Boudiche

Having been turned down by their bank for a loan because 'the bank manager's wife shopped at M&S and didn't see the need for anything else', Boudiche scraped its way into existence using credit cards, overdrafts and a loan from the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust. Hundreds of women all over the UK are delighted it did: the business - which operates two shops in Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as a website - turns lingerie shopping into an indulgent experience. Their travails have won the Boudiche founders a wealth of awards: last year alone, they were voted the 'Best Lingerie Retailer' at the Drapers Awards, one of the UK's Coolest Brands at the Drum Marketing Awards, and one of the Top 50 Boutiques in Britain by the Sunday Telegraph's Stella Magazine.

• Second-to-none customer service ensures conversion rate of almost 40% of footfall
• Stocks difficult-to-find sizes to serve a niche market
• Work with charity to donate recycled bras to women in Africa