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Lingerie website aims to spare blushes for gift-buying men
Greg Wright Deputy Business Editor MEN can buy lingerie without having to explain their requirements to a shop assistant, thanks to a Yorkshire-based online service.
The new service, Sophie and Grace, aimed primarily at men, has been launched by 29-year-old Ripon-based Michael Huber, a former online marketeer.
The idea for a user-friendly online business came to Mr Huber as a result of his Valentine's Day experiences last year, when he ordered flowers for his wife Caroline over the internet. "The flowers cost me 60 and lasted only five days, so I thought there had to be a better way for men to impress their wives or girlfriends," he explained.
"Lingerie seemed to be the right product. It is very attractive and lasts a lot longer than five days. It is also popular – there are some 250,000 search requests for lingerie every month on the web."
Michael wanted a partner in the business, so he teamed up with his mother, Andrea, who had just sold her nursing home in Ripon and was looking for a new project.
Since the website was opened late last year, the orders have started to roll in.
The company aims to turn over between 70,000 and 100,000 a year. At Sophie and Grace – www.sophieandgrace.co.uk – customers can search for gifts by size or style. The goods then come gift-wrapped.
"We can even keep a record of your order, so that you don't buy the same thing again next year," said Mr Huber.
The company's name was inspired by Mr Huber's two- year-old daughter Sophie.
His wife is due to give birth to a daughter – who the couple plan to call Grace – in the next few days.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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