Posted by
Emma White
Having left the teaching profession when she had a family, Julia Jaconelli gave thought to the next steps in her professional life. Because of her love of fashion, and seeing an opportunity to open her first store in Cheam, she started a journey shewould never look back on.
“I had always been interested in fashion and decided to open a store in Cheam. I then had an opportunity to open a second store in Guildford, due to a friend giving up her business.”
This second store was situated in the delightful, cobbled Angel Gate, just off Guildford High Street. The charming surroundings gave the business its name: Courtyard. Thirty years later, Courtyard remains a first-choice boutique for the fashionable women of Surrey and the South East.
Julia chose Guildford, she says, “because it is a historic county town that was perfect for what I wanted to create.”
The women she curates perfect outfits for are of a “wide age range, who appreciate sustainable, quality clothing and enjoy new trends.”
Buying and merchandising are the things that Julia loves about the job because they require creativity and vision—that, and working with her customers to ensure they leave the store satisfied with their purchases.
“It is an uplifting experience for me and the team when we see how pleased our customers are, and how it gives them confidence in how they look.”
Courtyard has won many awards over the years, including being voted Drapers Best Womenswear Independent in the UK in 2017, and has been shortlisted every year since.
Never one to sit on her laurels, Julia has set out her plans for the future: “to continue providing a high-standard service to our loyal customers, to expand our customer base, to refresh the website, and to bring new, inspiring fashion each season.”
Julia puts the store’s success down to hard work, vision, and a great team who have been with her for many years—two of whom have been with her from the very start. Julia concludes, “It’s a very happy place to be!”