Buns and Booby Boxes

BUNS AND BOOBY BOXES.....

Meet Tracy Dobbie, owner of new luxury lingerie boutique Boobytrap.

Background

Tracy left school at sixteen with no academic qualifications   She wasn’t lacking in entrepreneurial nouse however.  She recalls cycling around Charlotte Square 21 years ago selling fresh sandwiches.  This enterprise was so successful that she moved up to a shop in Comely Bank to sell different foods from other countries.  This soon evolved into three deli’s and an outside catering facility making tailormade lunches to suit the ever-changing dietary needs of the public.

She sold the business a couple of years ago to move to Newcastle where she developed properties for a year.  Tracy missed Edinburgh, however, and returned last year.  Entrepreneurial as always she decided to develop a new business opportunity she’d identified while developing properties and Boobytrap - a luxury lingerie boutique combined with an intimate coffee shop – was born.  

Informed Women Interview…

How did you choose the name of your new business?

‘I chose it with friends over a nice bottle of Pinot Grigio’.

How did you get started?

‘I sourced some exclusive lingerie makes that are difficult to find elsewhere in the UK - Princesse Tam Tam,  Bien Fe Pour toi and Vitamin A swimwear and beachwear.  I wanted underwear shopping to be a fun and sexy experience and having the coffee shop as well makes it a really indulgent experience.  I also sourced some beautiful loungewear so customers can continue the indulgence at home’.

What challenges have you faced in business?

‘Continuing to stay unique and keeping up the quality of the service and product’. 

What do you find most exciting?

‘Mapping everything out in the beginning, then creating, developing and pulling it all together’.
 
What motivates you?

‘Being a single parent of four children keeps me motivated and has kept me going through all the highs and lows.  One of my biggest drives is to make sure my children have more choices than I’ve had’.

What advice would you give other women setting up in business?
 

• Follow up every reference.
• Be focussed.
• Never stop believing in yourself and your product.

How do you manage work/life balance?

‘I tend to just go with the flow.  I work better on my own and I try not to compromise time with the children.  Sometimes there just isn’t a lot of time left and something has to give’.
 

Any new plans in the pipeline?

I plan to offfer 'Booby Boxes' - presentation boxes filled with beautiful lingerie made up to order.  It would be great to help womens' partners surprise them with a beautiful, unique piece.