Louise Bisson, 26, is a Sales Executive for
Clothes Show Live & The Dance Show

Louise lives in East Sheen with her boyfriend George, has recently been stepping in for Frankie on Frankie Says Shop and is our CSL resident thrifty shopper. 

How is that you came to work at Clothes Show Live? 
After an amazing 3 years at Uni in Leicester I moved to London and got my first job working for a young fashion brand as Sales Account manager. I used to help organise their latest range in preparation for the show. I worked in marketing for a bit after that and soon realised that I wanted to be back in a busy, pressurised sales environment. I’d never worked in events before, but loved Clothes Show Live and wanted to be a part of seeing the show come together! What girl doesn’t want to be surrounded by talk of fashion and beauty as part of their job!

How does the average day begin for you? 
I’m quite lucky as our office is in leafy Teddington which is only about half an hour away from my house. So I set my alarm for 7.30am, to wake up to a bit of cheese on Magic FM! After I’ve fed and cuddled my little rabbit Hugo, I grab a hot water and a bowl of Shreaded Wheat then throw on some clothes. The great thing about working in such a girlie office is that we have a licence to be as dressy as we wish and I love comparing outfits and sharing tips with the girls. Although I love clothes, I do have a tendency to rush around a lot so I often go for function above fashion but with a bit of will power I usually manage to stay away from my old faithful jeans and T and reach for that spangly dress that wouldn’t look out of place up in Stoke on a Saturday night! A bit of Mac, Chillie Red lipstick and a spritz of Marc Jacobs later and I’m off out the door by 8.45am. 

How would you describe the main purpose of your role? 
The main part of my job is to help fill the show with as many retailers and brands as possible. I ensure they’re aware of the show and understand our event is a fantastic and enjoyable way to make lots of sales and build their brand awareness to their core market. The Clothes Show Live visitors are very loyal and save up all year to come and spend at the show and I’m very passionate about it being a great platform for fashion and beauty brands. I try and communicate this over the phone, by emails and in person at meetings. I also visit lots of shows and shopping towns to find out who’s who and who’s new in the industry!

You have been known to pull a whole outfit together for under £20, what are your top tips for finding a bargain? 
Being a bargain hunter isn’t easy, my vice is that if it’s cheap I’ll buy it! So I’ve often made purchases that I’ve never worn because it’s too big/small/falling apart; but the £2 price tag makes me think that I’ve conquered all of the fashion world in its entirety!


I’m relentless though, both when it comes to being at the shops by 10am on a Saturday morning (with or without a hangover!) and when it comes to stitching, picking and snipping that garment until it fits! Every piece no matter how cheap will have at least one outing on my person whether that’s around my head/waist/neck or as a handkerchief! 

Some of my favourite pieces are bargains – my Levi cut off shorts are a staple item of mine. I wear these in all seasons and they go with absolutely everything in my wardrobe! They cost £4 from my local FARA charity shop and can be made to look pretty for dinner with the in-laws or rocked up with a studded top for festivals! With a bit of care at the cutting stages these are a must for everyone’s wardrobe! 
 

What is you biggest bargain? 
My biggest bargain is actually one my most expensive purchases funnily enough. Being a thrifty shopper doesn’t just mean only buying things for under a tenner. It means considering your purchases before parting with the cash and planning your execution! I eyed up my prospective leather jacket in All Saints for months before opening a store card and waiting for a bonus promotional weekend to receive an extra 20% off which! I’m now up to around 200 wears, that’s around a £1 per wear so far! Excellent shopping even if I do say so myself!