Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Dedicated follower of fashion
A trend-setting Muirhead fashionista who teamed up with Gok Wan is looking to expand her operation – and hopes for another link-up with the celebrity industry guru.
Rosie Martin has enjoyed a “fabulous” nine months since opening independent boutique Nelly McCabe on the village’s Cumbernauld Road last August.
This included displaying items from her shop at TV star Gok’s Glasgow catwalk show in November.
Rosie, 42, who named her business after her late grandmother, caught the eye of Gok after he saw her boutique’s designs on social media.
Moodiesburn-born Rosie said: “Linking up with Gok was a massive boost to the business and we have gone on to build up a really good following.
“We’ve got over 12,000 followers on social media and I would say around half of the people who come in to the store are new customers.
“I’m hoping to do some more work with Gok again this year as he is coming up to do some shows in Scotland. He was such a lovely guy and so professional.”
Nelly McCabe stocks “unique boutique brands of ladieswear and accessories from across Europe, including Spain, Italy, France, Denmark”, but Rosie is keen to maintain its Scottish roots.
She said: “I love the fact that I am running my own business in Scotland as I am home and we have a wonderful local customer base.
“I am planning on setting up a small manufacturing operation in Scotland – potentially next year.
“This would be a dream scenario and expand the brand to an everwider audience.”
Despite launching her business “at the worst possible time,” Rosie is thrilled with how things have panned out as the shop approaches its first anniversary.
She explained: “The first part of my business plan was to spend a year or two understanding the customer base and the industry itself.
“I am loving what I do and remain very passionate about the business.
“I probably opened at the worst possible time as we went on to have the worst winter we’ve had in years, but we came through it and the way the business is going is very encouraging.
“We’ve had a very good first nine months and received fantastic feedback on our products.”
Nelly has also teamed up with the Muirhead Local Business Hub (MLBH), run by village business owner Catherine Kelly.
The MLBH – which currently has 32 members – “promotes and supports” local businesses and encourages awareness of what Muirhead has to offer in an effort to “increase footfall into the village”.
Rosie said: “I was approached by Catherine to join the hub and delighted to accept the invitation.
“It’s a tough climate out there and very important that local businesses support each other.
“The group meet up once a month and it’s all about putting Muirhead on the map.”