Small and mighty

The founder of an independent kidswear retailer credits Royal Mail with helping her business grow.

Frances Bishop set up her company, The Pud Store, just over five years ago. It specialises in past-season designer clothing for girls and boys.

Frances came up with the idea after her son’s designer jacket was soiled, and she didn’t want to go into the children’s shop to replace it.

‘I just found childrenswear shops quite snobby,’ she said. ‘I wanted to create something that was accessible for everyone.’

The Pud Store began as a Facebook Group, taking orders over the phone. It has since grown to four stores in Doncaster, Mansfield, Sheffield and Newark, and employs 14 staff.

‘We’re a small but mighty team of mums,’ said Frances. ‘We’re proud to be really cost-effective and to always put children first.

‘We’re about taking retail back to its small, traditional values with community at the heart.’

Frances has been using our business service for four years. ‘Royal Mail has been a lifeline because we can update our customers at every stage of delivery,’ she added. ‘It’s just so easy, which is really important when you’re growing a business.’

Having grown The Pud Store Facebook Group to 20,000 members, Frances set up a website for her brand in October 2019.

‘We were spending so much time on the phone that it just made sense,’ she said.

The retailer is now taking between 2,000 and 3,000 orders a month and distributing from five different locations.

‘We’ve also started to go international,’ Frances explained, ‘and Royal Mail has made it so simple. Everyone we’ve come into contact with has gone above and beyond.’