We are a mum and daughter team who have lived in Ruthin since 2020 (we relocated from Wigan in the Covid firebreak and couldn't even buy a tin opener as it was classed as a non essential item - in my world, it doesn't get more essential than a tin opener when you've just moved house).
Robyn is currently studying for A levels and is undecided as to what will come next. When we first moved, she was 14 and applied for a job in a local restaurant. I gave her the option to go in by herself for her trial shift or for me to go with her. I explained that as an employer, I would be hugely impressed if she went in alone. I told her she would only have to walk in for the first time once. After thinking about it, she took a deep breath, counted to 3 and in she went. Since then, she has done nothing other than make me proud and is currently successfully juggling studying with 4 jobs. I hope that being involved with Ffansi Ffrogs from it's inception will teach her invaluable business skills that she can use in whatever she chooses to do in the future.
My background is in corporate law, primary teaching and for the last 12 years, owning and managing a soft play centre. I opened the play centre when Robyn and her brother Toby were tots, after I identified a gap in the market in Wigan. I didn't want to be travelling to Warrington and Preston for a decent coffee and somewhere safe for them to play.
Now it's come full circle - it was Robyn's own prom dress experience this year that highlighted a gap in the market again and inspired us to open Ffansi Ffrogs and encourage people in North Wales to shop locally for Prom.
With prom fast approaching and life being hectic as usual, we had to block out a day to go to Liverpool, arrange for someone to keep an eye on Toby (clearly prom dress shopping wasn't high on his agenda) and we really felt like we needed to get it all sorted in that one trip to avoid running out of time. We spent almost £100 on fuel, parking, toll, breakfast and Kaspas ice cream (other ice cream cafes are available) and that was without even adding in the actual dress.
The shopping experience itself was underwhelming - the dresses were all wrapped in plastic and squashed together - the shop also offered Bridal and we couldn't help but feel like we were playing second fiddle to the brides as the main event. We came away thinking we could do it better - make it more of an experience because you only get one high school prom, so the memories should start from the first dress appointment. Ffansi Ffrogs is young, vibrant, incredibly pink, with lots of indivdual touches and attention to detail that we just don't think you get in the city or the huge, impersonal boutiques.
We look forward to meeting you all and thank you for supporting our small business,
Wendy and Robyn xx