothes really easily, that’s not an issue, but I don’t come from a business background. This scheme makes you sit down and look at the numbers side of things in real detail.
“It also boosts your confidence because you feel as though someone else believes in what you’re doing.”
Start Up Loans is a government-backed scheme from the British Business Bank available to people looking to start or grow a business in the UK. It offers unsecured loans of up to £25,000 with a fixed interest rate of 6 per cent, repayable over one to five years. Find out more at startuploans.co.uk
