Bridal Fusion by Mascia closes: Second wedding store closes as massive sale launches

A second bridal shop collapsed this week, with the owner saying they had no choice but to declare bankruptcy.

Adelaide-based retailer Bridal Fusion by Mascia announced on Thursday afternoon that it would be holding a liquidation sale.

“Bridal fusion by Mascia liquidation sale has now started,” the post on social media reads.

Over 700 dresses and accessories ready for liquidation! Also fixtures and fittings for sale as priced.’

Dresses sell for as little as $100, $200, or $300, while some dresses originally retailed for $8,000.

The company was operated under a one-man registration by Mascia Paradiso.

Customers mourned the company’s demise.

“Absolutely gorgeous dresses, absolutely too bad you are also closing such a lovely person,” one wrote.

Mrs Paradiso told news.com.au she had filed for bankruptcy due to a combination of factors that made her “just couldn’t keep it up.”

“The case is closed, we are getting rid of the stock,” said the mother.

“Due to Covid and a failed marriage, storms and many external issues as well as personal stress and issues, I have decided to go bankrupt.”

Ms. Paradiso said if not everything is sold by July 30, she will donate whatever is left.

The store is having a sale of all its stock and accessories with wedding dresses for just $100

“I’m also getting rid of mirrors, fixtures, fittings, gothic lounge. Everything you see has to go,” she said.

On Facebook, Bridal Fusion by Mascia has over 7,000 followers and a 4.7 out of 5 star rating.

The company has been in business since 2016, but had been closed since February.

At the time of closing, Ms. Paradiso was the sole employee, although the retailer employed nine peak staff at one point.

On Monday, another wedding specialist, The Bridal Atelier, which had stores in Sydney and Melbourne, also went bankrupt, leaving hundreds of brides-to-be in the lurch.

The store owner said a combination of factors meant she could no longer hold the business

Georgia Schroeder, the company’s retail and operations manager, said in a lengthy LinkedIn post Monday that she was a “broken woman.”

Since the closure, she has received “hundreds” of calls from devastated brides-to-be “crying and begging” about their dresses and the loss of money.

“The past few days have been the toughest I’ve ever experienced, both professionally and personally,” she wrote.

‘Being hired as the new Retail and Operations manager at the Bridal Atelier was a dream come true. Or so I thought…

“After less than two months in this role, I received a text on Friday that the company was closing — effective immediately.”

The Bridal Atelier, which has stores in Sydney and Melbourne, filed for bankruptcy on Monday with a public notice on ASIC’s website

Ms Schroeder claimed the shop owner ‘unplugged her phone’, forcing her to answer hundreds of calls from brides desperate for answers.

She said hundreds, if not thousands, of brides were left without a dress.

“They don’t have a website, they don’t have social media, and they haven’t communicated to any bride that they’re closing or that they’re going to pick up dresses that have been paid for in full,” she said.

“They haven’t advertised anywhere that they’re closing.”