Mary Queen of Shops - Series 2 - Episode 5

Retail guru Mary Portas is out to save the small fashion boutique from extinction. In this series, she comes to the aid of five independent shops that are fighting for survival. But retail is a ruthless business, and with high street giants ever more powerful, can Mary turn the fortunes of these small shops around? Lucy Weller, a former theatre set designer, owns and runs Selkie, a ladies' fashion boutique in the centre of York. A fabulous building and a wonderful location haven't been enough to attract York's sophisticated forty-somethings over the threshold. When Mary visits for the first time, the reason why is crystal clear. Lucy's Halloween-themed window says second-hand shop rather than fashion emporium, and inside it's apparent that Lucy's forgotten she's selling fashion and instead has given pride of place to ironing boards and doll's houses. To show Lucy where she is going wrong, Mary takes her to 'The Shop' to meet the visionary behind one of the most individual independent fashion stores in the country and to Liberty, where Mary has convinced the department store's creative director to hold back her key window for Lucy to dress. However, even with the pick of the department store's top designer collections, the day ends in tears. Will Mary ever be able to turn this theatrical novice into a hard-nosed retailer?