Suppliers in Focus – Hat House Herefordshire
Absolutely fantastic! Freya found me the perfect headpiece even though I’d left it to the last minute. The hat was posted out next day with a return label included, the whole process is easy to use and I can’t recommend highly enough!
One of the most interesting aspects of being a wedding and event pianist, is meeting other people who have other interests and passions that they have taken to the next stage by developing them into a business. I feel a certain connection with anyone who has done this, particularly when they’re in the early stages, as I know just what time commitment it is and the challenges you need to overcome.
I met Freya Lake at a Sterling Networks breakfast meeting in Worcestershire. Freya has a passion for high-end bespoke hats and fascinators and has a rapidly growing collection. In May this year, she set-up The Hat House Herefordshire. It’s a business which a provides premium and bespoke hats for hire to wear at special occasions. For any business to succeed the owner needs a drive and a passion for the product or service they are selling, and it’s clear that Freya has that in droves! Not only is she so enthusiastic about the hats and fascinators she hires out, but she is incredibly knowledgeable. Anyone who makes an enquiry can expect dedicated and bespoke advice from fashion to fastens to ensure they get a hat that really stands out and complements their event attire.
A love for racing and fashion
Freya got into niche and luxury hats through her love of going to the races and dressing up for the occasion. Racing is the most common sporting and social event where people would wear a hat or fascinator these days, and they can be extortionately expensive to buy, especially for people who may not attend regularly. The Hat House Herefordshire has accessibility to premium hats and fascinators at its heart and quite simply makes it possible for people to really dress for the occasion without having to break the bank. It’s not only racegoers who Freya caters for, her products are also in demand from guests at weddings and christenings who want to adhere to the time-honoured tradition of wearing elegant headwear at these special occasions. For Freya, accessibility isn’t just about affordability – most of her stock is aimed at young people, is less traditional in style, and caters for those with a sharp eye on fashion.
Freya launched The Hat House Herefordshire in May this year, and interest in her products has grown quickly. Freya puts in a huge amount of effort for each customer that gets in touch. She will advise customers on the style, shape and size of hat they may wish to hire and help them match it to their outfit. It may seem obvious, but it’s not only the type of event and outfit you need to consider, but also the time of year – as summer moves into winter, a slightly heavier, felt piece in a darker colour may be more appropriate compared to the lighter and brighter summer attire. Whatever the occasion, the season or the weather, Freya has options for you. It also matters to Freya that each customer feels comfortable with what they are wearing, and, crucially, know how to wear it. In my conversation with her I learnt that traditionally the man would stand to the left of a woman, so they would their hat to the right so it didn’t obstruct their view in conversation. I also now know that you should leave a gap roughly the width of a finger between your eyebrow and the bottom of a percher. There are no silly questions when it comes to how to wear a hat, and Freya will go through it all with you!
Hiring from Hat House Herefordshire
The process of hiring a hat or fascinator is easy. A customer gets in touch with Freya and will know what they want or will have a consultation to discuss options. Once the preferred hat has been selected, Freya posts the hat out in a quality hat box. If the event for which the hat is required is a Saturday, Freya will post the hat on the Tuesday, allowing plenty of time for the customer to have it in advance of the day, and then time after the event for them to repackage and post it back to Freya. Hats are hired generally for a 7-day minimum period. On their return Freya checks the hats over, steam cleans them and fixes any minor repairs that may be necessary. Freya’s prices make the wearing of premium hats and fascinators affordable. Her current price ranges are £15 to £55 for a 7-day hire, inclusive of postage and packaging. Considering the value of some of the stock she has, this is excellent value for money.
The buzz of a happy customer
I started by reflecting on the passion that Freya has for what she does, and, like so many sole-traders and small businesses, the motivation comes from the reactions and feedback of her customers. For me, receiving a fantastic and heartfelt review on my piano playing gives me a wonderful feeling. For Freya, seeing her stylish hats and fascinators on social media photos at races, weddings and christenings provides that same buzz! Customers who also feel at ease wearing a hat or fascinator because of the confidence Freya has given them is a wonderful feeling as well.
On hiring a beautiful piece from Freya at the Hat House, I was extremely pleased. The piece was beautiful and complimented my dress perfectly, I cannot fault the service at all. Freya was extremely helpful and took the time to help me source the hat that was best suited to my outfit!
So, if you, or anyone you know likes to dress up for special occasions, you might just want to mention The Hat House Herefordshire to them. For the same cost (or likely much less!) of owning your own hat, you could hire a series of seriously fashionable head wear from Freya capturing attentions, memories and photographs that will be yours forever!
This article was written by Robbie Roberts – a Wedding and Event Pianist