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Properties of good bra fit (after surgery)

Welcome to Betty and Belle’s information pack on .  . . . . Properties of good bra fit (after surgery)
At  ‘betty and belle’  we have undertaken:
Bra construction and fitting courses at De Montefort University Leicester
Passed Trulife 2 day bra and prosthesis fitting course
Anita bra fitting day courses.
  
We all endeavor to fit the perfect bra to suit each of our customers individual needs.And after surgery the individuals needs vary so much depending  type of surgery / how long since surgery / medication (does this encourage weight gain or loss) / soreness, numbness, lymphoedema etc.
Sometimes, even with the best advice, ladies still insist on unsuitable bras (and an unsuitable prosthesis size)
Having a good relationship between bra fitter and prosthesis fitter (often breast care nurse) is essential so that everyone knows each side has strived to get the best fit.

It would seem that a significant number of women are very dissatisfied with the range of bras available in ‘their’ size and fit of bras in general. Equally, as consumers - we are baffled by different dress sizes, depending on your choice of store….. let alone  different bra sizes for different brands……!!
The industry has become aware of the dissatisfaction and has increased the number of styles and sizes availableto the consumer, but there is still a general lack of understanding so far as bra fitting is concerned…….

General Misconception (a)

Many customers think that ‘any’ sales assistant who works in a lingerie shop is ‘qualified’ to fit bras In fact, you are solely relying on the knowledge and experience of the bra fitter, as there are no technical qualifications available to bra fitters.This is especially important for post surgery fitting

THEY DO NOT !

 
General Misconception (b)

Most customers think that reputable, long established international bra manufacturering companies use a common sizing system, some standard measurements for bamd and cup patterns, some standard grading method or some standard wire sizes.There are no national or international standards

Please note:  These are our personal opinions which will hopefully help with your bra fitting and take into consideration the specific needs of post surgery ladies.

Hi everyone, please find details below of our newsletter October 2008

Dear Customer,

Firstly, a big thank you to everyone who has been to our shop and for alll the lovely ‘thank you’ cards and warm wishes. 
We pride ourslelves on high customer service standards and are often rewarded when customers recommend our shop to friends and family.
We also have a Christmas ‘WISH LIST’ book for any ladies that want to let us know which bras, briefs etc. ( or therapies) you would like friends or relatives to buy you as a present.  Just ring the shop and we’ll enter your details.     Thank you once again for all of your support.

NEW way to shop                                                                                                                                            Our on-line shop is up and running  so log on at   www.bettyandbelle.co.uk   
You can buy some of our best selling styles that we know and trust with  10% introductory on-line discount

NEW product in store
We now stock Nicola Jane bras and swimwear and the latest colours of Lara & Lena bra  from Amoena
plus new range of higher neckline lace cami tops, lace shorts, full and 1/2 slip underskirts.

Sainsbury’s breast cancer awareness fund-raising days:

After successful days in Sainsbuy’s Altrincham on Sat 4th & Fri17th October 2008 myself and the Genesis team collected donations and gave advice about post surgery bras.Thank you to Sainsbury’s staff who all dressed in pink and gave generously to our collection,  and to everyone who donated & called by to say ‘hello’ it was good to see so many friendly faces of previous customers - it kept me smiling

The Genesis Appeal is the only UK charity entirely dedicated to preventing breast cancer Join the fight to make 1 in 10, none in 10         call 0161 291 4400 for more information

We are award winners:

Awarded  by  BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

North West winners for  ‘Excellence in customer service’                                                                               We are off to the gala ball in London on 27th Nov.   Wish us luck !

 also . . .

Regional winners of Northern HSBC bank  ‘start up stars’ business awards 2008
Finalists in Underlines ‘stars’ best newcomer lingerie shop 2008
Highly commended start up business of the year -  Trafford business awards 2008

 
Dates for the diary:

Thurs. 11th Nov.    

Style consultant Colette Ali will be at our shop to have an informal evening with nibbles and fizz. She will give a talk and demo on trends for the season and myself and Kate will be at hand to discuss lingerie. Hope you can come along and join us (many ladies come on their own or you can bring  a friend)
Please call  0161 929 1472 to book as places are limited

Tues.  2nd Dec.   -    breast cancer care are hosting a lingerie evening at our shop. If you wish to come along please  register directly with Breast Cancer Care  telephone 0845 077 1893 email nrc@breastcancercare.org.uk 
  

 News Letter (No.2)

Registered in England and Wales Company no.6085420     Registered office : 35 Oxford Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2ED       VAT registration No : 910246561 info@bettyandbelle.co.uktel: 0161 929 1472address: 35 Oxford Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2ED       
 www.bettyandbelle.co.uk          
            
betty and belle

Please find below our 1st newsletter

It’s our 1st Birthday !

Dear Customer,
We are delighted to announce that we have now been open for a year and would like to say a big  ‘thankyou’  to everyone for their support in helping us to achieve this.  We have enjoyed every minute and hope to have continued success.
Hope you find our first newsletter of interest and we will be updating our website www.bettyandbelle.co.uk  with all the information mentioned below.
Please enjoy the read and do not hesitate to contact us with any ideas or comments.

We are also very proud to announce that we have been voted finalists for two fantastic industry awards, so keep fingers crossed and wish us luck.  Thanks again for all of your support and loyalty.

Birthday celebrations

Holistic therapy special offer -  10% off all therapies when you bring this newsletter with you) Throughout July and August 30% off selected lines of non-mastectomy and mastectomy lingerie and ‘buy one get one free’ offers on vests and cami tops 50 % off jersey loungewear                                 

Please pop into the the shop on July 10th and July 11th (10am - 4pm) to celebrate our 1st birthday with a free glass of sparkly while you browse.
We are through to the next stage of  National finalists (Final results at gala dinner in London 27th July)Northern finalist in HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards 2008National Lingerie Award Finalistfor ‘Best Shop U K and Ireland’Northern finalists2008

Registered in England and Wales Company no.6085420     Registered office : 35 Oxford Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2ED       VAT registration No : 910246561email: info@bettyandbelle.co.uktel: 0161 929 1472address: 35 Oxford Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2ED         
        
website : www.bettyandbelle.co.uk          
            
betty and belle

Betty and Belle, Genesis cancer prevention centre and Sainsbury’s join forces to help battle breast cancer.

Hi there,

We would love you all to come down to sainsbury’s supermarket in Altrincham on Sat 4th october or Friday 17th october and meet representatives from the wonderful Genesis breast cancer prevention centre where you will be able to get information about the great work the charity does and I’ll be there to answer any questions regarding post surgery (mastectomy) lingerie.

All in aid of breast cancer awareness month (October)

We are delighted to have received the

Highly Commended for new business start up award 2008

 THE first annual Trafford Business Awards went off with a bang on Wednesday night, as the cream of the borough’s business community descended on Lancashire Cricket Club.”The Trafford area is a great place, the area’s absolutely booming, and it’s a great place for me and great place to do business

Darren Carr, Business Person of the YearThe event - jointly hosted by Messenger and Trafford Borough Council - was compered by former BBC TV reporter Eamonn O’Neil, and sponsored by Trafford College, Harold Sharp Chartered Accountants, developer Nikal, Veolia Enviromental Services, and Trafford Council.

Up for grabs were six awards: Start Up Business of the Year, Retailer of the Year, Training and Development, Environmental Business of the Year, Business Person of the Year, and Business of the Year.

From dozens of entries, the judging panel - consisting of Messenger editor, Lynn Hughes; chief exeutive at Trafford Council, David McNulty; Business Link’s northwest relationship manager, Steve Connolly, and Chris Fletcher, deputy chief exeutive and policy director at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce - had earlier shortlisted the categories down to just 15 of Trafford’s finest.

START Up Business of The Year proved a difficult choice for the judges, so much so the runner-up place and the overall winner were jointly awarded.

Runner-up places went to Altrincham’s Betty and Belle, who specialise in lingerie for women who’ve undergone mastectomy surgery, and Sale’s Clippy’s Apples, which makes quality preserves.

We are pleased to be stocking a selection of Nicola Jane products suitable for mastectomy instore NOW.

See below for details on the lines we are stocking.

• Nicola Jane Seamfree - smooth padded moulded bra

Ideal under all types of clothing, it is softly padded, seam free AND comes with two strap options –it is two bras in one.

The soft, padded cups give a superb, natural shape disguising any difference between your prosthesis & natural breast. It also hides differences in nipple shape or size - you will not be able to tell the difference.

- Medium support
- Adjustable straps
- Suitable after radical and partial mastectomy, lumpectomy and reconstructive surgery

• Nicola Jane Lace cup with strap detail

A mix of stretch lace and soft Micro fibre, the perfect ingredients for a great fitting bra! Feminine and comfortable to wear featuring a really pretty strap detail – an instant best seller!

- Medium support
- Adjustable straps
- Suitable after radical and partial mastectomy, lumpectomy and reconstructive surgery

• Nicola Jane NEW Glamorous lace bra

Feel special everyday in our new luxury lace bra. Beautifully designed in an exquisite new criss-cross lace, this bra gives you the shape of an under wired bra without the wire. Featuring a thin elegant strap and stretch upper cup lace edging for a close fit with100% confidence.

- Medium support
- Adjustable straps
- New for 2007 - Nicola Jane Exclusive!
- Suitable after radical and partial mastectomy, lumpectomy and reconstructive surgery

• Nicola Jane Pocketed fitted top

The hidden bra does all the work so you can enjoy wearing a delicate looking top in complete confidence. The moulded padded cup disguises any difference between your prosthesis and natural breast and covers differences in nipple shape or size and the built-in bra gives reassuring support.

A tapered, loose fit body for freedom of movement and a high neckline means you can wear your top with total confidence. Under a cardigan or suit for work, with leisurewear or for your summer holiday our versatile strappy tops are a must have item for every wardrobe.

- Adjustable straps
- Medium support
- Suitable for use after all types of breast surgery
- Pocketed to hold your prosthesis securely

For more information, interviews and further background, please contact:

Alastair Cartwright or Emma-Fleur Hartley

Health Squared Communications

020 7486 6660

alastair@healthsquared.co.uk

emma@healthsquared.co.uk

Jeffrey Roberts

Communications Manager

Equity Insurance Group

01277 206280

jeffrey.roberts@equitygroup.co.uk

insure pink - background and information

Fiona Macrae was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2005. Following initial treatment she decided to take a holiday with her family to recuperate.However, when she tried to obtain travel insurance she encountered many problems. Insurance companies asked distressing, personal and intrusive questions in an insensitive manner, and all the policies they offered were loaded by at least £150.

Following more research into insurance for breast cancer sufferers that revealed it is virtually impossible to obtain without an extortionate premium, even when in remission, Fiona Macrae was adamant she wanted to do something to change the status quo. She initially thought that finding a backer for this new approach to insurance would be difficult, but thanks to the belief Neil Utley, CEO of Equity Insurance Group, had in Fiona and the changes she was trying to encourage in the travel insurance world, she found the perfect insurance company to drive her vision forward.

in

surepink’s travel policy puts an end to sky-high premiums for people with breast cancer and has been developed to allow the 41,000 UK women diagnosed every year to arrange affordable cover. Thousands of breast cancer sufferers are unable to travel abroad because the cost of cover is often more than the holiday itself.

insurepink’s travel insurance is designed as an easily accessible policy that takes personal circumstances into account rather than categorising in wide groups. It treats people with sensitivity, something many with breast cancer have never experienced when dealing with insurance companies.

For every travel insurance policy sold, insurepink donates £1 to the Pink Ribbon Foundation.Following the successful launch of its travel insurance, with many policyholders asking if insurepink offered any other policies, the decision was taken to introduce motor and home insurance in a way that would help change insurance for the better. For every motor or home insurance policy purchased, insurepink donates £10 to the Pink Ribbon Foundation – a first in the insurance market.

Hi everyone,

We are very pleased to inform you that ‘Betty and Belle’ will be supporting the fantastic fundraising event for the Genesis breast cancer prevention centre. You can find us at the Manchester City stadium football ground, for the Ladies lunch (starts at 11.30 am)  on 28th Nov 2008. We will have a stand giving advice to all who attend with an opportunity to view the products we sell instore and discuss the service we give to our customers.

 We hope you will book your place and join us. Look forward to seeing you there.

Geraldine and Kate x

Join the fight to make 1 in 10, none in 10

£450 including VAT per table of 10

Limited number of individual

places on shared tables at £45 including VAT per person

Please call 0870 062 4141, option 3

 to book your place

FOR LADIES WHO LOVE TO LUNCH

Join us at The City Of Manchester Stadium for our next

“Ladies Only” afternoon.

Friday 28^th November 2008

This event, which has now become a firm fixture on the social scene for women who enjoy fine food & wine and first class entertainment will take place in our glittering

Christmas themed executive marquee.

The afternoon will commence at 11.30am with a drinks reception, followed by a sumptuous 2 course lunch.

Entertainment will include a fashion show for all you style conscious ladies to get you in the mood for the forthcoming festive season.

There will also be a selection of exhibitors selling gifts and services.