Ramsbottom Lacy Days opens new premices on Bolton street

Wendy Loftus-Leigh, 53, took over Lacy Days of Ramsbottom in 2019 after being made redundant from her job as nurse in the private sector.

The former healthcare worker had no experience in retail when she became the owner the shop on Bolton Road, which has been trading in the town for more than forty years.

Wendy says the business has faced a number of challenges over the last few years, including supplier difficulties due to Brexit and loss of earnings during the Covid-19 pandemic when she was forced to close.

Despite this, the business, which sells wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, prom dresses and more, has just moved into larger premises on the same street which has allowed Wendy to welcome more customers.

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Wendy said: “It’s something I’d always wanted to do.”

“I’m a massive believer in fate and I looked at Lacy Days when I was in my 20s and had just got married but I didn’t have the funding.”

Wendy decided to take over the shop following the death of her partner, which she says made it more difficult to carry on in her career.

Lacy Days of Ramsbottom has been operating for more than 40 years (Image: Wendy Loftus-Leigh)

She continued: “The job was travelling round to different hospitals, but I just couldn’t get into the car and go away anymore.

“I didn’t realise how impacted I was from the trauma.”

Shortly after Wendy acquired the shop, like most businesses, she was forced to close during the coronavirus pandemic and then subject to strict hygiene practices and restrictions following the end of lockdown.

She continued: “We were just starting to get things off the ground when Covid struck.”

“A lot of brides don’t want to experience trying on dresses wearing a mask business was really hard, it was really hard to get people to appointments in masks and PPE.”

Wendy faced further challenges following the UK’s departure from the European Union which left her unable to work with some European suppliers.

“I had just bought a new collection from a company which didn’t have a UK distribution place in the UK and I had to sell the samples at a loss.”

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Since taking on the shop, Wendy has since married and says she has been able to build her business back up again with the support of her husband Andy Loftus and her daughter Amelia Young.

She plans to hold a proper opening ceremony at the end of the month with special offers and promotions in June.

In the future, she hopes to make the business a staple for anyone across the North West looking for a formal gown.

“To have my daughter working with me and to make it into a strong business for her to take over that would be my dream.

“I’ve learned everything the hard way, I feel quite proud of myself.”