A WELL-KNOWN Garioch business is celebrating a milestone, 21 years after its owner decided to take the plunge.
With 50 boxes of clothes sourced from bankrupt shops in her home country, Norwegian-born Inger Helen Vorley set up The Fountain in Port Elphinstone in 2003. Since then, the expansive shop has gone from strength to strength and is renowned as a destination of choice for all kinds of quality ladies clothing, from casual separates to occasion wear. Inger Helen and her team are also well-known for hosting many fundraising fashion shows all over the North east throughout the years.
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In 2011, fired by her frustration at a lack of options available to wear to a Burns Supper, Inger Helen also launched her own label. Tartan Touch specialises in bespoke creations featuring or accessorised with tartan and its online presence ensures a suitably broad audience. Additionally, Inger Helen has even branched out into creating jewellery inspired by some of her collections, ensuring that outfits can be complete to the very last detail.
In total, a team of five plus three local dressmakers deliver a complete service which embodies the “one-stop shop” principle meaning that outfit, hat shoes, bag, accessories and alterations can all be arranged in one visit. To further strengthen the top-to-toe offering, in November 2022 The Fountain also became home to Pear Tree Hat Hire with a range of over 1,000 hats, fascinators and hatinators.
Jayne Davidson of Pear Tree Hat Hire said: “I had been running the business from my home for 15 years and I needed to branch out because it was so busy. I have a long association with Inger Helen and The Fountain, and the decision to move the business to Port Elphinstone has been hugely successful. We look forward to the future, going from strength to strength together.”
Commenting on the success of The Fountain, Inger Helen Vorley said: “In addition to always having beautiful clothes for people to choose from, the business is built on two key considerations, and these are the customer journey and the shopping experience. They are central to people recommending us to others and returning repeatedly.
“It really is about helping women to understand that we can all reach our potential and look good – that positivity and empowerment is very important to me.”
As part of The Fountain’s 21st birthday celebrations, Aberdeenshire Provost Judy White paid a visit to the shop. She said: “As a local person and previous town centre business owner, being involved with Inverurie Business Association for many years and the formation WeAreINverurie BID, I’ve personally known Inger and her business since it was established. I congratulate her on this milestone birthday.
“Inverurie is very fortunate to have many well established successful independent businesses like The Fountain, run and staffed by passionate people who offer personal friendly service to locals and visitors. It all helps keep people shopping in our area and, importantly, enables spend to keep circulating in the local economy.”
To find out more, find The Fountain on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheFountainScotland/
