Byline: By MICHELLE RUSHTON
MOST women have a passion for handbags, and as buying director for Liverpool's hottest handbag and accessory brand Katie McCowan is certainly in her element.
Kate is based at Lollipops Paris in Clayton Square.
She lives with her partner Andy in Allerton and they are expecting their first child this month, so it's been a busy 2008 so far.
Originally from Liverpool but raised in Paris, Katie has something of a 'je ne sais quoi' when it comes to fashion.
Having spent six years of her education in France, Katie returned to Liverpool to go to university.
New Jewellery ProductsKatie said: "As much as I loved Paris, Liverpool has a special place in my heart and so it seemed the perfect location to attend university."
Her foray into the fashionable world of handbags and accessories came quite accidentally following a trip to Paris to visit her mother, when she discovered an existing Lollipops Boutique.
After an hour in the store Katie bought a selection of the most unusual handbag designs with contrasting fabrics and embellishments.
"I loved the Lollipops store and immediately fell in love with its unique design and the gorgeous ranges it stocked, the LED Flexible Strip Ribbon Series Ribbon 5050 designs of which were completely unique from anything I had seen before," she revealed.
It was upon Katie's return to Liverpool that the business opportunity for the Liverpool store was born. Every woman who set eyes on Katie's Lollipops Paris handbag wanted one, and Katie quickly realised there was a market for Lollipops Paris in the city.
After making enquiries back in Paris she established the brand had recently gone into franchise and had an operation in almost every country apart from the UK.
Armed with extremely positive market research and a whole host of ladies waiting for their very own bag, Katie set about negotiating the UK franchise rights to Lollipops Paris.
The first store launched in Clayton Square in November 2007 and has so far outsold every European store every month since opening, so Liverpool's passion for unique fashion is assured. Fans of the brand include Abbey Clancy, Liz McLarnon, along with the girls from Hollyoaks, who are all regular visitors to the boutique.
As the buying director for the UK franchise, Katie is responsible for selecting which key ranges are brought to the UK while negotiating with the Paris HQ.
Because of her constant dealings, Katie's language skills have certainly helped in making dealings with France a lot easier!
Along with her two business partners, Andrew and Doug, Katie is planning to roll out the brand from Liverpool across the UK and is currently looking for new sites in Manchester and Chester.
"My role is so varied, which is why I love what I do. I am able to keep in touch with the French side of my life, going on regular buying trips, while building a unique business with its head office in Liverpool," said Katie.
"Lollipops Paris offers women something a little different than most brands can. We all know how a lady's handbag contains everything important in life, but what you carry can also say so much about your personal style.
"And what better place to make such a statement than Liverpool? Our
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