Business savvy pair creates new fashion label, expand retail store

The owners of five fashion and giftware retailers across Toowoomba have a clear flair for business, with one of their most popular stores undergoing a major transformation.

The owners of five fashion and giftware retailers across Toowoomba have a clear flair for business, with one of their most popular stores undergoing a major transformation.

Coco and Blush at the Ridge Shoppingworld temporarily closed in May as its owners Laura Paton and her mum Dianne Paton revamped the store to make it two and a half times larger with more change rooms as well as space for more variety.

It’s a boutique retailer which sells a range of women’s clothing, shoes, handbags, hats and scarfs, as well as home decor and gifts.

It now also stocks a new, unique clothing label, Coco and Blush, which was created by the duo as part of the refresh.

Coco and Blush owners and staff (from left) Karen Parkinson, Lorrae Watson, Dianne Paton, Laura Paton and Tammy Lay as their reopen their revamped and expanded shop. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The store reopened on Wednesday and Laura said it was exciting to be in a larger space as they had outgrown their previous store.

“We’ve made it a real shopping experience now with lots of little departments under the one roof such as a new kids’ play area with Netflix, there are more change rooms, we also have the space and opportunity to introduce earring making workshops, girls’ VIP nights and lots more,” she said.

“We have more than doubled the size of the store and introduced more giftware, clothing and accessories, and increased our Avarca ranges.

“We have also managed to combine our Stella and Pearl store all under the one roof.”

Laura said she was continuing to work with four Australian designers to deliver her clothing label.

“I’m really new at this, but after selling fashion for a few years now I’ve learnt a few tricks of the trade and know what customers want such as pockets, colour, bigger sizes, to not be boring and to have personality,” she said.

Coco and Blush owners Laura (left) and Dianne Paton as they reopen their revamped and expanded shop. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“It’s the old saying – find something that works and buy it in every colour, so we have different colour options in the same designs.”

She said Coco and Blush had always focused on finding a point-of-difference, and the clothing label which stocks up to size 22, helped them stand out.

“We wanted to cater for the teachers by ensuring dresses were the right length, keep bright and bold colours in stock all year round and we want to have our customers feel like they can walk into a store and be able to find something that fits,” she said.

“It’s always been a dream, and we waited until the right opportunity came up. It’s a work in progress and it’s early days yet, but we have had so much fun with what we have put together so far.”

The other stores owned by the mother-daughter duo are Max and Betty, and Stella and Pearl located at both The Ridge Shoppingworld and Clifford Gardens Shopping Centre.

For more information on the refresh, search Coco and Blush on Facebook.