PART 2 | Behind the Scenes at Truly Sopel
Located on the famous cobbles of St Catherine’s, you’ll find Truly Sopel, my boudoir boutique and lingerie studio.
Here, I design and make vibrant, colourful and confidence-inducing lingerie for fun-loving women! It’s a place to enjoy lingerie shopping.
Today I’m offering you an insight into exactly what it takes to run an underwear boutique in Frome. So, keep scrolling and step inside my studio – a warm welcome awaits…
A calm lingerie shopping experience
Lingerie shopping is incredibly personal and sometimes daunting. This is why I want to ensure that every customer who steps through the door immediately feels at ease.
I make sure my boudoir-style boutique/studio is exciting yet calming – the perfect combination to welcome customers, old and new.
The ambience is serene, but you can softly hear the behind-the-scenes sound of the fabrics being cut, the whirring of sewing machines and the buzz of passion!
Summer has finally arrived here at Truly Sopel and we’re loving every second of the warm breeze as the door swings open, lightly knocking our shop sign that says ‘OPEN’.
We’re listening to French Indie Pop, while a Parma Violet candle softly flickers throughout the day. It’s a fragrance that customers always comment on, perhaps a signature scent for Truly Sopel.
My slippers are on, I’ve tied up my pink work pinny and I’m excited to meet the friendly faces that walk through the doors today.
My typical day in the lingerie shop
A typical working day at Truly Sopel begins with fulfilling online orders – many of which are made-to-order.
I begin processing these and organising the stock that I need to make for the upcoming weeks. This is, of course, fuelled with plenty of cups of tea and a slice of cake or two!
You’ll also find me on the phone to our UK factories where some of our collections are made.
I am wholeheartedly passionate about providing a British lingerie shopping experience and have been using UK-based factories for over 15 years.
I immensely enjoy the relationship of supporting British manufacturers and designers.
As I’m working my way through my to-do list, the shop bell rings. I welcome a customer in with a warm smile and a bright hello, showing them around the collection and offering them my assistance in any way I can.
Nothing beats having a natter (and a giggle) with my customers!
It’s important that the boutique looks tidy, fresh and inviting at all times. I always make sure the rails and stock look their best throughout the day.
You’d be surprised to know that I probably spend just as much time merchandising as I do sewing! Running Truly Sopel offers me so much variety – something that I adore. When I was younger I always fancied being a window dresser for London’s departments stores, and today very much enjoy planning and creating my own shop display for each Season’s windows.
I snap away on my phone and upload a photo to Instagram. Make sure you’re following @truly.sopel for oodles of boutique adventures and boudoir lingerie styling tips.
At 5 pm, it’s time to shut up shop. Ready to repeat tomorrow…
