“I can see why they’re called 48 Factoring. Once I provided very basic information, the funding was in my bank and available to me in only two days- 48 hours – just as their name says! The process was so easy and simple.” owner, Debbie Collins, The Dress Matters.

Aptly named The Dress Matters, this suburban Philadelphia bridal boutique has helped hundreds of women find the perfect dress for their wedding or special occasion. They also offer mother of bride/groom dresses, eveningwear, bridesmaid, flower girl and prom dresses.

Sole proprietor Debbie Collins is a health insurance professional with a flair for wedding and event planning. She’s helped many family and friends plan events and while planning her own wedding, fell in love with the wedding dress side of the business. In addition to her wedding vows, Debbie also vowed that she would one day open her own bridal store. And two years ago, she did.

It’s no surprise that The Dress Matters won the Best of Delco for Bridal Dresses and the Best of Mainline for Bridal Boutique for the past couple of years. Their unique offerings, such as the VIP Bridal Experience allows a bride to be pampered and feel special while she tries on and selects her wedding dress. Brides can also plan a “Girl’s Night Out” event that takes place on a Friday or Saturday evening after the store has closed. They can invite their bridesmaids, mother, sister, friends or other family members to join them for refreshments, wine, and other beverages while getting personalized attention and trying on dresses.

Debbie’s favorite part of owning a bridal boutique is when a bride makes a decision on a dress. “The joy on the faces of the bride and her friends and family is simply amazing and never gets old”, said Debbie. “We make it into a very special occasion with champagne toasts and photos of the moment posted on Facebook. It’s something they will always remember and cherish.”

As with all things fashion, styles and additions can change rapidly. The wedding industry adds new or tweaks current styles around every six months. In order to stay current, a shop owner has to carry a healthy inventory and refresh it as often as the industry demands. The Dress Matters carries around 100 different styles and sizes of bridal gowns.

One thing Debbie realized soon after opening her shop was that plus-size women didn’t have as many options for the dress-selection process. They could be ordered in their sizes, but due to limited larger-size inventory in most stores, they weren’t able to have the same experience as a smaller sized woman who had many more dresses in inventory to try on.

Debbie wanted to give all women that special experience while selecting their dress, no matter their size. So she turned to 48 Factoring, Inc. in order to secure the necessary funding to purchase more inventory in larger sizes.

“It was a very easy process from the moment they contacted me. They walked me through everything I needed to do. Once I got everything they requested, it was approved and the money was in the bank in two days”, said Debbie. “That’s right- two days, 48 hours- the company name is right on the money!”

The Dress Matters is featured in many wedding magazines and websites such as The Knot and The Wedding Wire. They can be seen at local wedding expos and hold many of their own events, including an annual bridal fashion show and luncheon. They are located at 1024 North Providence Road, Media, PA 19063. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 610-566-5680 or go to www.thedressmatters.com.