A Cornish business owner is broadening her horizons, by acquiring a well-known bridal establishment in Helston.

Tara Trethowan, founder of leading sales and business development company Tara Trethowan Consultancy, takes ownership of The Bridal Studio in Helston from October 1, and plans to continue running both operations with the help of her team.

“Sales is something I’m extremely familiar with, so diversifying into retail seemed like a natural progression for me,” said Tara. “Plus it was a fantastic opportunity to take on a great local business, use my knowledge and contacts to grow it, forge strong relationships with suppliers and become an integral part of the community.”

Although new branding, a complete refurbishment plus a new website are all in the pipeline to give The Bridal Studio an elegant new identity, Tara is keen to retain its heritage in serving Helston’s female residents for the annual Flora Day festivities.

Tara said: “I’ve always enjoyed being actively involved Helston Flora Day, but now I will be able to support it in different ways, and I’ve got lots of ideas on how I can work with local schools and businesses in the town that will benefit everyone.

“As for the bridal aspect, I want to make wedding dress shopping more of an experience. After setting a date and choosing a venue, the most important thing is getting the right dress, so I want to create a lovely event that brides can share with friends and family, in a beautiful environment with extra finishing touches that will make them feel special.”

However Tara insists that her new venture won’t change the high levels of service and professionalism her consultancy clients have come to expect since launching her business in 2013.

“The consultancy is doing really well right now, especially since we moved into our new premises this year,” said Tara. “We’re working with some great clients and building a very strong team, and with their help I know I can manage both the consultancy and the bridal shop, keeping all our clients happy. As far as the consultancy is concerned, it’s business as usual; running both is going to be a challenge, but one I’m looking forward to.”