Johanna Bolhoven is the owner of See-Saw Lingerie in Hale and founder of Ragtrade, a personal shopping and fashion styling business. Here she tells us about how she and Penny English (See-Saw Founder) have built their successful business.

Great British Life: TMB Marie Jo @ See SawTMB Marie Jo @ See Saw (Image: Archant)

What we do:

See-Saw is a lingerie, swimwear and nightwear boutique based in the heart of Hale. In October 2016 we celebrated 25-years of trading as See-Saw, a milestone we are very proud of, and it had previously been a corsetiere shop for nearly 50 years. Bras are definitely our business.

Who are our customers:

See-Saw has cultivated a loyal customer base, most of whom have been coming here since the shop opened 25-years ago, but we’re now starting to see an increase in new customers who want the personal service and expert knowledge we’re known for. We also have a loyal male customer base that value our advice and customer database at key times of the year.

Our company ethos:

Finding the perfect fit! It’s so important that you wear the right sized bra. We pride ourselves in caring and listening to all our customers and our fully trained lingerie fitters are here to guide you on fit and style from a wide range of designs and brands.

What does ‘customer service’ mean to us?

It means going that extra mile. We’re passionate about making shopping for beautiful lingerie and swimwear a hassle-free and enjoyable experience, and our aim is to provide a personalised service with special attention to detail, that makes a customer’s engagement with us that little bit more special.

What drives us:

The relationship with our customers, who continue to be at the heart of everything we do.

My top tip for those just starting out:

Preparation, preparation, preparation…. Speak to as many people as you can and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

My ‘guilty pleasure’:

Shopping! I’ve worked in various areas of the fashion industry for over 20 years. I’m also a personal stylist and shopper, so I like nothing more than scouring the shops to help them find the perfect outfit.

In my free time I like to:

Dance! It’s good for the soul. I have been a Le Roc (modern jive) instructor for over 7-years and I have recently started to learn Ballroom.

186 Ashley Road, Hale WA15 9SF

seesawlingerie.co.uk

ragtradeproductions.co.uk