The Best Guide for the Portsmouth Area

Abigail Pallant-Sidaway from Rare Designer Must Haves

Abigail Pallant-Sidaway runs online boutique Rare Designer Must Haves. This year she started the very successful Southsea Boutique Market and she is about to follow this up with the Guildhall Boutique Market starting on Sunday 24th July.

We spoke to Abigail to find out more about the woman behind the business.

We spoke to Abigail to find out more about the woman behind the business.

1. How long have you been established?

I started Rare Designer Must Haves in 2006 as an eBay shop while I was still working with adults with learning disabilities. I opened my own website in 2007 once I had left my job with Social Services and I needed greater web presence.

2. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Cleveland, then when I was twelve my family moved to Yorkshire. I left there aged seventeen and moved to Clanfield in Hampshire in 1993 when I began my life as a Southerner. I finally moved to Southsea and joined the big city in 2003 so that I had less travelling time to work and therefore more time to be with the children.

3. Which school/college/uni did you go to?

I went to the college in Harrogate where I studied Performing Arts.  I also have an honours diploma in Hygiene Management with The Royal Society of Health and Hygiene. Vocationally I studied with the Open University for a Degree in Health and Social Care as my sister is disabled and I wanted to learn everything there is to know about the system as eventually I will take on her care.

4. What was your first job?

I did the usual bar work and spent a while childminding, but my first real job was as a MENCAP support worker when I was nineteen.

5. When did you know you wanted to run your own business and what has made you choose what you do?

I worked with adults with learning disabilities for twelve years and really loved the work, but I got tired of the bureaucracy.  I felt that the work was more about funding and budgets and not about the caring any more.  After I finished my exams for Health and Social Care, I put my pen down and decided I was going to leave that role.  I felt I knew everything there was to know about the system so that when my time comes to take care of my sister I will be well informed.  So it was time to do something that I wanted to do. 

I have always been passionate about clothing and fashion and initially the main aim of Rare Designer Must Haves was a place to buy rare and vintage designer clothes that were hard to find anywhere. I used to source items from around the World.  But with the change of the economy and the way that the pound became so much weaker it became less of a lucrative earner. 

When I became pregnant with my third child, I lost interest in fashion and became more interested in baby's and children's items, so I started to rethink the business.  That is when I began to stock the funky children's designer clothes by Stardust and the wonderful crochet designs by Ann-Claire Petit.  They are highly ethical designers and are available in big shops like Harrods and John Lewis, but because I am a small company with low overheads, I am able to supply these wonderful goods at half the price.  I have also always sold handmade jewellery online, but recently my daughter and I have been making our own jewellery to sell, which has proved highly successful at the markets and events that we have sold at.

6. How do you like working in Portsmouth?

I absolutely love working here. Portsmouth and Southsea form a highly eclectic place to live and work. I feel like I really belong here. I've not always felt that I have belonged where I have lived before, I put that down to being quite an eclectic person myself.  I have never been part of any one group.  But there is a real sense of community in Portsmouth where all the groups of creatives work very hard to support each other and help each other rather than being in competition.

 It's been amazing to meet such great people through my markets, I am constantly amazed by the talent around. Everyone is so friendly and willing to help which has made my job really fun.

7. Have you got a role model?

My Mum is my role model. She worked so hard to overcome adversity coming from another country and bringing up my sister and I.  She was a school teacher when she lived in Sarawak, Malaysia.  But when my sister was born with cerebral palsy here in the UK thirty six years ago, she gave it all up to devote herself to her.  She never had anyone around to help either, so she she has really shown me how a strong woman should be.  Even though my parents are now in their retirement years, they still continue to care for my sister in their own home. When I am finding things difficult, I remember how lucky I am and know that I am also capable of anything.

8. Have you got any plans for the future?

I am looking forward to the Guildhall Boutique Markets starting soon and plan to open more. Eventually I would like to open a shop.

9. What are your interests outside of your business?

I am a promoter of local band, Big Love Soul. I arrange gigs for them and run their website, Facebook and Myspace pages. I also enjoy singing, playing the guitar, clarinet and piano. I used to be in a band and every now and then I perform at weddings. I have three children, the youngest being a toddler about to hit his terrible twos and the middle child is mildly autistic so they both ensure I am extremely busy. I am also writing a book which has been inspired by my parents and how they met.

10. Have you got any advice that you can offer any other business owners?

Don't be afraid to take the first leap but accept that it won't happen straight away. Get started while you are still at your job doing little bits here and there. Take every opportunity that comes along and remember that you will not start making money straight away.  It all takes time and effort.  There is no get rich quick scheme available. Get your business cards ready and go to lots of networking groups.

Come up with your own ideas, whilst learning from others around you and you will go far.  Of course, if you are a creative and would like to expand or don't know where to begin, come and see me and have a stall at one of my markets!

You can find out more about Rare Designer Must Haves here. The first Guildhall Boutique Market is on the 24th July from 11am until 3pm. More informaton can be found here.

Report this article as inappropriate

Comments

You need to log in before you can do that! It's only a quick registration process to join the AMA network and completely free.