Ju-Ju, a unisex fashion store run by fortysomethings Soly and Tim, have been fronting their distinctively-designed business in Brighton’s famous Laines area for more than a decade, and it’s started to show. They’re surrounded by potential customers, ‘fashion rebels’ - distinctive dressers with money to burn - but instead only offer cheap student garb to a dwindling clientele.

Diane Lazzaris runs One One Seven, a Surrey boutique which recently made an annual loss of 100,000 pounds. Concerned that the shop appears to lack passion and flair, Mary takes Diane to a Chelsea boutique for some presentation inspiration before testing her styling skills during a magazine photoshoot. Can One One Seven be saved, or is its number truly up?

Mary is in Doncaster to help turn around Homeboy, a boutique trying to sell menswear and womenswear to the party crowd. Owner Cath Taylor blames the arrival of a new shopping centre for the downturn in her fortunes. But with celebrity collections in large fashion retailers, Mary has got to give Homeboy an entirely new image if it's going to compete.

Mary is in Islington, North London at Comfort and Joy, which is run by divorcees Ruth Llewellyn and Anthony Wilson. It's too late to save their marriage, but Mary thinks she can help rescue their shop and make it a beacon of fashion on the high street.