Dress Rentals by Neish: no tags attached
Dress Rentals by Neish is a simple go-to solution for people looking for the perfect dress to look good and feel good at an affordable price.
Dress Rentals by Neish’ (DRBN) is a flourishing dress renting business in Kirikiriroa Hamilton. Started by Neisha Cooper in 2021 when she was just seventeen, the business has grown significantly over the last 4 years
Cooper began the business as she had a passion for dresses. “The idea of providing outfits to people in Hamilton and then slowly building up to all people all over New Zealand made me really excited”, she said
Neisha said affordability for customers was a big part of launching her business, “Who wants to buy a dress that costs $200 to $1,000 and only wear it for one night? Affordability was a huge factor in starting my business”.
Another benefit is that every rental helps create a sustainable alternative to fast fashion. “You’re supporting sustainability by renting,” Neisha said. “You can wear as many dresses as you want, but you’re not contributing to fast fashion as much as if you were buying dresses every weekend.”
“I just fell in love with brands, designers but most of all dresses of course”
-Neisha cooper
Cooper started small, with a simple room outside her house. While DRBN still operates from that same space, it’s been renovated with a mix of natural and industrial lighting to create a vibrant atmosphere. The dresses are arranged by colour, with music playing in the room, offering a fun, inviting experience for customers to try on the perfect dress.
Neisha leveraged social media as a marketing tool to spread the word of her business. Cooper also hosted collection launches and attended business events to connect with the community. Through hard work, she’s grown her business into what it is today
Cooper said her business is different from other ones in the industry. “I found my niche, which is ball season and marketed crazy on that” She feels that by having her own niche, she’s able to build her own community and attract different clientele from over Aotearoa New Zealand.
Like other businesses, there are challenges to face. “Fitting everyone in is a struggle, especially during ball season”. Now, Cooper is running 8:00 am- 8:45 pm Tuesday through Friday for try-ons and then uses Sunday and Monday for admin.
The next goal for DRBN is to expand the showroom to accommodate more customers in busy seasons. Neisha plans on creating separate spaces so two customers can try on rentals simultaneously while maintaining privacy. She also aims to add a desk for booking assistance. While making these updates for practicality, she’s committed to keeping the personal atmosphere that defines her brand
In an ever-evolving fashion industry, Dress Rentals by Neish provides the perfect place and community to rent from. It shows that renting is more than just a trend. With a loyal customer base, clear visions and dreams there’s a promising future ahead for the business.
To find out more about DRBN and to view the website, click here
