A formal suit hire business in Leighton Buzzard has relocated and used a £50,000 loan facility from Lloyds TSB Commercial to renovate its new larger premises.
To facilitate its expansion Fogarty Formal Hire – which provides suit hire services for weddings as well as dinner and dance events – relocated to its new property on North Street recently.
The business, established 30 years ago, also supplies TV companies with costumes for a range of programmes including period dramas.
Business owners – Malcolm and Faye Taylor – approached Lloyds TSB Commercial for funding to refurbish the three storey traditional town house. There is 130sq metres of storage at the premises, which features an atrium, and has been completely renovated with a modern glass shop front and new interiors.
Since the move the company has the space to expand its range of men’s black tie and evening wear, including traditional top hats and tails, and contemporary tailored clothing. The couple has taken on two new sales staff to help with the growth of the business and will look to build on this growth over the next year.
Malcolm Taylor, co-owner of Fogarty Formal Hire, said: “We have been experiencing steady growth since we moved from mainstream menswear to menswear hire and soon realised that if we wanted to increase our range of stock we needed a larger site. Our new premises are just down the road from our previous building and offers the space we needed but without losing the great location that our customers already know.
“To make the property work we needed to completely refurbish the site to modernise the facilities. Thanks to the funding from Lloyds TSB Commercial the new store looks fantastic and we have had a very positive reaction from customers.”
Emma Pearce, relationship manager at Lloyds TSB Commercial, said: “When Malcolm and Faye approached me with their business proposal it was clear to see that they were very passionate about the formal hire sector and determined to continue the success they had already achieved.