In June 2022, we celebrated ten years of TEGEN Accessories. The last ten years have been an amazing journey, and I wanted to share our story with you all.
Where It All Began
I started TEGEN Accessories when I was twenty-five. At the time, I was store manager at Jaffa Hair, a shop in Brighton's Lanes. Sadly, that shop had to close, and I was made redundant. However, I saw great potential in the location and in the gap in the market for high-quality hair accessories. I had learned so much while working there that it seemed a shame to let it all go, so I decided to follow my passion for the products and for helping customers find the perfect accessories.
The Opening of the TEGEN Accessories Boutique
With a small loan, I took on the shop lease and the stock, and on 23rd 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 beautiful products. We sold the French Handmade hair accessories and crystal hair accessories you can still find on our website, as well as a wide array of hats and fascinators. Over the years I have built some lovely relationships with our suppliers, which have been fundamental in growing the business. Owning the boutique was a fantastic experience, the team were always brilliant, and we loved being in the heart of the Lanes and part of the community.
Shop French Handmade hair accessories
The Beginnings of TEGEN Online
Shortly after opening the boutique, the team and I started working on the website, as I knew online shopping was only going to grow. In 2014, our website was launched. It has taken us beyond Brighton, and I am delighted that it connects us with customers all over the world.
In 2020, when the pandemic hit, I had to make some tough choices, and I knew it was time to close our beloved boutique so the team could focus all of their energy on the website. Although it was a hard decision, it was the right thing to do.
Where We Were at Ten Years
Ten years on, I was delighted with where TEGEN Accessories had reached. The team had grown, and we had recently won Best Marketing Campaign at the BizX Awards 2022, as well as being finalists in four other categories. My focus was on growth, including our new men's hair accessories website, Men's Hair Tools.
We are still based in Brighton, and passing the premises of our old boutique reminds me of how far TEGEN Accessories has come. Although the last ten years have brought challenges, they have been so rewarding. The friendships I have made with the team, past and present, some of whom joined me at my wedding, are so special. Our Customer Care Manager, Sophia, has worked alongside me since the very beginning. She says: “It has been an absolute pleasure working for Tegen over the past ten years. 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 is 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 part of the TEGEN team and to have made friendships that I hope will last a lifetime. Here's to the next ten years!”
It has been a pleasure to see team members flourish in their careers. TEGEN Accessories would not be where it is without the hard work and dedication of the team over the years. I would also like to say a big thank you to all of our customers, new and old, for your support: you are at the centre of everything we do. I cannot wait to see what the next ten years bring.
