Having started out with a large international garment manufacturer over 30 years ago, I garnered a good education in the textile industry, fashion and the clothing market. When the time came to move on I spent a few years working for some of the top names in the Scottish wedding industry, then decided it was time to strike out on my own and opened my Bridal & Boutique Alterations in Ayr. For over a decade we serviced some of the biggest bridal shops in the country and individuals alike, and it was this positive reception that encouraged us to expand and start looking at the retail side of the business. In early 2019 my husband and I purchased a lovely old building in Sturrock Street, Kilmarnock. It was built in 1885 for the Quakers as a 'Friends Meeting House' at the behest of the five Finnie sisters whom had been bequeathed the land from their late father. It was designed by the famous architect Robert S. Ingram, who was also responsible for the Grand Hall and Palace Theatre among many other notable structures in and around Ayrshire and Glasgow. To say it was in a state of disrepair would be an understatement, but we set about renovating regardless and, due to being a listed building, it took over a year to complete. But it was worth the wait.