Cwmbran woman goes from running an online clothes business to opening her first shop on the high street

A Cwmbran women has gone from running an online clothes business to opening her first shop in under a year.

Helen Harvey, who lives in Old Cwmbran, sells women’s and children’s clothes in her boutique shop called Love Lily Rose on Windsor Road in Griffithstown.

She said: “I started online in October last year after having two girls. I wanted to buy clothes that were a bit different to the high street but still at affordable prices.

“I started sourcing stuff abroad and in the UK so I was buying in and selling online. I set up a Facebook page as a bit of a hobby and never expected it to take off so well.”

“I lost my mum and she was my biggest supporter”
“My mum who was my biggest supporter loved what I did. I was working full-time, looking after a three-year-old and a new baby while managing an online business. I was doing parties and events in the evenings so everything was hard and challenging.

“I had spoken to mum about having a dream about owning my own boutique one day. She told me to go for it then in March this year I lost her suddenly. She was my rock, my only support and my best friend.

“Mum was always going to manage the shop for me to continue with my job which I love. Juggling it all without her is hard. I thought ‘right it’s now or never’ so I took the plunge last month and found premises. My dad, my sister and a few friends helped me to get it ready in just three weeks.”

Womenswear at the Love Lily Rose Boutique

“I sometimes wonder if I’m crazy”
“It’s been the most stressful few weeks of my life. I’m a family support worker three days a week and I look after my two girls, Lily Mae, aged four, and Isla Rose, aged one. My husband works full-time and most weekends.

“I have a friend who manages the shop from Monday to Wednesday. I do the Thursday to Saturday. I source my products and do my accounts and books in the evening when they go to bed. I literally don’t stop. I sometimes wonder if I’m crazy and why am I doing this but I’m doing it for them to spend tmore time with them and follow my dream.

“I want my girls and family to be proud”
“Most of all it’s to make my mum proud and show women they can work with their kids and follow their dreams if they work hard and set their mind to something they really want.

“I want my two girls and family to be proud of me. I’m a huge fan of working mums and a big supporter of local businesses. The shop has a play room with toilet and kitchen facilities. We offer free tea, coffee, cold drinks and biscuits to our customers.”