Wilpshire teenager opens occasion wear shop in Huntleys

Eddison Emam was all set to study Politics at the University of Manchester having finished her A-Levels, but changed her mind and after spotting a "gap in the market" has now started her first business.

She proudly opened the doors to DressEd up, based in Huntleys, Samlesbury, just over two weeks ago.

The shop is now stocked with glittering dresses of all lengths, colours, sizes and styles, with many of Eddison’s products imported into Lancashire from the US.

Eddison Emam

The current Miss Great Britain Teen, who has had success at beauty pageants all over the country, is busy building a client base of women and girls looking to find the perfect outfit for any big occasion.

She has already supplied one customer with a glamorous gown to wear to the Oscars at the end of the month.

Speaking about taking the step into business and choosing not to pursue a university degree, Eddison said: “I had just finished my A-Levels (at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School) and was getting ready to go to university.

"I had my place and was going to study Politics at Manchester, but then I decided to defer for a year.

"During that time and through many conversations with my parents I came to the conclusion I didn’t want to go to university – I’d had a change of heart and it no longer felt like the best option for me.

“I started competing in beauty pageants when I was around 12 and we’ve always really struggled to find dresses for when I’m competing, so it felt like we found a bit of a gap in the market.

“We found so many of the dresses we wanted were in America and we struggled to get them here with customs and other things.

“When I was figuring out what I wanted to do with my future, I knew I’d always wanted to be a role model for other young girls and women thinking about going into business, so that’s why I thought let’s do it, let’s open a shop.

"Being at a good school, getting good grades and going to university seemed the expected thing to do, but I want to show there are other options out there."

Opportunity soon came knocking for Eddison, when one afternoon she visited the Huntleys café with her family and noticed the units available for let.

With help from her parents, who also own their own business, Eddison drafted an application to the farm shop in a bid to secure one of the units.

Eddison shows off two of her dresses

She said: “From when we sent in the application to now, everything has happened so quickly.

"We’ve since ordered everything that we needed from the rails and mirrors to all of the dresses.”

As a result of struggling to find the right dresses for herself while competing, Eddison, from Wilpshire, made the decision to stock an American designer called Ashley Lauren – and is the only retailer in the country to do so.

She gained valuable retail and business experience while working at Sunday Best - an independent ladies’ wear shop based in Rawtenstall - while she completed her A-Levels.

The shop is full of sparkling gowns

She added: “I got a lot of my knowledge from them and they have been amazing. I’d love to be the prom dress equivalent of them.”

Over the coming weeks and months Eddison plans to help teenagers find the perfect dresses for their proms and has been networking with schools in the area to get her name out there.

She said: “People can just pop in or they can book a private appointment if they would rather have some privacy. I’ll also be doing specific nights for certain schools in the area, so groups of friends can all come together.”

DressedEd up stocks gowns for all shapes and sizes for women and girls over the age of six.

You can find Eddison's shop in Huntleys by entering the farm shop and heading up to the first floor.