Betty Blues Loungerie proved to be a big hit at the Conservative Party Conference (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Betty Blues Loungerie, based in Hartley Wintney, near Basingstoke, proved to be a great success at the Conservative Party Conference

4:11pm Thursday 18th October 2012 in Business By Richard Garfield

Hartley Wintney businesswoman Betty Hobcraft certainly attracted plenty of attention when she took her lingerie designer business to the Conservative Party Conference.

Betty, who recently set up her business Betty Blues Loungerie, at her parents’ home, said she was thrilled to be invited to showcase her range of wares at the conference as part of the Conservative Start-Up Hub competition.

She was one of 12 finalists to be picked to promote their businesses during the three-day conference in Birmingham.

And she proved to be a big hit – securing several hundred pounds worth of orders, after showcasing her lingerie on the last day of the event.

The 24-year-old businesswomen, from Hartley Wintney, said: “I had a brilliant time – it was really good fun.

”I had a manikin with me and when I was dressing it first thing in the morning, a man walked past and thought there was a naked lady there.

“Everyone who stopped seemed genuinely interested and took the time to listen to what I had to say.

“I was the hub competition winner on my particular day, which was great. And since the conference, I have received a couple of hundred pounds worth of orders.”

Unfortunately, Betty did not catch the eye of Prime Minister David Cameron, as he had visited the hub competition exhibitors the previous day. But she did meet Home Secretary Theresa May.

“She wished me good luck,” said Betty.

“Attending the conference was a real boost for my business to get my name out there and get more people knowing about my business.

“Hopefully, I will continue to get more sales from it.”