A FAMILY-run prom dress business is vying for votes from the public in a regional awards ceremony, including two individual prizes.

The Pageant Boutique, based in Swan Avenue, Eldwick, Bingley, is on the shortlist for the Yorkshire Choice Awards Independent Business prize, which will be presented at a ceremony at The Centenary Pavilions, Elland Road, Leeds, on April 1.

The firm is owned by mother and daughter, Claire and Amy Barker, of Wilsden, with the latter also nominated for the businesswoman of the year and inspirational individual prizes at the same ceremony.

The business, which sells rather than hires out dresses, opened in January 2014, stocks more than 200 different styles of dresses which are all imported from the USA.

The dresses vary in price from £300 to £2,000 and the average price of dresses they sell is £500. Last year it sold prom dresses to students from 88 schools across the UK.

Its core market is supplying prom dresses to girls aged 16 for their school proms, but Pageant Boutique also supplies dresses to women for pageant competitions or black tie events.

Amy, 22, herself has competed in pageants, including internationally, since she was 16.

Claire, 45, said: “We have no idea who nominated us but we would like to thank them and to share our success as inspiration to many young people out there that it is possible to make your dreams come true and run your own successful business.

“It’s pretty amazing to be nominated. It shows to our customers that we have got a good business.

“This was always that Amy wanted to do. It’s lovely to be working together. We set up the business just before Amy was due to go to university. It is just the two of us who work here.

“January and February are our busiest months. Girls are buying their prom dresses all year round. It’s not just the dress; it’s the hair, shoes and what vehicle they go in.”

Go to yorkshirechoiceawards.co.uk/votehere to cast a vote.

Other nominees from Bradford include Howard Moss, managing director at Astonish and Dan Mottram, of White Star Security, in the businessman of the year category.

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