Big prof its for boutique that’s facing attacks on social media
Store threatens legal action over ‘damaging’ allegations
A TOP fashion boutique that found itself at the centre of a social media storm this week, has a huge cash pile in its company accounts, the Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Cari’s Closet, which has outlets in Malahide and Cork as well as an online shop, posted profits of €644,547 last year, its most recent financial accounts show.
The boutique, which is owned by husband-and-wife team Chris Kavanagh and Lisa Duffy, is a favourite with the likes of Rosanna Davison and Yvonne Connolly, who have promoted its clothes in the past.
But it found itself at the centre of a furore when popular Instagram page Bloggers Unveiled questioned where its wares were made and the price of certain items.
The MoS can also reveal that Cari’s Closet has sent several legal letters threatening High Court action against Bloggers Unveiled, and representatives of the boutique have also contacted Facebook, which owns Instagram, in an effort to have the content removed.
Bloggers Unveiled has now closed comments under the post relating to Cari’s Closet.
A spokesman for Cari’s Closet said it was aware of the matters and had engaged legal advice after ‘false and malicious material relating to the company appeared online.’
‘This matter is now in the hands of our solicitors. Cari’s Closet will take any necessary legal action to resolve this matter,’ they added.
Bloggers Unveiled told the MoS it had acknowledged receipt of a legal letter and was now consulting with legal representatives.
‘I feel the letter is an attempt to unveil me, and is a blatant attempt to stop me,’ said the account, whose identity has never been revealed.
Separately, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has been contacted by members of the public regarding Cari’s Closet.
‘Since 17 June 2018 to date, two consumers have contacted the CCPC in relation to Cari’s closet,’ a commission spokesman said.
Last weekend, former customers contacted the anonymous page with details of the costs of items that they felt were grossly inflated. One was a dress that was sold at Cari’s Closet for €159. An apparently identical dress was available from website Pretty Little Thing for just €28. Emails from dissatisfied customers were also posted.
In a statement, Cari’s Closet said: ‘We started out as a rental store for the first three years, moving solely into sales, but we now only sell our own label.
‘Currently we manufacture our own clothes for sale in our stores and on our website in clothing manufacturers throughout China. All our clothes that we retail have Cari’s Closet labels on them.
‘We do not buy clothes for retail through any online websites. We have worked hard over the last six years with our team to build our business.’
‘We’ve worked hard to build our business’