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Girl Bosses of Great Britain

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We’re joined by Lily Arkwright co founder and company MD, Lauren Shanks.

Lily Arkwright has redefined the standards for beautiful lab grown jewellery with vibrant collections of diamonds, moissanite and precious gemstones, ethically & sustainably produced and crafted in the UK.

Lily Arkwright has received a huge amount of hype and praise in recent years, with this in mind we delve deep into one of the names behind the brand and look into Lauren’s past to find out about her jewellery background, her love of sparkling jewels, and we want to know more about the precious stone moissanite.

Q. Can you tell our readers a little bit about Lily Arkwright, what sets you apart from other jewellery retailers?

A. We like to do things a little differently here at Lily Arkwright, no stuffy sales environment, amazing pricing and quality that really exceeds all expectations. Typically our customers can expect to save 90% on one of our popular moissanite set rings compared to a high street diamond equivalent. We find these savings really help when planning a wedding or honeymoon.

Consumers shouldn’t feel pressured into utilising their savings pot or overspending on a diamond engagement ring, we find couples often place more value on life experiences and purchasing a moissanite or lab grown diamond engagement ring helps achieve this.

Q. Is a moissanite gemstone the same as a diamond, is there any difference visually?

A. Moissanite is in fact rarer than diamonds and was initially mistaken as a diamond when first discovered, for this reason the vast majority of moissanite is now lab grown and engineered to give the illusion of similarity to diamonds.

We’re proud authorised Charles & Colvard retailers and set moissanite stones in all our rings as standard. Charles & Colvard are the original moissanite produces and their stones are really the very premium quality moissanite stones available today.

We’re obviously huge moissanite fans but really do believe in choice and set lab diamonds, Chatham couloured precious gemstones including rubies, emeralds and sapphires in all our collections.

Q. Does your working career stem from within the jewellery industry, or did you come from a different business sector?

A. I actually started out in fashion design and subsequently moved into fine jewellery several years ago. Fine jewellery has always been a passion of mine, when the opportunity arose to combine my passion for fine jewellery and my experience within eCommerce and the digital space It was impossible to refuse.

My professional career for the past 15 years has been tremendously exciting working within the luxury brands sector within digital, eCom Management and operations & retail.

Q. HOC. Your designs start in price from around £300 and rise to around £4,000 – do you have a current favourite piece from your collections?

A. Gosh, I have so many favourites. The Giselle, Eden and Annora, the list is endless!

I love the Grace classic solitaire, its elegant, classic and timeless, this setting really does show off the centre stone setting in the best possible light.

I wear a customised version of the cushion cut Lavender for my engagement ring, and am I having 3.0mm wide full set band for my wedding ring. We’re actually introducing this design as the Aurelia band as part of our new collection later this summer.

I really enjoy mixing my metals and often wear rose alongside my white gold and platinum rings.

Q. Do you wear your own Lily Arkwright designs along with any other designer jewellery brands, or do you only wear Lily Arkwright?

A. I do, I genuinely love the collections we produce and the team and I are forever personally testing new Lily Arkwright designs. It really helps to fully trial a design and there’s no better way than wearing one.

I’ve recently been trialing a lightweight petite three stone Lorella ring, with a moissanite centre stone and lab grown blue Chatham sapphires on the middle finger of my right hand for the last few weeks, I’ve had so many lovely compliments and the band is actually a really comfortable fit even at 1.75mm.

I frequently wear a select few other designer jewellery brands alongside my Lily Arkwright jewellery, I love to see how designers interpret trends.

I also never take out my Sena moissanite platinum stud earrings, these go with almost any outfit and occasion!

Q. Your Instagram @LilyArkwrightUK showcases some of your designs beautifully; do you find social media helps to promote your brand?

A. Absolutely, social media is great to showcase some of our beautiful collections and is essential for us. Our Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and other profiles helps our customers quickly view some of our favorite designs with photos and videos readily available.

Q. Did you have to take any specialist courses in fine jewellery or art design before you launched Lily Arkwright?

A. I was fortunate to have studied Fashion design whilst at university and my family come from a jewellery background so this provided me with a really strong understanding of the fine jewellery market. This was obviously only the start and it took us a number of years of market testing, pop up shops and market stalls before Lily Arkwright was finally born.

We’ve come a long way since those early days and are now proud Assay Assured jewellers retailers and members of the National Association of jewellers. Our teams are JET trained and our workshop have some of the most skilled and experienced bench workers in the United Kingdom. We offer free UK & European shipping and delivery worldwide.

Q. Did anyone offer you any useful business advice before you launched Lily Arkwright that you still use to this day?

A. I’ve had so many wonderful mentors throughout my professional career and I’ve always tried to remember and more importantly implement useful advice, it almost becomes a habit.

In my experience nothing is more imperative than, honesty, hard work, integrity and smart working. This is something that both myself and fellow directors really impress upon our colleagues on a daily basis.

Q. If you were to offer one piece of advice to someone thinking of getting into the jewellery sector, what would it be?

A. Working within the jewellery sector is both extremely challenging and rewarding, in particular bridal jewellery. You have the honour of helping a happy couple make one of the single most important purchases they’ll ever make, something that will grace a bride’s finger for the rest of time and be passed down through family generations in the future, the thought of it gives me goosebumps!

My advice would be to follow your heart, if you love jewellery and enjoy helping people there’s really no limit to what you can achieve. Doing something that interests you and drives your passion is immensely rewarding and benefits you, your employer and the people you serve, your customers.

Q. What are your plans for the future, do you expect Lily Arkwright to move into the high street?

A. I’m tremendously excited about what the future holds for Lily Arkwright, we’ve only recently moved into a new larger office space and continue to grow the team making strategic hires and new appointments.

We have a number of opportunities available on the high street and have recently opened our very own consultation space in our Didsbury head office. This has been invaluable for our customers who can find it difficult to visualise some of our lab grown diamond alternative engagement rings.

In addition to our recent accomplishments, after a number of years in trials we’ve recently rolled out our very own brand moissanite, Lumoie by Lily Arkwright, this stone which was initially aimed at our value pieces is now available in most of our popular rings.

Thank you for taking the time to answer all our #BossBabe questions for House of Coco Magazine.

Visit Lily Arkwright for more information about lab grown precious stones. Instagram @LilyArkwrightUK.

Olivia Conlon, aka Liv of The Hustle and The Property Stagers is a British entrepreneur, who in her mid-teens launched a brand in which she earned £30k annually, which escalated into £1 million by the time she was just 19 years old – let’s find out more about this super cool young woman who has gone on to inspire many others with her motivational up-scaling.

Q. HOC. What happened at the age of just 16, which made you wake up one morning and become this unique entrepreneur?

A. Liv. My mum was involved in property when I was 15, she had bought and renovated an apartment, it was on the market for 3 months and it wasn’t selling. I always had an interest in interior design so I decided to stage the property and it sold within 3 days. I loved it and knew this is exactly what I wanted to do when I left school.

Q. HOC. Did you always know from school-age that you were destined to become a young entrepreneur, or did you have entirely different ambitions in your early teens?

A. Liv. I had always known from a young age that I wanted to be my own boss. I started my first business on Ebay when I was 13, so when the time came to decide whether I wanted to stay on at school or leave, it was an easy decision for me to start my business ThePropertyStagers.

Q. HOC. When and where did ThePropertyStagers come from, and how
far down the line did it become such a successful business?

A. Liv. As I mentioned, ThePropertyStagers was born out of struggling to sell a property, as most great business ideas are. It has taken a couple of years for the business to achieve the success it has and a lot of hard work! I am still really involved in growing ThePropertyStagers which I am so passionate about, but I am fortunate enough to have a great team, that has allowed me to go on and live my passion of supporting other entrepreneurs in their journey to scale through my new venture The Hustle.

Q. HOC. Tell us more about scaling up, and The Hustle strapline; ‘For Entrepreneurs Who Dare to Scale’.

A. Liv. Scaling your business is a challenging path, it’s a very exciting time but there is so much that you can never be prepared for. I use the word ‘dare’ as the rewards are big but it takes a strong belief in yourself, in your business and you must be a risk taker. Scale too quickly and It can be detrimental, but if you have the right support system it can be the making of your business. That’s why I created The Hustle, an online platform and coaching group to support entrepreneurs on this journey.

Q. HOC. How did you personally scale up to go from earning £30k to earning £1 million in such a short period of time?

A. Liv. I can’t actually put the journey into words, it has involved an unbelievable amount of hard work. 17 hour days, 7 days a week. It has been the most challenging thing I have ever done. I would say you need determination, grit, and an endless amount of resilience. Also having a coach or someone who is more successful than you who can guide you has been priceless in scaling.

Q. HOC. Are you still learning as you build your brand, have you taken any business courses, or are you winging it as you go?

A. Liv. I learn something new every single day in business and I love that! Sometimes quite painful lessons but it is how you view them and learn from them that is most important. I have invested a lot into my education and personal development having been on several Tony Robbins courses and I also have a personal business coach. This has accelerated my business success massively!

Q. HOC. We love a strong, determined, young businesswoman, do you thrive from being all of these things, and do you surround yourself with other likeminded women?

A. Liv. One of my favourite things about the success I have had so far is being able to share my story with others and inspire them to follow their own path too. It is so important to surround yourself with other women who are more successful than you, and it’s something I endeavor to do with any chance possible. I work alongside my mum everyday in my business which is amazing, she was my inspiration to be an entrepreneur, I am very grateful!

Q. HOC. Were you offered any business advice that you have taken but wished you hadn’t?

A. Liv. That’s a tricky one. I was advised to only hire people I know, on hindsight, I wouldn’t. I think it can be complicated to mix business and personal.

Q. HOC. If you weren’t running The Property Stagers and The Hustle right now, what would you be doing?

A. Liv. If I wasn’t running The Property Stagers or The Hustle right now I am sure I would own another type of business. I have never worked for anyone else in my life, I just couldn’t imagine doing that.

Q. HOC. If you were to offer a young entrepreneur a single piece of advice what would it be?

A. Liv. I could write a book of advice! But I would say it is “Stay in the One Lane and don’t care what anyone thinks of you.” This for me has been vital to my success, there has been so many things I’ve had to do that have been totally outside of my comfort zone, had I cared what others thought, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Thank you for taking the time in your hectic schedule to answer our #BossBabe questions.

For more information about Liv check out her sites at The Property Stagers, The Hustle Group and Olivia Conlon.

We are smitten with the fine jewellery of Lark & Berry, a London jeweller that was founded by Laura Chavez, which specialises in ethically sourced diamonds, gold and fine jewellery.

Laura’s ethos of using cultured diamonds means that no mining takes place when sourcing each precious stone, and with the added benefit of every diamond having full traceability, this proves that her diamonds will always be conflict-free. This ethos meant that when Lark & Berry launched in 2018 it launched to great applause by jewellery fans and critics alike.

We are desperate to know more about Laura Chavez, her background, and the reasons why she went into the jewellery making business, let’s ask a few questions to get to know the lady behind Lark & Berry.

Q. HOC. You studied in the US at Rice University in Houston Texas, and followed that with an MBA from London Business School, and then on to London Jewellery School, did you always know that you wanted to work within the jewellery industry?

Laura. I’d always loved fine jewellery, but it took me a while to get involved because I didn’t want to be a part of the controversial practices of the mined diamond industry.

I went to London Jewellery School just to learn more and whilst there, I happened upon the science of diamond culturing. I was amazed! The more I learned of cultured diamonds’ sustainable benefits, the surer I became that the only way I was going to enter the luxury jewellery market would be through exclusive use of these superior, environmentally responsible diamonds.

Q. HOC. Can you tell us more about cultured diamonds and why you use these precious stones in your unique designs?

Laura. Cultured diamonds are made in labs which replicate the exact circumstances under which diamonds form naturally underground. This means cultured are chemically and optically the same as mined diamonds, but that’s where the similarities end.

With cultured diamonds, we no longer have to mine, which hurts the whole environment—plants and trees, wildlife and people. With cultured diamonds, we get diamonds that are 100% genuine, enable no human rights abuses and are far friendlier to our planet. And we can price them fairly, too, since they aren’t subject to mined monopoly.

So, upon learning all this, I knew cultured diamonds and stones (all Lark & Berry jewellery is cultured) would be the only way I’d operate. Lark & Berry is the first exclusively cultured designer brand in luxury, and we’re so proud!

Q. HOC. You currently have a London store, and are looking to open in a number of other markets overseas, can you tell us where you are opening next, and why you have chosen those specific locations?

Laura. Yes, our London flagship has been open almost a year now and is doing great, due in no small part to our in-store luxury piercing concept. Lark & Berry is the first designer jewellery brand exclusively using cultured diamonds to have a piercing option in-store. For anyone reading this who’s interested, please book ASAP as we fill up fast!

Lark & Berry is set to launch in Scandinavia in a few months. We’re so happy about it, because that market eats and breathes sustainability—it made perfect sense for us. Additionally, we’re in talks to open pop-up concepts in Los Angeles and New York City and to be placed in other stores as well. We can tell the market wants cultured—our customers here have loved what we’re doing, and a rapidly increasing number of people are looking for a more sustainable option everywhere in luxury jewellery.

Q. HOC. Your designs range in price from around £200 and rise to over £100,000 – do you have a favourite piece from your collections that would come in under £500, and do you have a favourite piece that would come in over £50,000?

Laura. I love a lot of labrets from our piercing collections. Whether you’re into classic yellow gold and cultured diamonds or you want some colour in your life, we have many competitively priced options in our piercing ranges, some of which you can mix and match with each other to have several new looks throughout your week. Our piercings, which you can get in our London store begin at £95 ($120 USD), which include a piece from our 14k gold and cultured diamond capsule collection. Options range up to £450 ($575 USD) for diamond and sapphire adorned larger pieces.

I also wear our Nocturnal Wrap Ring, which is in the £800 range. It pairs well with our new Veto Open Stackable rings. They feature only the finest rubies and sapphires and come in about every colour you can imagine. Those Stackables are in the £300 range, and even without the Nocturnal ring as a centerpiece on your finger, the Stackables can be paired in endless, creative ways to keep you looking hip, fresh and ready for Summer!

And finally, over £50,000, my favourite is definitely our Bow collection, which just won the 2019 JCK Las Vegas Editor’s Choice award in design. This win for Bow shows that cultured diamonds are every bit the equal to mined diamonds. Our Bow suite consists of an 11.6 carat cultured diamond necklace, 2.5 carat cultured diamond earrings, and a 2.4 carat engagement ring and wedding band all set in platinum.

Q. HOC. Do you wear any other jewellery designer/brand aside from your own designs, and if so who?

Laura. I don’t currently wear any other brands, but I don’t rule it out. If and when I do, I will definitely only wear cultured diamonds.

I favour new start-ups that are purely about cultured diamonds. Lark & Berry is the first designer fine jewellery brand using only cultured diamonds and stones, and we couldn’t be prouder. Anyone who debuts with a similar approach, I support their cause!

Q. HOC. Your Instagram @larkandberry showcases your designs beautifully, and you have a huge following, do you find social media helps to promote your brand?

Laura. Yes, social media is of course key for a fashion brand, but I think it’s especially important for one like Lark & Berry. We’ve been called ‘diamond disruptors’ by the press for all the attention we’ve received in our efforts to educate and promote this new, sustainable diamond option.

So, when you’re doing something that’s labelled ‘disrupting,’ it’s incredibly necessary to have great, attention-grabbing social media, as that’s where people are talking about disrupting products. We even have a new, cultured diamonds podcast as well to keep people talking—it’s called The Diamond Disruptor. You can get it anywhere you subscribe to podcasts!

Q. HOC. Do you follow jewellery fashion trends when it comes to your designs?

Laura. At Lark & Berry, we try to always do our own thing. Our award-winning designs have garnered attention for their originality and artistry. But in general, when someone is looking to make the switch from mined diamonds to cultured, I like to think that we’ll have something for everyone, even those really only into classic, traditional design.

Q. HOC. Do you remember your first piece that you made and sold?

Laura. Lark & Berry launched our online store just over a year ago and then opened our London store shortly thereafter. We had several collections, and we experienced immediate success. I can’t remember now what was first, but the Veto line immediately took off, and we were sold out of about half of those pieces for almost 6 months due to overwhelming demand!

Q. HOC. Did anyone offer you any useful business advice before you launched Lark & Berry?

Laura. Not directly—I really wanted to do my own thing and trust my instincts. I have previous experience in the resorts sector in hospitality and then later served in an advisory role to a board of directors in that same industry. I also ran my own restaurant in Argentina for a time. I feel all that experience, coupled with my schooling in North America and London prepared me well to start Lark & Berry.

But throughout my life, my father and grandmother were very influential for me, both very smart people with wise lessons. I’ve also taken inspiration from founders like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk—people who were every bit as visionary and creative as they were successful business leaders.

Q. HOC. Did anyone offer you any bad advice that you followed, and later wished you hadn’t?

Laura. Great question!

Well, the first thing that comes to mind is we had a PR company who didn’t deliver the results we’d hoped for, especially as we knew we had such a unique offering. I’ve found PR companies can be great, of course, but one thing I learned from that experience was to not rush into important decisions like that, so I looked around for an in-house person that was passionate about what we were doing.

You really have to be careful hiring outside companies to work with you, because I think it’s rare that people will be as passionate as your core team members. So I’m really all about promoting from within and giving people already doing great work for you more related responsibility—people that show a true, passion for our cultured diamonds company and causes.

Q. HOC. If you were to offer one piece of advice to someone thinking of getting into fine jewellery designing, what would it be?

Laura. The first piece of advice would be the same for anyone getting into any trade — don’t even do it unless you’re passionate about what you’re doing. You have to love your work, especially something that takes up as much of your time as starting a business or designing — whatever it is. It’s so competitive out there!

And for jewellery, no matter what sector it is one is looking to enter, I would ask people to please look into getting involved with cultured diamonds. Cultured diamonds aren’t just unique — they’re just a clear winner over mined diamonds for so many reasons.

With cultured, we get no human rights abuses or conflict that still happens in some areas, far less harm to Earth as no mining is needed and an equal diamond to its mined counterpart that is often better. Cultured diamonds are routinely Type IIa status, the world’s finest in diamonds. Only 2% of mined diamonds reach this purity benchmark.

The science alone is amazing. I think there’s still a lot of people out there who don’t even know cultured is an option with diamonds yet. I’ve even been the one to tell some people about it for the first time, and I love seeing the amazement on their faces learning of a diamond that through heat and pressure can be created scientifically in a lab, exactly replicating how they form underground.

I’ve also, firsthand, seen gemologists with years of experience not be able to tell cultured diamonds from mined diamonds; seen them admit defeat, because very simply, there’s nothing to tell apart!

Thank you for taking the time to answer all our #GBOGB Girl Bosses of Great Britain questions for House of Coco Magazine.

Visit the Lark & Berry website for more information. Instagram @larkandberry.

Beauty is seriously big business these days, and Maya Christensen has launched a toxic free, natural beauty company that focuses on skincare with a conscience, it’s called; cut.le.crap. And, oh how we love the name of this fantastic skincare and hair care biz.

The brand cut.le.crap. was started by Maya and her husband Ben to give people the option of buying beauty and hair care products that aren’t filled with nasties that hurt the environment. There are no harmful chemicals or hazardous ingredients anywhere in the cut.le.crap products.

Let’s get under the skin of Maya Christensen to find out more about cut.le.crap and Maya’s background.

HOC. What career were you working in when you first realised something had to change with beauty products and the environment?

Maya. I’ve done many things, I like challenges and learning new skills. I worked for 4 years in the wine industry, which is my other passion in life. I then became a French teacher in secondary school and did that for 3 years. And here I am today, working full time for cut.le.crap. Being taken out of my comfort zone each day but learning so much along the way. I love it.

HOC. When you set up cut.le.crap did you have one specific skincare product in mind that you wanted to get off the ground first, before embarking on the full collection you have today?

Maya. I do love oils, so I wanted to focus on a serum and a body oil, the two things I cannot live without. Oils are just amazing! They enhance the quality of the skin and – opposite to what some people might think – they do not cause breakouts or make your skin greasy. It’s just a matter of knowing which one to choose.

HOC. How long have you been running cut.le.crap?

Maya. The whole project started about two years ago but we started trading in August
2018 only. We’re still very young.

HOC. Do you have a ‘hero’ product that is a best selling product from cut.le.crap, and do you use it yourself?

Maya. Both the Marula Serum and the Body Oil are our top products. They are very efficient and they smell lovely, people that try them usually come back for more. Yes, I do use them both and the rest of the range too. My husband, our son and I are totally addicted to our own products and our bathroom is filled with them. I guess this is the perks of having your own unisex beauty care brand!

HOC. Do you have any plans to release any new skincare products in the coming months?

Maya. We have so many plans. We have two products that hopefully will be out shortly, we like keeping things exciting. We just won the Best Buy label by the Ethical Consumer Magazine and we want to keep improving our products. The aim is to revamp our existing products so they are also Cosmos certified as well as Fair Trade. We value and promote transparency and for us, this is the best way to prove to our customers that we mean business and that we have nothing to hide.

HOC. Being a skincare producer isn’t something that everyone can do – did you take any special courses or go to college to learn about cosmetics?

Maya. It all started as a passion. Four years ago we started to question the products we were using and started to look into things more carefully. What we found out was quite scary, many mainstream brands put some very toxic materials in their products and the side effects of these can be terrible. I did a lot of research myself and started to make my own products at home – I loved it. So I took a diploma in haircare and skincare formulation in order to turn my passion into a business.

HOC. From a business perspective did you come across any obstacles that you had to overcome before being able to launch cut.le.crap?

Maya. Every day is a challenge. The Green beauty market is booming but it is very competitive too. Every day we need to make sure that we stand out from the crowd. I am very passionate about the environment, I consider myself as an eco-warrior and for me, it was extremely important to offer toxin-free products in sustainable packaging. You wouldn’t realise how hard it is to find labels that are water and oil proof but also biodegradable! In the end, it took much longer than expected to launch the brand but at least I was 100% satisfied and proud of my range.

HOC. Did anyone offer you any business advice before launching, something that you still follow to this day?

Maya. We had plenty of advice from different people. But the one that I value the most is “follow your instinct and stay true to your values, never change anything about your business in order to please someone”. Being stubborn and passionate means that I totally embrace it.

HOC. Have you made any mistakes that turned into a great learning curve since starting your business?

Maya. We’ve made many “mistakes” and I am sure we’ll make plenty more. But the important thing is to bounce back and learn from them. It’s impossible to launch a business flawlessly, I mean I never ran a business before. From our packaging to the design of our website as well as how we reinject our money into the business is not that easy but that way we know there is always room for improvement. We get a clearer vision each day of what we want to achieve and we won’t stop until we reach excellence!

HOC. If you were to offer one piece of advice to someone who wants to get into the beauty industry what would it be?

Maya. Go for it! I firmly believe that it is important to follow your dreams. Just be ready to enter a very competitive market, so bring something new. I also think that in 2019 it is our duty as a business to offer sustainable and eco-friendly products. We need to lead the way and act responsibly.

Thank you for taking the time to answer all our Girl Bosses of Great Britain questions for House of Coco Magazine. #GBOGB #WomenWorldwide #GirlBossesOfGreatBritain

Visit cut.le.crap for more information.

It was one of those pivotal moments when Sofia Latif, founder of Sofia Latif® the skincare brand decided to make a change for herself and for other women across the world.

The brand Sofia Latif® was born from the need to help Sofia’s own skin issues, which erupted through developing hypersensitive skin and stress eczema in her late 20s. By personally having these issues, Sofia was then able to determine through trial and error (over 15 years of personal skincare experiments on her own South Asian skin tone) what types of natural oils and products could help her skin to realign itself and become healthier once again. Once she found the answer, she embarked on helping others with the same skincare worries.

Let’s get under the skin of Sofia Latif to find out more for House of Coco Magazine’s #GBOGB, Girl Bosses of Great Britain series.

HOC. What career did you leave behind to move forward with the skincare brand Sofia Latif™?

SL. I worked in advertising, and still do on a consultancy / freelance basis to support the skincare business whilst it grows and establishes itself. This allows me the freedom and space to drive the business forward and also keep abreast of the creative industry. It is this creativity which has fuelled me my whole career and which I bring to the brand and business now. Plus I get real-time market research by speaking to the many women I end up working with about their own skincare challenges and issues, whilst educating them on the benefits of using clean skincare and plant oils.

HOC. When you set up Sofia Latif® did you have one specific skincare product in mind that you wanted to get off the ground first, before embarking on your collection of three skincare products?

SL. I launched with my signature face oil (Face Oil by Sofia Latif), the blend which I had been using myself for 15 years, and which I had been giving away to friends and family for years. It made sense to me to launch with a product I had been personally using because I am living proof it works to create healthy and strong skin, and because I can speak passionately about it. Since then I have added to the collection with an under eye oil (Eye Oil by Sofia Latif), again used and tested by me, and will continue to grow the collection with products I know will work on my skin.

HOC. Tell us which your personal ‘hero’ product is from the collection of Sofia Latif® and why it’s so special to you.

SL. I would have to say the face oil. It has been my hero for 15 years, and will forever be in my night-time routine. It represents me-time to me, my moment at the end of each day to reconnect mind to senses. The combination of rosehip oil, marula oil, moringa, and pomegranate seed oil is a powerful one. They are packed full of antioxidants and are nourishing, regenerating, and moisturising, leaving behind a smooth and supple complexion. The jasmine and rose essential oils are both relaxing and calming on the mind, whilst helping to balance skin.

HOC. Which is your biggest selling product to date, and do you know why it’s the ‘go to’ Sofia Latif® product?

SL. Again, our face oil is a bestseller in the smaller size. It is such a handy size, and I know many of our customers keep them in all sorts of places… at work, at home, on the move in their handbags. They are great for holidays too, when we like to use minimal amounts of makeup, and let the skin glow naturally. I think the fact that there is nothing but pure plant oils in the blends also gives confidence to our customers that it can be combined with anything they are using at the time too. Pop a drop in with moisturiser in the morning for a hydrating boost, or a drop in foundation for an added glow, or of course on its own at night. A little definitely goes a long way, which I think is why the small bottle sells so well! And because we make them in small batches, our customers know they are fresh too.

HOC. Being a skincare producer isn’t something that everyone can do – did you have to develop your skill set or take any further qualifications to be able to get into this specific field?

SL. I have been a skincare addict for years, and I mean years! I started experimenting with skincare when I was 15 years old with facemasks from St Ives (remember them) and blending my own with clay and oatmeal. We always had sweet almond oil and coconut oil at home, so they were in my routine from a very early age. It was difficult to find products developed with my skin in mind. I don’t believe all skin is the same, and those of us blessed with melanin have different issues too, which most skincare brands didn’t, and still don’t, cater for.

I also wrote a blog (Lip Balm and Hand Cream), for about 5 years, and it allowed me to understand the skincare industry in a way a course would not be able to. You can’t learn about the industry in a classroom, you really need to experience it, including hearing what brands have to say, how most market to your fears, how they treat customers vs influencers, the world of influencers itself, and how brands use them. It was great market research and spurred me on to create an authentic brand determined not to create fear about skin ageing and determined not to market to fears. All skin is going to age, and all we do is help skin age more gracefully by feeding it with nourishment. We will also work with smaller influencers who may not have a massive following, but who are also authentic, and know her / his community.

I also went on a course to learn about blending oils to shore up my knowledge, so that I could continue to formulate the products myself.

HOC. How long have you been running Sofia Latif® and was there ever a point that you thought it was too difficult to get the business off the ground, or did most things go according to plan?

SL. I launched in 2017, after years of planning, dreaming and manifesting. I had talked about it so much with friends, and just needed to take the plunge. Fear of failure was a big hurdle for me, which prevented me launching sooner. Once I understood my fear and stopped allowing it to take over, and also understood that everything I do is going to be shaped by belief in myself, I was able to take the plunge and launch the brand. I still have moments of fear and doubting myself, but my belief in the brand and products is far greater and always wins. My biggest motivation is being able to inspire South Asian women of all ages, and show them that it is possible to launch a skincare business as a British Asian in her 40s.

HOC. We hear that your business ethos is to give back to others, and for every product that is sold by Sofia Latif® your business donates money to businesses in low-income countries, can you tell us more about this?

SL. I wanted to build giving into our business model from the start, and have done this by donating a set amount from each product sold via our website. We donate to Lendwithcare, who provide microloans to small business owners in low-income countries. I have seen first-hand the positive impact women have on their families and communities when they are given the opportunity to work. I worked in Katanga Slums in Kampala, Uganda, with a Community Based Organisation in 2010, who taught women how to sew and make jewellery, which they then sold at their local craft market. These women used the money they earned to support their families, reinvest in their businesses, and spread their training to others in their community, helping to support others around them. I knew then that I wanted to support women like these as directly as possible, which is what we are able to do through Lendwithcare. You can even track who we have supported via our website.

HOC. Did anyone offer you a core piece of advice before launching Sofia Latif®, something crucial that you remember to this day, and that you still advocate?

SL. Stay in your lane and control what you can control. You cannot control what others are doing or thinking of you, but you have control over you and your reaction. From this I understood your journey is yours and someone else’s journey or path is theirs. Comparing your success against someone else’s will make you judge yourself in a negative way, which attracts more negativity. Celebrate successes, and don’t berate yourself too much for the failures. These are all designed to ensure you stay on the right path for you and just you.

HOC. Have you made any mistakes that turned into a great learning curve since starting your business?

SL. Oh yes, I have made mistakes, both small and large ones, but I don’t see them as mistakes. To me they are opportunities to shape the direction and growth of the business.

HOC. If you were to offer one piece of advice to someone thinking of founding a small business, what would it be?

SL. I would tell them to go for it, and don’t listen to the naysayers. Only listen to the words of encouragement from friends and family. Find one friend or person from whom you know you will get sound business advice, and use them as a sounding board. But after that just listen to your gut because it is your second brain after all. You are uniquely you, and the reason a business will succeed or fail is all down to you. No one knows your business idea or passion as well as you. There will be others giving you their take on things, and unless they are a business mentor you trust, then don’t let them sway you too much. Your path is your own, and no one else’s.

HOC. On your website you mention that each evening you give yourself a face massage, can you leave us with details of how we can do this at home, and let us know how this simple act can help our skin?

SL. Of course I would love to. So, you know the way your skin feels plump and healthy after a facial? That is the magic of your facialist’s fingers massaging your skin with the glorious products she is using. You can recreate that at home, every day, by massaging your skin gently with our face oil, using either your fingers or our Rose Quartz Face Roller. The massaging action helps the product to be absorbed into skin, relieves tension in the muscles under skin, and boosts circulation by bringing blood to the surface of the skin. Blood brings oxygen and nutrients in it, feeding the skin from the inside. The massaging action also moves the lymphatic system, which drains the toxins away.

A simple technique is to warm some of our face oil in your hands, hold your hands over your face and breathe in deeply the scent of Jasmine and Rose. Then apply the oil to skin gently, and using your fingers massage in a circular motion, moving from the centre of the face out to the sides and then down your neck. Don’t forget to massage your neck and décolleté as the skin is delicate here too, and will benefit from the nourishment from the face oil. Continue massaging, focussing on areas of tension, such as between the brows, along the jaw line, around the eyes, all areas of the face which move with our expressions. I would recommend 5 minutes of massage, this will help the product to be absorbed by skin whilst leaving you with plump skin. You can massage skin in the morning too, by adding a drop of our face oil into your moisturiser to bring a glow to skin at the start of your day, and to get the lymphatic system moving after a night’s sleep.

Thank you for taking the time to answer all our Girl Bosses of Great Britain questions for House of Coco Magazine.

Visit Sofia Latif for more information.

J Phoenix London is a company which design beautiful modern clothing aimed specifically at today’s urban chic woman that wants to look and feel stylish, sophisticated, elegant and of course sexy. Jolanta Mikalauskaite, owner of J Phoenix gives us an insight to her background and her standout feminine designs.

HOC. How did you start out in the world of fashion and design, and was this the career path you knew you would work towards?

Jolanta. My mother was a seamstress and she was teaching clothing construction and pattern making. When I was little I was designing clothes for my barbie dolls and we used to make them together with my mother. I watched her work and I was eager to learn everything she knew. So I did. I took in her level of perfection. She said ‘clothes have to look as beautiful inside as they are outside’. This philosophy I implement in every piece I make.

When I got older I started designing clothing for myself, then for my friends and slowly transitioned into creating this brand. Since the age of 15 I was a model. Then I worked in famous designer brand stores. All my life I am surrounded by fashion so I couldn’t imagine anything else I could do better. I knew the industry inside out, it was so natural to me.

HOC. We love the name of your brand, J Phoenix where did this originate from and is there a story behind the name?

Jolanta. Thank you. When I decided to create this brand i was at the lowest point of my life, just after my father passed away and few years of not being able to find my path I felt trapped and destroyed. I knew I must follow my passion in order to have purpose. That’s when I decided I needed to take steps to create this brand. Phoenix name came into my mind when I had a conversation with my friend about planning to start my company and how it gives me hope and purpose at the same time. He said, ‘‘you are like phoenix’. I envisioned myself rising after what felt like destruction, becoming stronger than ever.

HOC. You are known for using only the best quality materials for your designs, and we can see that leather, silk, and chiffon are used throughout your current collection, which is your favourite fabric to work with and why?

Jolanta. The centrepiece of the brand are leather leggings. Idea was to create the most perfect leather leggings as, in my eyes, it’s a ‘little black dress’ in mega city, busy lifestyle living woman’s wardrobe. They look chic in almost any occasion, just by changing tops it can transition from daywear to evening wear seamlessly. Such a versatile product! I love to work with leather mostly. It almost molds onto every curve and takes personal shape of individual, its beautiful! Longevity of leather product is fascinating. It will serve you for many years and will just get better with time. I love contrasting fabrics and how featherlight silks contrast with leather. Almost like feminine and masculine for the perfect balance!

HOC. Do you have a core clientele, or does your customer base vary season to season?

Jolanta. My clients are mostly busy business women that love fashion, have unique style and don’t compromise on comfort.

HOC. The fashion industry can be cutthroat at times, was there ever a point that you thought Jo Phoenix London may never make it off the ground?

Jolanta. At the beginning everything seems exciting and a vision shines like a bright star that keeps you going without looking back. However there are moments when setbacks come in and it seems like a dead end. It’s not in my nature to give in to these setbacks. But it’s good to step back and evaluate your work at times, hence I believe that those setbacks are necessary to keep you in the right direction. Time is essential to prove your value in this market. It takes years of relentless work to become truly established.

HOC. Do you remember the very first piece that you designed and then sold, can you tell us about that piece?

Jolanta. That happened before my brand. I was 19 when I designed a dress to wear to my best friend’s wedding. It was a nude colour knee length dress that I embellished with 3D colourful butterflies all over. Everyone loved that dress. I wore it on another occasion and this beautiful model girl came up to me and asked if I would sell that dress to her and I did. It was an amazing feeling.

HOC. Do you design all the pieces yourself or do you work with a team of designers who help with your collections?

Jolanta. I design everything myself at the moment.

HOC. Now that J Phoenix London is going from strength to strength, can you see yourself designing anything other than clothing?

Jolanta. I am testing myself in interior design. I have a creative mind and feel in my element when designing.

HOC. Did anyone offer you invaluable business advice that stuck in your mind before you launched J Phoenix?

Jolanta. ‘If you can improve people’s lives, you have a business’. Richard Branson said it. It’s all about problem solving. For many years it was in my mind that I would like to create a brand that would solve the never ending ‘what to wear’ problem, especially for a woman living in a big urban city. With the demands of meetings, lunches, various events, dinners, parties -all in one day. Keeping pace with a busy lifestyle requires pain free transformations from daywear to evening wear. Idea was- keep the leggings and just change the top and you don’t have to go home to change from day wear to evening wear.

HOC. What business advice would you give to someone who is looking to start in design and fashion? And, is there anything you would suggest that they don’t do when launching a clothing company?

Jolanta. The key is being you. Even though it might have been done before, if you stake your claim on a specific look, and deliver it well every time then eventually it will become yours. Get experimenting with different styles out of your system before you start your brand. Find your perfect look and stick to it. Your aesthetic has to be instantly recognised by customers.

It’s one of the hardest businesses to succeed. You need to love what you do and be good at it! Market is overfilled with cheap products that are worn once and get thrown away. Fast fashion is ruining the environment and not only that. It takes away the appreciation of hard work that really is put into creation of clothing. Don’t take that path.

Thanks for taking the time to answer the House of Coco Magazine Girl Bosses of Great Britain #GBOGB questions.

Visit J Phoenix London for more info – www.jphoenixlondon.com

Breastmilk, locks of hair, and baby teeth were the reason behind Erin Parnell launching her bespoke jewellery business, Eternally Cherished – Family Keepsakes.

We have interviewed many successful women for our Girl Bosses of Great Britain series here at House of Coco Magazine, but we can honestly say that this is one of the most unusual businesses to date, yet we now wonder why no one else had thought of it before Erin Parnell, because it is something that is both beautiful and ingenious!

Let’s find out more about Erin’s unique and exquisite jewellery making business, and why it differs from all the rest.

HOC. Tell us the reason why breastmilk, locks of hair, and baby teeth were at the forefront of your mind when you embarked upon launching a jewellery enterprise? And, how do they now fit into your design process?

Erin. As a first time mother I was determined to breastfeed. Throughout my pregnancy I had planned and planned and planned. I knew I was returning to work at 4 months, due to financial constraints and my partner would take shared parental leave for 5 months after this. In order to facilitate this I knew from even before my daughter was born that I would need to express breastmilk to continue our journey.

I worked hard to express a large amount which was both physically and mentally draining but I wanted to ensure my daughter could continue the have breast milk when I returned to work. I was very proud of this and started to wonder what I could do/get/buy as a small token/reward for this (other than a healthy happy baby of course). So I did a google search and discovered a small niche market for breastmilk jewellery. I was amazed and really intrigued by this and really wanted a piece for myself. I couldn’t afford one due to being on maternity leave and thought, well I have some spare time on my hands let’s see what I can make for myself.

I did a bit of research into how they were made, although the specific process for treating and encapsulating the milk is different for each supplier and they rarely share their technique, I started attempting to make some items. Initially the only silicone mould I had was a Darth Vader ice cube tray so my first attempts were not very elegant! It took me a few months but I finally perfected it and managed to create the purple heart that is on my website, this is actually the first piece I made for myself and the inspiration behind my logo. I was so proud of it, people couldn’t shut me up talking about it and before long my friends wanted something made. Not all of them breastfed and asked if I could incorporate baby hair into pieces instead, so I tried and managed it. Word got around and after some encouragement from friends and family I started Eternally Cherished – Family Keepsakes.

HOC. Your concept for adding personal keepsakes into your jewellery designs makes Eternally Cherished a very special business, did you know of any other businesses like yours before you set up?

Erin. I had done some research to find out what was available and saw a few other businesses however I choose to focus on my business. It is always important to be aware of the market however my focus is on ensuring anyone that orders from me gets a personal experiences, from start to finish. I don’t outsource any work and always respond to every enquiry on any platform, from email, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc.

HOC. We love all your designs, especially the rings and necklaces that you hand make the gems for, are there any that are your personal favourites?

Erin. Other than the purple heart I also made myself the Artemis Ring to match the pendant. I love big bold jewellery and it came out so beautifully, I love showing it off and seeing people’s reactions when I tell them that my breastmilk is inside! Although I hand make all of the breastmilk gems I do actually use experts who are reliable and of the highest quality for the findings or ring settings.

HOC. Which is your biggest selling item to date, and do you know why it’s the ‘go to’ Eternally Cherished product?

Erin. My biggest selling and most popular item is the Gaia Mama Bead. It has so many variations which are possible, from colours to metal leaf inclusions and also a variety of real flowers. Every single one is totally unique. Every woman’s breastmilk is different and even if it is the same pigment added it will always be slightly different which helps represent every woman’s different breastfeeding, motherhood or just a journey, which I love. It fits Pandora and this style bracelets perfectly. There are lots of photo’s in the reviews section which shows mama’s wearing their beads with pride, and this makes me so happy.

HOC. You add many unusual items into your jewellery designs from breastmilk to animal fur and everything in between, have you ever been asked to add something too unusual that you weren’t able to work with?

Erin. So far, no. I will always try to do anything someone asks me and try to make it work, after all it is what is important for them not me. The whole purpose of these keepsakes are for someone to be able to encapsulate something so precious (whatever that is to them) in something beautiful that they have had a hand in designing, and keep forever.

I sometimes craft items which are very hard emotionally, for instance when I use ashes, especially children’s ashes. It does affect me somewhat but I know I am creating something so special for someone to have forever.

HOC. How long have you been running Eternally Cherished and was there ever a point that you thought it was too difficult to get the business off the ground?

Erin. I started Eternally Cherished in the Spring of 2018. I have always worked full-time alongside running my business. As much as I try to manage my time sometimes it is really really difficult. If my daughter is ill, I am working and the business is very busy I find it a struggle. This business is my passion and I enjoy making these pieces so much, even when it gets tough I always find joy in creating these pieces.

I think because of my career, outside of being a mother and running my business, I am quite disciplined with time management. I do find it hard to switch off and I get a lot of queries at all times of day or night; but I have a customer promise to always respond to each and every enquiry myself as quickly as I can.

HOC. Did anyone offer you a core piece of advice before launching your business that you still remember to this day?

Erin. Actually no, I didn’t really ask anyone. Perhaps there was some element of imposter syndrome or shyness about it. Even now I find it really difficult talking about my business and I am not sure why. I am in a number of different forums and groups for women in business and try to contribute where I can to support other businesses. But for me, I just research, practice and do what I do. I taught myself how to do this and continue to self-learn each and every day. I didn’t really intend to embark on this small business venture, but now I love it and can’t imagine my life without it.

HOC. Have you ever made any bad business decisions, and if so how did you come back from them?

Erin. Wow what a question, yes! I think one of my strengths is resilience and I utilise this in my career and my business. I ran a Christmas promotion and also started a new job at the same time. This meant that I was extremely busy in the business and in my new job. I made a few mistakes but worked so hard to sort them out and improve them. It is so important to me that anyone who orders from me is as in love with their item as much as I am and if they are not then I have to sort it out!

HOC. If you were to offer one piece of advice to someone thinking of getting into the jewellery business, what would it be?

Erin. Find love in what you do and everything else will fall into place. Join some women in business forum groups, the sisterhood is amazing for support, asking questions and generally just being in touch with amazing women! Be fearless, be brave, be bold!

Thank you for taking the time to answer all our Girl Bosses of Great Britain questions for House of Coco Magazine.

Visit Eternally Cherished for more information.

I’ve done you, you’ve done it and your mum has definitely done it..

You’ve spent all your time washing all your summer clothes, throwing away all the left over salad leaves in the fridge and wrestling with the cat to get him off to the cattery. Is it any wonder that we arrive at the airport tired, wired on nasty 6am coffee and grab the first fat tome we see on the shelves in WHSmiths. And any more of a wonder that we open it once, realise that it’s not for us and then leave it in the hotel lobby bookcase when it’s time to go home.

This summer, why not get prepared with a reading subscription to the Rare Birds Book Club. Female founder, Rachel Wood, started the flexible subscription service to shine a light on the joy of reading and also to get more young female authors out there in the wild.

We had a chat with her and asked her to share some of her top tips for your beach bag this summer. No excuses now.

Rachel: “Hey #TeamCoco! Supporting female writers is at the heart of the book club, and it came about pretty organically; my favourite books are all written by women, and since they all had that in common, it felt like a good place to start. I was reading so many great books that weren’t getting the attention I thought they deserved, and with Rare Birds Book Club I had the opportunity to celebrate female writers and put them front-and-centre.”

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Here are Rachel’s top picks for your summer read, all are available to buy at rarebirdsbookclub.com/bookshelf

I’ll Eat When I’m Dead by Barbara Bourland

Get ready to step behind the glossy façade of RAGE Fashion Book, the most powerful magazine in the world. Its editors are competitive, smart, savvy, and polished to perfection – even the one found dead in her office. Cat Ono doesn’t really believe her friend Hillary starved to death. And when a (disturbingly handsome) detective named Mark Hutton turns up at her office asking questions, her suspicions are confirmed. But as Cat launches herself into the investigation and goes undercover, she quickly finds she’s in way in over her head. What starts as wildly entertaining whodunnit filled with glamour, sex, drugs and lies evolves into more. It’s a brilliant satire about women’s work and women’s bodies, which manages to skewer everything from high-fashion to Instagram celebrities with wit and flare. Perfect for fans of the Devil Wears Prada and Valley of the Dolls.

Party Girls Die in Pearls by Plum Sykes

Take the fashion of the eighties and mix it with the historic spires of Oxford, then add posh parties, colourful characters, secrets, rivalries, and the unexplained death of a glamorous socialite to the mix, and we’ve got the makings of a highly entertaining murder mystery. Party Girls Die in Pearls tells the story of wide-eyed country girl Ursula Flowerbutton as she arrives at Oxford University in 1985. She plans for a quiet year studying history. Instead, on the morning of her first tutorial she finds the body of a socialite on a chaise-lounge. Together with her new friend, American heiress Nancy Feingold, the two must piece together the mystery and find the killer living amongst them – all while chasing future Dukes, attending society balls and squeezing in late-night study sessions in the library, of course. This is a whodunnit to enjoy with a glass of bubbly in hand – there’s plenty of over-the-top decadence and intrigue to be had here, and the detailed descriptions of fashion make it all the more fabulous.

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

Take a creepy, crumbling house in the middle of nowhere, suspicions of witchcraft and a 200-year-old diary, and you have a gothic ghost story so subtly heart-stopping you’ll want to sleep with the lights on. After her husband’s unexpected death, Elsie Bainbridge trades the glittering lights of London for his family estate to see out her pregnancy. Life seems rather dull until the discovery of an unsettling painted wooden figure in a locked room sets off a chain of events that threatens to consume the whole household. It’s as thrilling as it is unexpected.

The Girl in The Tower by Katherine Arden

Medieval Russia in the dead of winter is a dangerous place, especially for a woman. But for Vasya it’s the only option. With the help of her enchanted horse Solovy and a haughty winter demigod, she sets out on a life of adventure living as a boy. Things get even more complicated when she joins forces with the Grand Prince of Moscow to outwit a gang of bandits roaming the countryside. There’s magic, intrigue, superstition, love, loyalty, royalty, betrayal and plenty of atmosphere. It’s a grown-up fairytale that perfectly suits the season.

Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny

Graham and Audra are chalk and cheese. Audra is, to put it mildly, a force of nature; she knows everything about everyone, makes friends wherever she goes, and seems to have a limitless supply of energy. Graham on the other hand, is quiet, ordered – and 15 years Audra’s senior. After a chance encounter brings his ex-wife back into the picture, Graham has never been more aware of their differences. From courting other parents for playdates to the predictable (and unpredictable) ups and downs of marriage, Standard Deviation covers family life with tender wit and heart.

Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong

At a time when she’s meant to have it all figured out, Ruth’s has never felt less together. Her career is at a standstill and her fiance has left her for another woman. When her mother asks her to move back home to help care for her father, a brilliant but difficult history professor who’s recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she can’t find a reason to say no. What follows is a charming novel about family and how even when things don’t go to plan, life can still surprise and delight you in ways you didn’t expect.

Meet Hannah Nicolet, who following her own wedding in France, was inspired to set up a wedding planning business drawing on her successful career in live event production in the UK. If you dream of setting up a business abroad, Hannah has some great advice for you.

House of Coco: What inspired the creation of Noble Nuptials?

Hannah: My own wedding here in France. Many of the guests said that they’d never been to a wedding like it – it was very animated with African, Scottish and French music and dancing – and that I should plan weddings for other people.

It’s wasn’t something I had ever considered before, but with my background in production and live events, and no other planners in the area, I decided to test the water and see where it took me. I had hoped to start small, but had 8 weddings booked in the first year which was amazing.

HoC: What is Noble Nuptials philosophy and why is that important to your business?

Hannah: I have two. When I first set up the business, I decided that I only wanted to work locally and with local suppliers and produce. I have managed to keep to this, even though I get offers to work all over France, I like to work with people I know, and give back to the community where I live as much as I can.

The second is the one on my website which reads: ‘Barefoot Elegance with a Luxurious wink.’ When I came across this quote by Francis Ford Coppola, it made my skin tingle as it summed up perfectly who I am as a person, as well as what I wanted to create with Noble Nuptials.

Less is most definitely more, but the ‘less’ has to be of the highest quality and ethically sourced wherever possible. I apply this to all areas of my life, including my business.

HoC: What led you to France and what is it about France that makes it your favourite place in the world?

Hannah: I love how spacious it is. There is so much open countryside and it is very rare that I ever find myself stuck in a traffic jam, other than behind the odd tractor every now and again.

This is one of the main reasons we came to France. Before moving here we lived sandwiched between two pubs in Wandsworth and without any outside space. On Saturday nights, punters would rest their pints on our sash windows and we could hear them singing Robbie Williams or Oasis at the tops of their voices as the bars closed every weekend.

When I fell pregnant with my son, we decided it was time for a change. Having grown up in the North East of Scotland, and wanting to take some time off work to be with my son, I was keen to move back to the country. With my partner only working weekends and with a deep love of France, he suggested that we look at living and commuting from there instead.

It took us 6 months to find the perfect house within an hour of Toulouse airport and 6 months later we had sold up in London and moved to an old farmhouse surrounded by woodland – it was bliss! I have since moved to the beautiful medieval village of St Antonin Noble Val (only 10 mins away from the farm) and love the fact that an app on my phone tells me every morning that I only have a 6 min commute to work (my studio is a short walk from my home) and that there aren’t any delays.

HoC: What do you think makes the perfect wedding?

Hannah: This may be a little controversial, considering all the work that goes into the planning and styling of a wedding, but the energy between the guests and the couple! I have done weddings where the location, décor, flowers, food, wine and music has been amazing and everything has gone 100% to plan, but walked away feeling that it lacked oomph.

It’s very difficult to put your finger on, but my assistants have remarked on it too, and we all agree that when you get the right combination of guests (mostly those who are very close to the couple, and/or have known them for a long time), it can take a wedding to spectacular heights. There’s ‘buzz’ in the air – you can feel the love for the couple – and that’s when the magic happens.

Personal touches are very important too. I tend to get a lot of feedback on this from my clients who will tell me about weddings they have been to where they have been bowled over by the location and grandeur, but at the end of the day, were left feeling that it was all a little impersonal and that this is something they want to avoid.

For me, the perfect wedding has to have ‘soul’ and all of the above contributes to that. I know when I’ve witnessed the ‘perfect wedding,’ as it is the one where I have wished that I was one of the guests joining in the fun, rather than the planner watching from the sidelines.

HoC: What do you think are some of the challenges of running a wedding business in 2019?

Hannah: Brexit and the uncertainty of the pound has had a big impact on where my bookings come from at the moment – I currently have more clients from the US, Australia and France than ever before.

I think that many couples from the from the UK are worried about how the fluctuation in the exchange rate will affect their budget over a 12-18 month period. To counteract this, several of my current couples from the UK have gone for the security of a ‘forward contract’ so that they can fix the exchange rate throughout the duration of the planning process.

There are many companies out there that do this now, including ones that are specially set up for weddings and the paying suppliers abroad.

HoC: What would you say to our readers who might be starting to think about their wedding and feel intimidated or unsure of where to start?

Hannah: The first thing to do is create a budget that feels comfortable for them, then to break it down into all of the areas where they are planning to spend. A wedding planner can help with this, and based on weddings in the last 12 months, will be able help allocate the right amount to each area.

They will also know which venues will work perfectly with their budget and where there may be hidden costs, like extra refrigeration and toilets for example. There is a lot of flexibility within any budget and a good planner will be able to tell a couple where money should be spent and where money can be saved, based on the couple’s preferences.

HoC: What piece of advice would you give to our readers who want to set up their own business abroad?

Hannah: Speaking the language helps! I didn’t start my business until I could speak fluent French. Failing that, there are people who can be employed to accompany you when starting up, who will be able to help you navigate through all the red tape.

Another useful tool is Facebook. There are plenty of Facebook groups out there for people running businesses in France and the support they give is invaluable and inevitably can save you a lot of the legwork. I am part of several, including ones for weddings suppliers in France, and we all help each other.

HoC: What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given in setting up your business?

Hannah: Don’t try and be all things to all people, or ‘vanilla ice cream,’ as my mentor once said to me during a coaching session. When I first started doing weddings, I wasn’t quite sure what made me stand out from other planners, but I do now, and that’s what I sell: my own unique flavour of ice cream.

Discovering this has changed the way I do business and the kind of clients I work with. Be true to yourself and what you believe in and your business will flourish.

Find out more about Noble Nuptials

Have you have ever felt ‘burn out’, like you’re expected to “have it all”? Do you want to curb your anxiety and take back control of your life but don’t know where to start? We talked to Hannah Beko the founder and Director of Authentically Speaking who gives you her tips on how you can start making changes today.

House of Coco: What inspired the creation of Authentically Speaking?

Hannah: I decided to set up a speaking and training business in April 2016 after attending an introduction to coaching/personal development session for lawyers and bankers. I was already experiencing the power of self development in my own life and as a lawyer myself I felt I could bridge the gap between the theory and the practice.

The name came about as I realised I was learning more and more about myself and who I really was underneath the years of conditioning and “character armour” the legal profession provides us with.

I wanted it to reflect both my own journey to find my authentic voice when speaking and training but also to be a conduit for other professionals to re-discover their authentic path.

HoC: For our readers who feel burnt out, and there will be many, what is the first thing they can do today to take back control?

First you need to make a decision. Everything flows from there. If you decide that enough is enough and you will take steps to put yourself first and take care of yourself physically and mentally, then the rest follows. Until that point of realisation, nothing I teach will really take hold. Once a person has decided to prioritise their health and happiness, they can more easily decide what’s best for them.

Depending on the situation of the individual I would recommend meditation (and I teach a super simple method backed up by clinical trials) for a longer-term solution. Meditation won’t help in the immediate present, but over a period of 4-6 weeks can drastically improve burnout, exhaustion and fatigue.

If the person is feeling really overwhelmed and needs something in the moment, I use a great exercise with my clients that goes like this:

Step One – Stop and realise you are feeling overwhelmed.

Step Two – Take a pen and paper and dump out everything that you feel is on your plate, work and home related, everything that’s on your mind.

Step Three – be your own best friend. If your best friend was looking at this list, what would you tell them they really didn’t need to worry about. What can you ditch from the list completely? #

Step Four – What can you delegate to someone else. It might be a task at work, or at home. No one needs to do it as well as you do it, or as quick as you do it, but who could do that thing instead of you?

Step Five – Breathe, take a walk, have a cup of tea.

Step Six – With the remaining items on your list sort them into A, B and C. A is “I must absolutely do this today”. B is “it would be nice to get this done today”. C is “I could this today, or tomorrow, or maybe even next week”.

Hoc: What do you think stops women from taking action when they feel overwhelmed?

Hannah: I think it’s in part due to the “Superwoman Phenomenon”. Superwoman meets all the work deadlines, smashes the targets, manages the team, picks the kids up from school on time and cooks them a healthy dinner before reading them an educational bedtime story…

Superwoman is what we are all trying to be, or aspiring to be. She does everything herself because its quicker and easier that way. She wants to help and look after others not ask for help and support herself.

We need to learn that Superwoman is the cause of our overwhelm, burnout, anxiety and unhappiness. It’s perfectly okay not to be perfect. To ask for help and support and to accept it when it’s offered. It’s good to delegate and share the load.

In severe overwhelm, we are in a chronic stress state with high levels of the stress hormone. This affects our rational thinking, our decision making, makes us less able to focus and concentrate. In this stress reaction, making decisions and taking action becomes very difficult.

This is why I am such a fan of meditation. It reverses the stress reaction and increases a persons ability to focus, think clearly and make decisions.

HoC: You believe in a holistic approach to wellbeing, what does that mean for you and your clients?

Hannah: I believe in a holistic approach because of what I’ve learned for myself and my clients over the last few years. You can work on the body or the mind, but you need to include both. For example, you can talk through an issue you’re having, or something you might be feeling. But often that feeling or sense is trapped in the body, at the cellular level if you like and just talking about it doesn’t shift it.

Sometimes I work with clients who know they feel a certain way but can’t pin point why they feel it. They still want to move from that place. Working with the body helps them to do this when the mind might not have the answers. Our gut, our intuition, whatever you like to call it, is very powerful and in corporate especially we’re taught to rely on logic only and not gut feeling. We’ve been missing a really big trick!

HoC: What do you think are some of the challenges of running a coaching business in 2019?

Hannah: Following everyone else. Taking advice from everyone else. When we look at other coaching businesses around us it’s easy to feel that we aren’t achieving as much or do as well as the other person. You don’t know how long it has taken them to reach that point. I think people believe it will happen overnight and need to be ready to play the long game potentially with another source of income to take the pressure off the growing business.

HoC: What does a typical course of coaching with you look like?

There isn’t really a typical course of coaching, unless you count my group course. I run an online group course 3 times a year which is 8 weeks long and includes weekly training videos and fortnightly Q&A.

For individuals, I occasionally work on a long term basis of 3 months plus with weekly sessions but more recently people are opting for the more focused and targeted sessions which I do over half or a full day to give them a great start on making the changes / improvements they want to make in their life, business, career or relationships.

HoC: What piece of advice would you give to our readers who want to set up their own business?

Hannah: Like with many things having the confidence to forge your own path is so important to stand out as yourself and attract the clients you really want to work with.

Be kind to yourself, practice what you preach so that you are in integrity and take daily action even if it scares you. Ask for advice, but decide if it’s the right advice for you and your business.

HoC: What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given in setting up your business?

Hannah: My mentor told me in late 2016 to “do the first one to get the first one done”. For me that was my very first happiness workshop. I absolutely loved it.

Although that workshop has been run in many ways the core content and message has never changed and its one of the main focuses of my business. Aligned to this is a message I try to give myself everyday “keep taking action”. Procrastination is the biggest problem out there for new business owners.

They take the next course or the next free training or simply keep getting “qualifications”. Nothing really happens until you take daily concerted action.

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