An award-winning North Wales prom dress shop has doubled sales in just a year and now plans to become the go-to destination for dream gowns.<\/p>\n
Ffansi Ffrogs launched in October 2023 and has been on a remarkable rise with teenagers travelling from across Wales and beyond for its \u201cfun, friendly and personal service\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Ruthin boutique\u2019s success was crowned this summer when it scooped the Best Fashion Store in the Best of North Wales Business Awards \u2013 just two years after opening.<\/p>\n
Owner Wendy Thompson, who launched Ffansi Ffrogs with daughter Robyn, 18, says the recognition reflects how quickly word has spread and she\u2019s determined to build on the momentum by scaling up further.<\/p>\n
Wendy revealed they smashed their own ambitious sales targets, doubling the figures from their first year.<\/p>\n
Things are going so well that Robyn has joined the business full time after leaving school.<\/p>\n
Now with bookings already filling up for Prom 2026 Wendy is urging families to secure appointments early to make sure they find the perfect dress.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cWhat I really want to be is the go-to destination for North Wales, Cheshire, the Wirral and beyond\u00a0 – our success so far indicates how much people appreciate a local boutique that\u2019s exclusively focused on prom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWinning the Best of North Wales Business Award was wonderful. It meant the world to us because it was 100 per cent down to a public vote.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo know we are trusted by so many families after only two years in business is incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wendy and Robyn are helped by a team of six part-time young assistants and are planning to use social media to expand the business this year..<\/p>\n
She said \u201cThis year we\u2019re launching a TikTok shop selling bags and ties to co-ordinate with our dresses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll also be using our Pinterest account to help girls plan their entire prom look, together with posting helpful video guides on our YouTube channel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to grow the business as rapidly as I can because obviously there\u2019s a real need for it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love working with Robyn and I\u2019m delighted she\u2019s now going to be involved full time and between us we are determined to take it to the next level.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first step is introducing four new brands for Prom 2026 \u2013 it\u2019s so exciting that top brands want to work with us and bring their gowns to North Wales.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wendy came up with the idea of opening up a prom boutique in 2023 after searching for that perfect dress for Robyn.<\/p>\n
They discovered there were few choices in North Wales and ended up going to Liverpool for the dress.<\/p>\n
Wendy said: \u201cWe went to Liverpool, had a nice day, but just thought this could be done better – and it could be done locally.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we\u2019re local girls can come straight from school, parents can bring them after work in the evening – finding the dress doesn\u2019t need to take up a whole-day, going to Liverpool or Manchester or further afield.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also offer appointments in Welsh which is something lots of our customers really appreciate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGirls have travelled from Caernarfon, Newtown, Harlech, over in Shropshire and even Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cA family from New Zealand who were staying at the Ruthin Castle hotel and spa bought a dress to take back for their daughter\u2019s homecoming.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been crazy, but great fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
The service was expanded last year when Ffansi Ffrogs opened up a second store in Ruthin specialising in plus size prom dresses, helping curvier girls to see that size isn\u2019t a barrier to feeling beautiful for prom.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had four generations of one family travelling up from Swansea for our unique plus size prom experience, where every dress is able to be ordered in size 18 and above.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robyn said \u201cI put our success largely down to the friendly, welcoming environment we\u2019ve created for the girls and their families.<\/p>\n
\u201cAppointments last an hour, so you don\u2019t feel rushed. The adults get comfy seats, coffee and chocolates and the girls are looked after by young stylists who have only recently had proms themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur aim is to make the process memorable and stress free for everyone.\u00a0 There\u2019s always someone to advise and look after you, unlike with online shopping or at the huge warehouses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although the prom season typically runs throughout June and July to mark the end of the school year for GCSE students, Ffansi Ffrogs is already gearing up for another busy year – and encouraged families to make their bookings now.<\/p>\n
Wendy added: \u201cWe offer Saturdays and evenings during term time. After Christmas we\u2019ll also open on Sundays to make sure we can meet demand.<\/p>\n
\u201cOctober half term is looking like being our busiest yet and we have appointments available between 9:30am and 5:30pm.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year we\u2019ve introduced online booking, making it so much easier for customers and we even have a booking in the diary for March next year. Now is the perfect time to plan ahead and secure a slot.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a mum and daughter team, Robyn and I have experience of prom from both sides – we know you get one prom night and it is a privilege to help families get the dress right.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor many girls this will be the first time they\u2019ve ever dressed up for a formal occasion and it\u2019s wonderful we can play a part in that experience.\u201d<\/p>\n