Don’t worry about GCSEs – I scraped through mine but now earn £1.2m a year flogging dresses
KIRSTY Gale was living on her own and working two jobs when she took her GCSEs more than 25 years ago - and came out with a handful of passes and just an E in maths.
But mum of one Kirsty says her poor grades have not held her back.
She now runs a huge prom and occasion dress company with five showrooms, celebrity fans and raking in £1.2m in revenue each year.
Kirsty, 43, owner of Red Carpet Ready lives in Lincoln with her husband and nine-year-old daughter Sacha.
She says: “My parents moved away from our hometown in Kent when I was about to take my exams but I didn’t want to leave.
“So I started living in a flat-share and working two jobs; at a care home and a fish & chip shop.
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"I wanted to complete my GCSEs but I didn’t want to go to university and studying wasn’t a priority as I was already working and wanted money in my pocket.
“My grades came and I got an E in Maths and scraped passes in the others.
“I had no clue on the direction life would take me but I knew I was good at making money.”
After school Kirsty took a short course in typing and then got a job as a personal assistant, and for the next 15 years she worked for business owners and entrepreneurs, gaining invaluable insight.
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Around the time she had daughter Sacha, now nine, Kirsty decided to go it alone - selling her £30,000 home in order to set up a business selling prom dresses.
She says: “I was inspired after my friend’s daughter asked if I could take her prom dress shopping and I happily agreed as I loved fashion.
“We visited all major cities across the UK and I was amazed - their stock wasn’t as advertised and the shops were so small with zero customer service.
“I saw the opportunity unfold right in front of me. I visualised the whole concept from my kitchen table.
"I wanted a venue which had the biggest choice of dresses, with lots of colours, sizes and options.
"I felt excited, because I knew I had found a niche market and I knew exactly how I was going to articulate it.”
Almost a decade on, sells dresses for all occasions and up to size 32.
Her customers include Love Island’s Olivia Attwood, Scarlett Moffat, Penny Lancaster and Katie Price.
I felt excited, because I knew I had found a niche market and I knew exactly how I was going to articulate it.
Kirsty Gale
And daughter Sacha has been there every step of the way - as Kirsty has juggled motherhood with running her business.
Kirsty says: “My daughter has been brought up around dresses and has often come to work with me.
"When she was growing up, I would spend all my time with her and then after she was asleep, I’d continue working until the early hours of the morning – I still do this now.
“As I wasn’t the most brainy person in school, I’m not going to push my daughter to be an academic success.
“Each person is different and it’s about finding something that makes you want to get up in the morning which is important.
"Education is vital for a grounding and base, but as long as Sacha has drive, anything is possible.
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“GCSE results aren’t worth worrying about, don’t ever think it’s over if the grades aren’t exactly what you hoped for.
"Find your passion and turn it into a career.”
