In June 2022, we are celebrating ten years of Tegen Accessories! The last ten years have been an amazing journey, and I wanted to share our story with you all.
Celebrating 10 Years Of Tegen Accessories
Where It All Began...
I started Tegen Accessories when I was twenty-five years old. At the time, I was a store manager at Jaffa Hair, a shop that was located in Brighton’s Lanes. Sadly, that shop had to close down, making me redundant. However, I saw great potential in the location of the shop and the gap in the market that high-quality hair accessories filled. I had learned so much while working there, it seemed a shame to let all that go, and so I decided to pursue the passion I had for the products and helping customers find the perfect accessories.
The Opening Of Tegen Accessories, The Boutique.
With a small loan, I acquired the shop lease and the stock. On the 23rd of June 2012, I opened the doors of my own boutique, Tegen Accessories.
We had such wonderful times in the boutique helping customers and decorating the shop with fabulous products. We sold the French handmade hair accessories and Swarovski Crystal embellished accessories which are available on the website now, as well as a wide array of hats and fascinators. Over the years I have built up some amazing relationships with our lovely suppliers, that have been fundamental in building the business to where it is today. Owning the boutique was a fantastic experience, and the team were always brilliant. We loved being in the heart of the Lanes and being part of the community.
The Beginnings Of Tegen Online...
Shortly after opening the boutique, the team and I started working on the website. I knew that online shopping was only going to get more popular. In 2014, our website tegenaccessories.co.uk was launched. This website has taken us beyond Brighton, and I am delighted that it connects with customers all over the world.
In 2020, when the pandemic hit, I had to make some tough choices. I knew that it was time to close our beloved boutique. This meant that the team could focus all of their energy on our website. Although it was a hard decision, it was the right thing to do, and it has certainly paid off.
Where We Are Today!
Now, ten years on, I am delighted with where Tegen Accessories is. My team of talented young women has doubled in size, and we have recently won an award for Best Marketing Campaign, as well as earning nominations in four other categories. My current focus is expansion, from our US website, to our brand new men’s hair accessories website Men’s Hair Tools.
Our offices are still located in the Brighton Lanes, and passing by the premises of our old boutique every day reminds me of how far Tegen Accessories has come! Although the last ten years have come with challenges, they have been so rewarding. The friendships I have made with the team past and present, some joining me at my wedding, are so special. For example, our Customer Care Manager, Sophia, has been working alongside me since the very beginning of Tegen Accessories. “It has been an absolute pleasure working for Tegen over the past 10 years”. She has said that; “the last ten years have been a journey filled with many wonderful memories, from the days in the boutique, to attending fabulous trade shows, to collaborating with other great companies. It’s such a joyful and inspiring working environment where I have always felt there is lots of opportunity for creativity. I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of the Tegen team and to have made friendships that I hope will last a lifetime. Heres to the next ten years!”
It’s been a pleasure to see team members flourish and excel in their careers. Tegen Accessories wouldn’t be where it is now with out the hard work and dedication of the team over the years. I would also like to extend a big thank you to all of our customers, new and old, for their support; after all our customers are at the centre of everything we do! I can’t wait to see what the next ten years of Tegen Accessories brings!
