NEW FEATURE - THE SUN: EXCLUSIVE - WEDDED BLISS...

Well ladies, I am feeling truly excited... Wow, just wow!!! Celebrating Curves has made it into the national press!!! I was so delighted to speak to The Sun to talk about my journey to open up my little bridal studio in Sheffield for plus size brides!!! It really was a massive turning point in my life and I truly believe everything happens for a reason!!! It’s never to early or to late... Follow your dreams, you only get one shot at this life... so make it count and make the most of it!!! Thank you so much to every single person who has helped me support my dream, I love my job every single day!!!

Full feature below:-

WEDDED BLISS Woman who opened plus-size bridal boutique after being made redundant THREE times now rakes in £150k a year…

Jane Burbeary, 50, from Sheffield, wants brides of all shapes and sizes to feel their best on their wedding day

EXCLUSIVE By Zlata Rodionova, Digital Consumer Reporter
IMAGE CREDIT: GLEN MINIKIN

BEING laid off can seem daunting, but Jane Burbeary turned it into an opportunity to launch her own bridal bridal boutique stocking plus-size gowns.

Inspired by her own difficult experience of finding a wedding dress over size 16, the 50-year-old from Sheffield set up the shop in 2016.

The business concept is based on Jane's experience - being plus size herself she understands the needs of curvier women

But her dream of "being her own boss” only became a reality after a tough year.

Jane opened her shop, Celebrating Curves, after she was laid-off from her job in the training industry - her third redundancy in just seven years.

The same year, she also split from her husband.

She told the Sun Online: "I was 48 at the time and with the big FIVE O coming, I decided it was now or never.

Dresses available at the shop cost between £895 and £2,350, but the majority of stock is priced between £1,000-£1,400

Many plus-size brides who come to Celebrating Curves have had a bad experience shopping elsewhere, according to Jane

"My father was a self-employed painter and decorator, so I always had the idea of launching my own business in the back of my mind."

Jane set up her company with a loan from the government-backed Start-Up Loans Company, which offers a six per cent fixed rate on borrowing up to £25,000.

The organisation, which merged with the British Business Bank in 2017, supports businesses trading for less than two years.

Now in its second year of trading, Celebrating Curves is expected to double its annual turnover to £150,000.

Celebrating Curves specialises in dresses for plus size brides, with all samples in size 14 or above

Jane also offers a range of bridal accessories such as belts, veils or jackets

Brides who have bought their dresses elsewhere and want to accessorise them with veils, jackets and headpieces can also book appointments at the shop

So what makes the store a success?

“As a plus-size woman, bridal gown shopping can be a nightmare,” according to Jane.

In fact, she compared her own disheartening experience with a famous scene from the movie Pretty Woman, when Julia Roberts' character Vivian Ward is shunned from a boutique because she doesn't look like she can afford it.

“I had my Pretty Woman moment when I walked into a bridal boutique and a saleswoman looked at me from head to toes and said - I’ve got nothing here to fit you,” Jane said

Being plus-size herself, the business owner understands the needs of curvier women and aims to give advice and reassurance to every customer who walks through her door.

The store stocks dresses from size 14 to 32, which cost between £895 and £2,350, from four designers - White Rose Graceful, Christina Wu Love, Allure Women and Victoria Kay.

Brides-to-be come to the Sheffield shop on an appointment only basis to put nervous brides at ease in a relaxed atmosphere.

Jane's favourite part of the job is seeing plus-size brides who struggled to find their dream dresses in tears of joy as they find their perfect fit.

Celebrating Curves offers a full two-hour appointment, where the bride and her entourage have exclusive use of the studio

Jane Burbeary set up Celebrating Curves after struggling to find the right wedding dress for herself when she was getting married a few years ago

She said: "Ninety per cent of the time they come in and describe what they don’t like about themselves."

"So when they find THE dress that makes them feel like a million dollars, you can just tell and that’s priceless."

But she admits that running a business is a “a double edged sword”, which leads to lots of sleepless nights and responsibility.

"It’s good that all the decisions are down to me but it’s also the worst part of running your own business. I am questioning myself constantly," she said.

"I’m really lucky that I have a good network of friends that will help me when I am exhibiting or when I need a pep talk," she added.

Celebrating Curves currently has about 2,200 followers on Facebook and 700 on Instagram and want to improve her social media presence next year.

“I think social networks are massively important for any small business. Most of my customers come from either social media, the website or when I exhibit at sort of wedding fairs - that’s where my business tends to come from,” Jane said.

The business is also branching out with a brand new prom dress and occasion wear collection.

“Teenage girls have really bad experiences when it comes to buying their prom dress. And in some extreme cases they end up not going to their prom at all - and I think that's awful,” Jane said.

“For now we have a small collection but it’s already getting very good feedback on social media. Something to look forward to in the New Year,” she added.

Link to the article here