Customer spotlight: Tiphanie Parry, director of Willow & Fig In The Lakes

Tell us in a few words what your business does…

I’m a wedding stylist – I help couples bring their vision to life and make the wedding venue look beautiful with my props and creative skills. I’m there from the beginning – a lot of people have never got married before and don’t know where to start, so I work with them to create the atmosphere and experience they want. I’m a recommended supplier at lots of venues so that brings in a lot of business for me – people are always getting married!

What was your lightbulb moment?

I was in retail management for over 17 years – as a store manager for Topman and Topshop, and M&S. I loved it and I did well, but there came a point when I had children that managing a lot of people and having such a big job became too much. I was keen to do something more creative, but didn’t know exactly what.

Then an old colleague got in touch – she’d set up Willow & Fig with one of her friends and it boomed so she was getting enquiries from all over the North West. She didn’t really want to travel and was spreading herself too thin, so she offered me a franchise with her under the Willow & Fig umbrella.

She passed me a year of work from her diary and it grew from there. I’ve created my own style – elegant and traditional but with a modern twist, so lots of greenery, twinkly lights, candle light, quirky props like vintage bicycles or giant baubles, and layers of texture to create a warmth and cosiness. It creates a lovely atmosphere and looks great in wedding photos.

What’s your favourite kind of wedding to work on?

Some clients you just click with and it becomes a really personal journey. On the big day when it’s just what the couple wanted and you can see the love between them, that’s my favourite bit – it’s just magical, I get really emotional when I see how much they value what I am putting into it.

What’s the best thing about running your own business?

Yesterday I had an inbox full of emails but it was a beautiful day so I shut my laptop and went for a walk and a coffee with my friend instead. It’s a real luxury in life to be able to do that – I see lots of friends who are in a 9-5 and it gives me such a boost to have that flexibility to do things for myself occasionally, or spend more time with my kids.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced?

I’d say it’s the juggle in prioritising things. I’d love to sell myself more and be better on the social media side of things, showing people more of the work that I’ve done. But, the reality is that I always seem too busy – I have current weddings to prepare for, customers on email constantly, stock and props to load and unload in my van.

What advice would you give other business owners facing this same challenge?

I think we all have a lot going on, so I’d say try not to give yourself too hard a time for that – life comes along and you have to prioritise that.

What’s your super power at work?

I think it’s that I have a level of perfectionism built-in – I see what other people maybe wouldn’t! And of course, every bride and groom want their big day to be perfect so it’s a great skill to have for a wedding stylist.

What’s next for you and your business?

I’d like to grow a bit more. People want to book me for me, so it’s a good opportunity to grow the business and have someone to support me and train them up so I can step back a little. I’m happy staying small and never want to be a big business, but hiring one other person would be great.

Who would your dream customer be?

I wouldn’t want to do a celebrity wedding – I’m not sure I need the extra pressure! My dream customer is someone who has a real love for the Lake District area. A lot of clients are not based here and they come because it’s just such a special place.

Tell us about your favourite animal?

I think my favorite animal is a horse. So can I make a special request for a "neigh" noise rather than a miaow when I use my card to pay for something?! It gets people all the time and they always comment on it, I say, "Oh yes, it’s just ANNA Money!"

Finally… Do you prefer cats or dogs?

That’s a really hard one. Probably dogs – sorry cats!

Follow Tiphanie on Instagram @willowandfiginthelakes here and find out more on the website willowandfig.co.uk