Alex Polizzi: The Fixer

Props and Frocks 1 Season 5 Episode

Alex Polizzi is called in to a faltering fancy dress shop in Essex - Props and Frocks. Last year, owner Adele took out emergency bank loans to prevent the business going bust. When Alex arrives, she discovers one of the main reasons why - literally thousands and thousands of lines of stock, filling not only the shop but garages and outhouses too. Adele is a stockaholic. She's also a workaholic who can't leave the shop as she doesn't trust anyone else, and has a hugely emotional attachment to the costumes. She's smothering the business and needs to take a step back. The family meanwhile see the shop as an extension of their home. Adele's own mother Joy, who also works in the shop, cannot stand anyone touching any of the goods. Alex tackles the problems by getting son and daughter Rhys and Ellis to start taking some initiative in the business and she confronts Adele's addiction to ordering stock head on.