My working week..

May 23 2008

Marcella Louden, owner of Silks, Glasgow

Starting out in the hospitality industry, Marcella Louden spent several years honing her skills in the sector before opening her own fast food and newsagents shop.

Then six months ago she made the jump from coffee cups to bra cups and now owns retailer Silks in Netherlee, Glasgow.

She said: "It was quite a change from getting up at the crack of dawn to prepare and cook the day's menu specials then spend the remainder of the day serving and cleaning then preparing for the next day's business in the fast food industry.

"Now, I spend my days working in the shop fitting bras and swimwear and travelling to trade fairs and exhibitions in England and Europe to buy stock and look for new brands for Silks customers."

Louden has been busy recently co-ordinating a complete refurbishment of the shop as she tries to put her own ideas in place.

She said: "I really wanted to stamp my own identity on the shop and worked closely with an interior designer to create a stylish new look for Silks, without alienating existing customers. We introduced a striking ivory and black boudoir-style interior with wardrobe-effect hanging areas."

But she won't be abandoning the core values and services of the business.

She added: "Our bra fitting service is a very important aspect of the business and it is important to offer customers a comfortable and relaxed environment to shop in.

"We stock up to double J cup size bras, reflecting the demand from more voluptuous women for well-fitted, larger bras and have customers who travel from all over central Scotland and the islands specifically for the bra fitting service and the range of larger cup lingerie we stock."