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Girl Bosses of Great Britain

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Girl Bosses

Girlbosses of Great Britain : The one With Strung Pretty

Stephanie and Faith are the co-founders of Strung Pretty, a brand that they launched after a chance meeting proving that serendipity is a sign of amazing things to come. A duo that bring out the best in each other, it’s no surprise that together they have launched a biz that has been a huge success in the short time since launching. We spent some time with the dynamic duo to find out more…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching your brand Strung Pretty…

We are both American expats who met on the high street in St. John’s Wood in the summer of 2019 with our families and dogs. After that chance encounter, we became instant friends. Unfortunately, not long after we met, the COVID pandemic began to severely impact not only London and the U.K., but countries across the globe with most going into a strict lockdown. While the lockdown was slightly eased during the summer months, it was still a far cry from “normal”. Everyone was required to wear masks in a taxi, in stores and in restaurants and we wanted to turn the feeling of being covered up and lost (on so many levels) into something beautiful and fun. That is when we decided to launch our brand Strung Pretty. We wanted to create something that made you feel beautiful, while serving a purpose. Anna Wintour was quoted saying “Fashion is a reflection of our time” and we couldn’t agree more. Our chains are designed to look like high end jewelry, while also serving as a place to hang your mask when not in use, keeping your mask safe and yourself stylish. Given the current economic situation that many are, in we also needed to make sure that our pieces were affordable so that everyone can look their best. In the spirit of making everything functional, we also decided to modify our chains so they could be used with eyewear or sunglasses as well. Again, keeping with our goal of joining high end fashion with function and affordability.

What has been the biggest learning curve since launching the business?

We have learned so much since starting this business and continue to learn new things on a daily basis. We both do it all. We learned how to build a website, put together marketing materials, create and design jewelry, and use Instagram and other social media outlets as a business tool as well as to engage with our followers so that they understand not only how our chains can be styled but also so that they get to know us as well. Each day is a chance for us to learn something new and reevaluate what is or isn’t working. We had a vision for what Strung Pretty could be and decided to do whatever we needed to in order to make this dream a reality.

With two founders, your story of how you met is so fun and inspiring, who’s involved in the brand and what roles do they play?

We are both partners and equally involved in the brand and every decision we need to make. We constantly ask each other for advice and always make sure that our chains and content are of the highest quality as it represents not only our brand but also ourselves.It is very helpful that we both had a similar vision on how to get to where we are today but also where we would like to take the brand for the future. We each have our own unique backgrounds and knowledge base which we believe come together to create something amazing.

What advice would you offer to anyone wanting to become an entrepreneur?

Find a network of other entrepreneurs to help support you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn from others who have been successful. You will have hard days and you will make mistakes, but that’s the beauty of it…you live, you learn, you grow.Looking back since launching the brand, is there anything you would do differently? We don’t believe in doing anything differently. Each of our successes and mistakes have honestly made us stronger. We know that sounds cliche, but it’s true!

Looking back since launching the brand, is there anything you would do differently?

We don’t believe in doing anything differently. Each part of our successes and mistakes have honestly made us stronger. I know that sounds cliche, but it’s true!

Talk us through an average day in your life…

We wake up and have an early morning conference call about anything that happened over night (e.g., new orders, styles, supply chain) and the day ahead. We then discuss and delegate responsibilities for the tasks at hand. Our days vary widely, but most days consist of fulfilling orders, creating content for our social media platforms and forming relationships with other entrepreneurs or small businesses as well as others in the fashion world to grow our business and our brand.We also think it is important to give back and help those who are trying to start a business of their own. Of particular importance to us is empowering more women to become entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?

We are both booked and hoping to fly to Greece this Summer to stay at the Elounda Blue Palace Hotel in Crete. Fingers crossed that this will happen!

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

Social media has played an enormous roll in the success of our brand. It serves as a way for us to showcase our chains and engage with our followers. Our goal was to create a digital look book that not only displays our current (and previous collection) but also shows how they can be styled as either a mask or eyewear jewelry. Based on this, we have been contacted by numerous businesses and boutiques who have seen our collection and want to work with us to either supply their employees with chains or sell in their store. It has also been a place for us to connect and support other brands. We also wanted to use our social media to connect with our clients, and provide them a chance to get to know the faces behind the brand and share a glimpse of our lives (as well as some fun reels which we can’t help ourselves not to do).

What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?

“When you least expect it, something great will come along. Something better than you ever planned for”

What’s next for the business?

We are always thinking of ways to grow and expand our business while staying true to our brand and aesthetic. We have a number of things planned for the future so welcome everyone to follow us and see some of the exciting things we have in store.

What does self care mean to you?

We are both mums with primary school aged kids. It is important to take care of yourself while growing your business. Faith enjoys reading and getting lost in a good book to relax. Currently, she is reading The Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly. Stephanie enjoys doing yoga, taking her dogs for long walks and riding the Peloton. She loves being active and spending time outdoors to destress.

Where can people find out more?

You can shop our collection on https://www.strungpretty.com and find styling tips on our Instagram page @strung.pretty.

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France

Girlbosses of Great Britain : The One with the Yorkshire Mums’ luxury children’s wear brand loved by Hollywood A-list celebrities

We’re all about women doing big things here at House of Coco and we love hearing about local success stories, especially right in the heart of our hometown of Yorkshire. So, when we heard about two young mums from Bradford who have created a luxury unisex children’s wear brand in their own home that is already filling children’s wardrobes of A-list celebrities such as P Diddy, Kylie Jenner, and Snoop Dog to name but a few, we couldn’t wait to put the spotlight on them.

In 2018 Natasha Formoy and Chantelle Etienne both 32 and childhood friends worked from Natasha’s home alongside their full- time jobs to create the children’s clothing brand, House of Juniors – aimed at children aged 5-16

Natasha and Chantelle met at school and soon discovered they both had a passion for fashion and business. Remaining friends, they spent time building the brand whilst working as full-time social care workers and bringing up their children. The entrepreneurial duo joined forces with now head designer, Kamila Ogrodnik, 26, who, alongside Natasha, focused on developing the brand’s design and has since become a partner in the ever-expanding business.

Natasha said, ‘When we first started the brand, we had to convert the downstairs of my house into a workspace because we didn’t have the funds for a warehouse or office. At one point, every room in the house was overflowing with clothes.’

Before developing House of Juniors, Natasha spent years researching the children’s fashion market worldwide, visiting trade shows in Europe, and gaining insight into how rival brands have become so successful in the marketplace. It was at these trade shows Natasha built invaluable relationships with suppliers from the manufacturer of fabrics to garment producers.

In 2018 House of Juniors were chosen to showcase their products at Mini Mode, the official children’s runway at London Fashion Week, where they walked amongst brands such as Marc Jacobs and Karl Lagerfeld. On the back of the success of their catwalk, they were awarded a campaign with Harper’s Bazaar, and this became a turning point for the creative duo.

Chantelle said, ‘We were selected to walk in the show alongside brand such as Marc Jacobs and Karl Lagerfeld. To be chosen was a huge honour and a massive achievement for our brand. What made it more special for us instead of using professional London based professional models, we brought kids down from Yorkshire, which, along with the amazing clothes gave us a real point of difference.”

The turning point for the children’s designers was when the daughters of American rapper, P Diddy aka Diddy posted an image of his twin daughters, Jessie, D’lila wearing the brands signature fur coats on his Instagram. From that moment, the brand skyrocketed, with a spike in sales and thousands of new followers on the House of Juniors Instagram.

The fashion entrepreneurs then reached out to other Hollywood A list stars such as Chris Brown, Snoop Dog and Kimora who also posted photos and videos of their children wearing pieces of their

fashion line. More recently their iconic girls pink fur coat was seen in Stormi’s wardrobe on a recent post on Kylie’s Instagram.

Natasha said, ‘The demand for clothes has been insane since Diddy posted his daughter wearing one of our fur coats. The power of social media has been such an important part of creating awareness for our brand. It was surreal to see the clothes designed by two mums from Yorkshire being worn by the children of Hollywood celebrities. It was these posts that helped take the business to another level. The most surreal moment had to be when Kimora Simmons messaged us on Instagram, inviting us to work with her in LA!

Chantelle added, ‘We have seen our pink coat in Stormi’s wardrobe on Kylie’s Instagram and we are hoping it will make an appearance in this season of keeping up with the Kardashians!’

Since these celebrity endorsements, demand for sales has been worldwide, mainly in America, Europe, the Middle East and parts of Russia.

As with any business, Coronavirus has had a significant knock-on effect on the Brand’s development and growth as the supply chain quickly ground to a halt. Before Coronavirus hit the UK, House of Juniors had already produced two collections available worldwide. The pandemic gave them the time to work on their third collection, which will be available to purchase soon.

Natasha commented, “It was a huge struggle when the pandemic hit as we didn’t have access to our suppliers based overseas. However, we have used the time wisely to develop the range and now there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

What is next for the House of Juniors? After a rise in sales and exposure, they have recently partnered with sports brand PUMA to produce a creative commissioned design collaboration that will reach stores soon across the UK, France, Germany, Ireland and America. This collaboration aims to involve children in the actual design process and really embeds the idea of being unique. The success of this has pushed House of Juniors to create an adult collection just for the Puma collaboration, so don’t worry, your children won’t be the only ones looking stylish!

Now the pandemic is easing, House of Juniors are itching to get themselves to the USA to explore retail opportunities that they were offered before and during Coronavirus but have not been able to explore fully due to the travel restrictions. Chantelle says their long-term goals and dreams for the brand are to gain worldwide exposure and success, along with having representation in large luxury retail stores such as Selfridges and Harvey Nichols. They are also aiming to have a huge on-line presence. Their ultimate goal to be compared to the brand OFF WHITE, but for children.

With these long-term ambitions from the owners of House of Juniors, you will be sure to hear about them. Keep your eye out for big things to come!

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Accessories

Girl Bosses of Great Britain: Full Moon Designs Founder Carole Mourier on crystals and creativity

“Creativity was always the road I wanted to take in terms of work and mixing this with a passion for crystals felt like the perfect medium to combine the two,” said Full Moon Designs Founder Carole Mourier as she looks back on the inspirations that led to her starting her own jewellery brand.

Full Moon Designs is a boutique jewellery shop that offers truly unique accessories. In fact, no two pieces are alike and according to Carole, each crystal has its own story to tell.”

“One of the things I love about making jewellery is that designs are endless, and a single stone can make a product different to the next, “ she says. “The beauty of having complete artistic freedom is the ability to start with a particular idea and end up with a completely different but equally attractive design.”

We sit down with Carole and talk about the biggest challenges and rewards of starting your own business, the beauty of pursuing your creative freedom, the healing power of crystals, how to support independent businesses and why now could be the best time to take the leap and start your own business too.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background – what inspired you to start Full Moon Designs?

After leaving France, I travelled for a few years and came to the UK only intending to stay for a short period of time. I started various art courses and then studied jewellery design for three years.

After studying various techniques and styles I wanted to be in control of my own creativity and designs, which inspired me to start my own business and launch my store in Brixton Village. I feel that I have complete freedom of expression in order for my designs to flow.

Creativity was always the road I wanted to take in terms of work and mixing this with a passion for crystals felt like the perfect medium to combine the two.

What made you fall in love with jewellery design – and why did you decide to work with natural stones?

Since a very young age, I was always interested in art and jewellery. When travelling, I was fascinated by the jewellery women were wearing, especially tribal jewellery as they hold a sense of history and ancient traditions. Working with natural stones which have a unique shape and texture, I centre my designs around the crystal itself paying a lot of attention to colours also as they play an important role in the composition of a piece.

One of the things I love about making jewellery is that designs are endless, and a single stone can make a product different to the next. I am also interested in the healing side of crystals which is an important part of my jewellery business. The beauty of having complete artistic freedom is the ability to start with a particular idea and end up with a completely different but equally attractive design.

What do you think sets Full Moon Designs apart from other jewellery brands today?

What sets Full Moon Designs apart, is the versatility of the designs from the small and delicate to the big and bold, different shapes, styles and each piece being unique.

One of the key differentiators of Full Moon Designs is that no two pieces are alike.

Could you tell us more about this and why you believe that “each piece has a story to tell?”

When making jewellery, I never think of doing two pieces alike as I feel each crystal deserves its own design. Each piece is a representation of a shape which often has a meaning.

For example, geometric shapes are fascinating as they have a connection with everything from natural occurring organisms to everyday man-made objects. Organic shapes are also interesting as they often represent nature and the unique flow of life. Crystals can combine these two factors with almost perfect geometry seen in certain crystals such as quartz or a raw uniqueness of a Lapis Lazuli. They can also enhance this as they bring meaning in a physical and spiritual way, so the result is always positive.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve overcome as a businesswoman?

As a businesswoman, one of the biggest challenges has been raising a family, not giving up designing and making jewellery. I’ve always felt that expectations from society as a mother were not always the ones, I had of myself.

It was difficult at times to even feel inspired but took a lot from these experiences and I now look back on these periods of time and feel proud that the business survived. The other thing is a lot of businesses I deal with in terms of supply, materials etc… often do not have enough women as owners.

What advice do you have for our readers who want to show their support for independent businesses like yours amid the COVID-19 crisis?

This last year has been extremely challenging for all businesses but especially small businesses like mine. I believe it is crucial that people support small independents like myself, not only to help us survive and create but also to make the world of retail more diverse, unique and interesting.

During the pandemic most small businesses have now gone online so there are opportunities to shop from independent retailers, but the experience of entering a small shop or boutique and having a face to face interaction with someone will never be replicated through a laptop or a phone. Especially for artists like myself where customers can come in, browse and see the jewellery, enquire about it, it brings a personal touch! We can all transcend this situation as long as people think that we bring them value and something different.

What advice do you have for our readers who want to become a Girl Boss like yourself?

I think it is a very good time for women who want to start their own business as a lot of people have had time to evaluate their life and maybe want to change and have a different experience with new values and new outcomes.

There is a huge reward to being your own boss with the benefits and the responsibilities that it incurs and brings infinite rewards to create something that brings value to others. A lot of women think it is too scary to start a new business now but if you have an idea then why not try? As we are in a time of change, it might actually be the perfect opportunity. I have found that since last year that there has been an awakening and a new awareness in the way a lot of customers want to shop, bringing hope to all small businesses.

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Girl Bosses

Girlbosses of Great Britain : The One with the UK’s leading luxury bespoke seating brands, MillMax Interiors

Claire Skirrow is the brainchild behind Millmax Interiors, a brand that has a reputation for style, excellence & individuality. A brand that caught our eye after a late night Instagram binge because we quickly became obsessed with their interior products.

Claire is a serious powerhouse, having launched this business after becoming obsessed with up cycling, it has grown to be be as well recognised as it is respected. We spent some time with Claire to find out more…

Tell us the journey that lead you to launching your brand, Millmax Interiors…

Whilst pregnant with my second child I became obsessed with upcycling old furniture. I loved the transformation of each furniture piece. Shortly after my son was born in 2008, I founded Millmax Interiors. Initially refurbishing & reupholstering furniture in a small 300ft² workshop on the historic David Brown Tractors site. As the demand for items grew, I made the decision to offer a totally bespoke service sourcing high quality handmade furniture that is made-to-order.

You’re a family run company, who’s involved and what roles does everyone play?

When I started the company it was solely family run. I was very hands on and had the help of my husband a professional in the sales & marketing field. Indeed, the companies very name is derived from my daughters & sons names Millie & Max. Whilst still too young to work for the company both Millie & Max are frequent visitors to the office with Millie often answering phone calls & Max in the workshop and despatch area helping out. As the business is expanding year on year, we have taken on lots of employees, but we still feel like one big family.

When did you discover your love for interiors?

From a very earlier age I can remember visiting DIY stores with my grandma and coming away with lots & lots of wallpaper samples & paint colour swatches cutting them into shapes and gluing them to my bedroom furniture. These cut-outs changed often much to my mother’s dismay!

My favourite pass time is sat with a coffee in one hand and a selection of home magazines in the other – I could sit for hours lost in the pages of interiors creating my dream home.

Which item has been your best seller?

Our bespoke dining chairs remain our best seller, but with the ever-changing Covid crisis our bespoke office chairs are in high demand due people working from home.

How often do you launch new items and what’s the process behind this?

New items are constantly added to the website,identifying up & coming and current furniture trends and interior styles with each item being chosen for its unique style, quality & individuality. Whether a modern contemporary office chair or an antique reproduction armchair, every item is personally approved by me.

For any aspiring entrepreneurs, what’s the biggest lesson you have learnt since launching the brand?

Do not take any set back or criticism personally. This has been an extremely hard lesson for me to learn and I am still working on it!

What advice would you offer anyone that is thinking about starting their own business?

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can and the rest will follow.

Where do you hope to see the brand in 5 years time?

I am extremely fortunate to have lived and worked in New York when I was 21 and have visited numerous US states every year since. I love the American lifestyle. We already have many customers across the USA, my dream is toopen a physical site in the sunshine state Florida. Where I can swop my coffee for a cocktail whilst sat on a beach – still enjoying my interior magazines!

When lacking motivation, what’s your go-to quote?

Inspirational quotes are my big thing! My notebooks, pinboard and my phone screen shots are littered with lots of motivational quotes. My go-to quote for motivation is ‘Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally. It comes from what you do consistently’.

Where can people find out more?

You can find out more on our website www.millmax.co.uk and social media pages or you can give one of our sales team a call on 0333 050 1643 were always happy to help.

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Girl Bosses

Girlbosses of Great Britain : The One that does Fashion for Home with The House Outfit

Lara Coward is the founder of The House Outfit, a brand that cares as much about the planet as it does about their products. You just need to take one glance at their Instagram feed to fall down the rabbit hole and get more interiors inspo’ than you can handle. Having recently launched our new vertical, Coco Home, it was inevitable that we would stumble across this brand, it’s certainly one to watch.

We spent some time with Lara to find out more…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching the The House Outfit…

I started The House Outfit as a way of escaping a job that I really hated. I left school at 16 so I had no A levels or Degree to fall back on and felt really stressed that there would be no options for me to find a job that I really enjoyed. So I saved up some money, did tonnes of research and just gave it a go. It’s by no means been easy but so worth it. Our first month we had 5 orders, (one was a friend and one was a family member) we’ve now turned over more than £1m and growing each month. I feel so lucky every day to never have that Monday morning fear again!

What item has been your best seller so far?

Our best sellers change so often as we’re constantly uploading new designs and adapting to new trends but at the moment our Classico prints are really popular and also our Faces and Gigi Cushion covers have done so well for us.

How often do you add new products and what’s the process behind this?

We upload new designs every week to keep things fresh. The design process starts with gathering inspiration which we take mainly from our customers, current interior trends and our own personal style. When designing I’ll often ask the opinion of the team on colours and placing and even naming the prints so it’s a joint effort which is nice.

How would you describe your own interior style?

My interior style is very calm and neutral with bold black accents. I love the wholebouclétrend at the moment with minimal art pieces and I have a lot of feature mirrors dotted around which are great for making a space feel bigger!

Who’s involved in the brand and what roles do they play?

I’m the Creative Director so I basically design, liaise with suppliers overseas and work closely with Tom and Tess who manage all of our marketing externally. Then we have Louise who is our amazing Operations Manager and she basically manages the day to day running of the business with the occasional help from our VA Jane when times get busy. Then we have Carly, Rachel and Helen who are the amazing team who manage the customer orders, deliveries and stock control.

What sets you apart from other independent brands?

I would say that we have our own style; we design what we love, not what we see. We stay in our own lane and don’t worry about what other brands are doing. It’s so important to us that we stay true to our own style and give our customers original designs.

Looking back since launching the brand, is there anything you would do differently?

There have definitely been times we’ve made mistakes along the way but we’ve learnt so much from each one and they’ve really helped us grow as a business so I don’t think we would change anything, however if I had to say something, I just wish I had started it sooner.

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

Without social media, we wouldn’t have a brand and I’m so thankful for it.. It’s amazing that you can reach out to potential customers from all over the world and it’s also nice to be able see who your customer is, how they style their home, what their interests are and just build a relationship with them.

What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?

Tomorrow is a new day. We all have stressful days at work or times where you just have a creative block and I always find comfort in knowing that you can just go to bed that night and restart everything the next day with a fresh mindset.

What’s next for the business?

-If there’s anything we’ve learnt from the last year as a business it’s that you really don’t know what’s around the corner, we’re so grateful to be doing what we love and never take a day for granted. We’ve grown so fast this past year in particular that it’s all been a bit of a whirlwind. Goiing forward we’ll be taking the time really plan our next chapter with lots of new collections and just continue to wing it!

What does self care mean to you?

With the nature of my job and society today, we are so attached to our phones and wrapped up in the world of social media which can be so draining. Self care for me is sticking my phone on aeroplane mode for a few hours and taking my dog Alfie out for a long walk. It’s nice to just switch off from everything for a bit.

Where can people find out more?

We’re on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest @thehouseoutfit and our website is www.thehouseoutfit.com. If we can help with any styling tips or product queries you can drop as an email any time at customer.services@thehouseoutfit.com

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France

Girlbosses of Great Britain : The One of a Kind Essentials with Gee Gee Collection

Georgia India Crossley is the founder of Gee Gee Collection, a contemporary British womenswear brand that is based on the principles of creating one of a kind luxury outerwear garments, entirely crafted by hand. With equal parts luxury and quality, this brand boasts a pretty epic backstory.

A serious Girlboss, Georgia is one to watch. Having only launched her brand in 2019, she is already making waves. We spent some time with her to find out more…

Tell us the journey that led you to launching your brand, Gee Gee Collection…

Owning my own fashion label is something I never dreamt of doing until about two years ago. I originally thought I’d study fine art but eventually decided to do a degree in fashion and textiles. Following on from this I interned at Alexander McQueen in womenswear design. It was after my internship that I realised I could express my passion for art and textiles through fashion by creating pieces that told a story and had their own unique identity. Like an artist, I could create pieces that expressed my personality and made the wearer feel a certain way.

A lot of hard work and dedication has gone into my label and it’s great to see things finally falling into place.

When did you discover your love for fashion?

I had never thought of working in fashion until I was at university studying textiles design. In the final year you specialize in an aspect of textiles, which is when I got into fashion and after graduating I was very lucky to find work in some great companies where I learned a lot of the business side of fashion, such as how to create and design collections.

Which item has been your best seller?

Currently the Dali jacket is our best seller – it is inspired by the rich colours and lavish ornamentation of the 1920’s Art Deco era and is adorned with ostrich feathers.

How often do you launch new collections and what’s the process behind this?

I release two collections per year in winter and summer, but am not constrained by the seasonal schedule. This allows me to add clothes to my collections throughout the year and helps prevent waste. I think strategies like that are a nice way to move forward.

Your pieces are entirely crafted by hand, why was this important to you and how will you continue this level of craftsmanship as you scale?

As I am a bit of an environmentalist, when I began researching manufacturers for my brand, I wanted the process to be sustainable, better for the planet and in line with my personal values and ethos. For this reason, my collections are small and carefully considered and I have avoided mass production by sourcing fabrics that are handmade in France and tailoring from local manufacturers in the UK.

As I work on a non seasonal approach to fashion, I can manage the level of craftsmanship as I am adding in new designs throughout the year rather than having to have a certain amount of pieces to produce four times per year for each season.

For any aspiring fashion designers, what’s the biggest lesson you have learnt since launching the brand?

The lowest points are definitely during the initial stages, trying to get noticed and make sales; which isn’t easy when you don’t have a big budget! I also struggled a lot in the beginning when making my first samples, as they didn’t often turn out how I expected them to. It took a lot of trial and errors to get into the position I am in today. It took me almost a year to produce and be happy with my 1st collection.

What advice would you offer anyone that is thinking about starting their own business?

If starting your own business is something you want to do and you have a good idea, I would say go for it! Do your research, take your time in planning, work hard at your vision and eventually all the pieces will fall into place.

Where do you hope to see the brand in 5 years time?

I would love to have a larger collection and potentially expand into knitwear, I have so many new ideas that I want to create!

I also want to expand further into the sustainable aspect of fashion using fabrics such as bamboo and recycled Ocean Plastic. At the moment I have 1 piece made from organic Hemp fabric which is fully biodegradable and I would love to explore this avenue more.

When lacking motivation, what’s your go-to quote?

“Be Fearless when others are fearful” – It’s a quote by Warren Buffet which I think is especially relevant when starting or running a business during the current pandemic. Even though now may not be the perfect time to launch a business or an idea during this period, you can still establish a brand following/ loyalty that others couldn’t as they were too fearful to launch!

Where can people find out more?

By visiting our showroom in Soho – London, on our website www.geegeecollection.com or on our Instagram @thegeegeecollection.

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Girlbosses of Great Britain : The One with Cancel Vulture by Penny-Lee Brown

Penny-Lee Brown is the brainchild behind Cancel Vulture, a brand that creates quirky greeting cards that swear and the home of the mystery 90’s T. Here at House of Coco we love shopping, especially when there’s an element of surprise, we’re obsessed with supporting small businesses and we love a girl boss that isn’t afraid to try new things. So, it’s no surprise that Penny ticks all of our boxes.

We spent some time with her to find out more…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching the Cancel Vulture shop…

I’ve always been a prolific starter of businesses, like, if you think it’s a good idea- start it! I’ve been a Zumba teacher, made fashion harnesses, sold make-up, hand puppets… when I was about 13 I made and sold scrunchies at school, and then graduated to fake IDs at about 15 (I had to stop when I got caught!).

By 2019 I think I’d lost a bit of the magic for it. I’ve always had a successful full-time career so anything I did was on the side and not really priority.

However, I’ve always known that I’ve got a business in me, I just didn’t know what it would be.

And then it hit me… well, Covid-19 hit the world. So, I started off designing greetings cards that use swear words instead of crappy, fluffy wording, you know, the kind of thing you’d ACTUALLY say to a friend… but I was open to different products like prints too.

My boyfriend told me about this mystery football shirts product… absolute genius! Especially when you could get a team you hate or one you’ve never heard of. I racked my brain for absolutely months on how I could do something similar but that would be more me.

Then one day I thought of it, Mystery 90s TV or Movie T! By the next day it was on the Cancel Vulture Etsy shop.

What item has been your best seller so far?

It’s the Mystery 90s T! Let’s be honest, we love the 90s and there were SO many good movies and TV shows that came out making the 90s one of the best decades!

You’re mystery t-shirt offer is so intriguing, can you tell us more about this?

Thank you! That’s the idea… intrigue. It’s £18 including delivery and all you do is tell us what colour you want (white, grey, or black) and the size. Within a week you have a magical little package to open with your 90s TV or Movie print on the tee!

So far we’ve sent out tees including Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Zig and Zag (remember them?!), Ren & Stimpy, Saved By The Bell, The Craft… there’s more on the Instagram page. But no-one will get the same one! So they’re all unique too.

The feedback has been unreal! People love the surprise element of it. Seriously, I love the people that have bought them because their reactions have just been priceless.

What’s the process behind adding new items to your shop?

With the cards It all depends on what’s happening out there. Recently a friend of mine went through something and I used that experience to make a card that I thought might help her. It’s seasonal too but I’ll look out for viral content and use it in the cards.

As for the Mystery Ts… I’ve realized that there’s some unbelievable TV and Movie content from the 2000s too so when the mood feels right, I’ll launch that on there as well as the 90s T.

Who’s involved in the brand and what roles do they play?

It’s all me. I’m a bit of a control freak, but also my full-time role is marketing creative so thankfully I have that experience to use.

So I’m founder, designer, maker, marketer, and finance.

How do you want people to feel when wearing your designs?

Like the coolest person in the world. I want them to feel like everyone notices their T and has a moment of jealousy that they don’t have it. Like you know when you can tell someone is side eyeing your outfit? I want them to feel that. I want them to feel famous.

What sets you apart from other independent brands?

Every card I make is from the bottom of my heart. Every Mystery 90s T is a moment between me and the buyer that I can only liken to a deep high five!

Looking back since launching the brand, is there anything you would do differently?

I’d put more time into marketing it from the start. However, as we all know 2020 was weird. I had just moved house, was trying to make sure I did everything I could to stand out as a model employee whilst working from home, and just looking after myself, so I’m cool with it.

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

100%. Mostly on feed and stories but I have used a couple of micro-influencers. I’ve had varying experiences with that but if they’re good to you it does work.

Instagram is just such a fun platform to engage with, we’ll see, I’d say I’m still early days so I’ve got a long way to go.

What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?

I’d take “Just do it” but someone got there before me. So, I’ll go with “Just start it”. Seems really obvious but it works for me with anything from launching a product to writing a script. If you just start the thing you’re putting off, you’ve already gone SO far.

What’s next for the business?

Let’s see how far I can take Mystery 90s Ts (I think the card side will just tick over) and then I’ll be launching a Mystery 00s T!

I only want to launch the Mystery 00s T so I can send someone a Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie The Simple Life tee!

What does self–care mean to you?

It means everything. Space and time to myself. I offer myself self-care in the form of meditation, walks, baths or showers with super scented stuff, and making a little spa for myself.

Follow Penny and Cancel Vulture for more…

They could either follow Cancel Vulture on Instagram at @cancelvultureshop or check out the Etsy store atwww.etsy.com/shop/cancelvulture.

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Girlbosses of Great Britain : The One with the Digital Marketing Coach Alice Benham

Alice Benham might be an accidental entrepreneur but she is one to watch. Here at House of Coco we champion female business owners that are authentic and not afraid to share the bad times along with the good, Alice is one of those.

Determined, focused and consistent are three words to describe Alice and for any business owners looking for inspiration, she is one to follow. We spent some time with her to find out more…

Tell us the story that lead you to launching your brand…

I left school early and at age 17 became a freelance social media manager… somewhat accidentally! I didn’t know what the world ‘freelance’ meant but I said yes, learnt as I went and absolutely loved the challenge and freedom of working for myself. After a year of that I pretty dramatically burnt out, which led to re-starting my business as a digital marketing coach in late 2017.

You keep it real on social media and aren’t afraid to show people your honest behind the scenes updates, good or bad. How important do you think being authentic on social media is?

Whilst authenticity has become a bit of a buzzword, I truly believe in its power. The industry I’m in contains a fair bit of shiny-ness around 10K months and overnight success, something I’m keen not to contribute to. Sharing the lows alongside the highs and always acknowledging the time, failure and privilege that has played a role feels, to me, like showing up ethically. Authenticity will look different to each of us (and absolutely doesn’t mean having 0 boundaries with what you share!) but I think it’s key in connecting with others and communicating an honest message.

Talk us through an average day in your life…

Each day looks a little different, which is one of the things I love about running this business! On a coaching day (Tuesday & Thursday) I’ll get up at 7am and spend the first hour of the day getting ready, reading articles and having breakfast – tip if you love articles but struggle to read them: print them! Game-changer.. 8am-10am is my sacred time where I don’t have any meetings, so typically I’ll work on my business, catch up on admin and create any content for the day ahead.

Coaching is such a privilege – holding space for people to gain clarity on where they want to be and bringing frameworks and expertise in which will help them take action. My day is filled with 3 sessions morning and afternoon, with a long walk and lunch break in the middle!

After that I’ll typically do an hour or two of admin and switch off with a dance workout (don’t knock it till you’ve tried it)and then, the evening is mine! These are my heaviest days so I tend to be in bed by 9pm! Grandma, I know.

Part of your rise to success involved burnout along the way. How did you overcome this?

Short answer: a lot of sleep, therapy and medication! Accepting that I was burnt out in the first place was a huge thing for me, as I have a bit of a superhero complex and don’t find it the easiest to accept I need help. It took about 6 months of total rest before I felt ready to return to work and then it was really about prioritising my wellbeing and being strategic about the business model to ensure it wouldn’t happen again. I work with a mentor who helps me keep my wellbeing / mental health in check, out-source tasks to my team where possible and now have boundaries around my time in order to create some form of the elusive work life ‘balance’. Overworking is a real tendency of mine so staying self aware and on top of it is a constant work in progress for me!

For any aspiring entrepreneurs just starting out, what advice would you give them?

Just start! It’s tempting to wait until you’re ‘ready’ or the ‘timing is right’ but if you do that, you’ll be waiting a while. Clarity comes through action so taking messy and uncomfortable action is key at any stage of business, but particularly the beginning. Like any muscle, the more you use it, the easier it gets and future you will be oh so grateful you took that first step.,

Looking back since working for yourself, is there anything you would do differently?

Where to begin?! Whilst I learn best from failure / mistakes, there’s definitely a few I wish I could’ve avoided. I didn’t manage my finances well in the first few years of business and that got me in some hot water (hello not being able to pay my tax return!) so if I could go back I would have separated business/personal finances and saved for tax from day 1.

What has been a career highlight for you since launching your brand?

It’ll sound cringe but honestly, seeing my clients and students thrive. I just had a Whatsapp from a coaching client, telling me their first paying client had booked in and honestly, nothing beats that feeling! I celebrate their wins as if they’re my own and playing a tiny role in making it happen is such a privilege.

Have you had to make any unplanned pivots during 2020? If yes, tell us more…

I’ve been slowly transitioning to offer more than just coaching (courses, products etc) and support people with both marketing and business strategy. 2020 definitely fast forwarded those plans, after events and retreats had to be postponed and people were craving support with their businesses as a whole. It’s a transition that’s come with a lot of growing pains but ultimately I’m really glad it happened!

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?

Ooh I am desperate to go to Bali! I’ve always wanted to go and am hoping to spend a few months living and working there… any tips are greatly appreciated!

Where can people find out more?

My main hangout is Instagram where I document the BTS of my business and share insights along the way!

I also host two podcasts which focus on discussing the reality of running a business – Starting The Conversation and Wish We Knew.

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Women Worldwide : The One that scales impact and income with Meg Sangimino

Empowering yoga teachers and healers to build profitable, impactful businesses is the name of the game for Meg Sangimino. An impactful and inspiring coach, Meg is the real deal. We spent some time with her to find out more about her career, plans for the future and so much more.

Read on to be inspired…

Tell us the story that lead you to launching your brand, Meg Sangimino Yoga…

After receiving my 200hr Yoga Teacher Training, I was passionate about jumping into my yoga teaching career full force and sharing my love of yoga with as many students as possible. I believe that yoga and mindfulness practices allow you to show up in this world more fully and confidently, something we all strive for in one way or another. As a former athlete, I wanted to introduce yoga to athletes struggling with anxiety and injury recovery (the same way I had!). I started my business by taking on a few private clients so that I could tailor the yoga practice to their specific needs and refine my own skills as a teacher. As I grew my business online, fellow yoga teachers started to reach out to me asking for advice on how to market and sell their own offerings. I took that as a sign from the Universe that I was ready to start coaching so I decided to pivot into coaching yoga teachers to help them kick-start their businesses and scale both their impact and income.

When did you start practicing yoga and what attracted you to it in the first place?

I started practicing yoga when I was in high school struggling with anxiety and stress management (being a teenager is tough, people!). I had no clue I was in for such a life-changing, transformational journey that first day I stepped into a yoga studio. When I was in college, I started to get more serious about my practice and supplemented my athletic training with yoga and meditation. If you’re interested in yoga but you’re not sure where to start, I recommend chatting with a real-life yoga teacher (not just jumping straight to Youtube).

What has been the biggest benefit to your mind and body, since you started doing yoga?

Spoiler alert: it’s not that I’m crazy flexible or can stand on my head! The biggest benefit from my yoga practice has been my ability to control my reactions in situations more intentionally. Yoga puts a large emphasis on mind and body awareness so being able to face my emotions with pure awareness and less judgment has absolutely changed my life and improved my relationships dramatically.

You’ve pivoted from engineering into yoga, a bold move! How did you achieve this so successfully?

Great question! As an engineer, I love figuring out the most efficient way to solve a problem. When I worked as a construction manager, a big part of my job was finding a way to get the project done in the most efficient, cost-effective, and timely way possible. As I started building my yoga business, as you can imagine, those skills were incredibly useful and helped me scale my business at a very fast pace (without burning myself to the ground). The skills I learned as an engineer are integrated into everything I teach my clients. My goal is to guide my clients to work smarter, not harder as they grow their business. I’m not here to make anyone hustle themselves to death!

You help yoga teachers and healers become clear and confident with pushing their mission. How do you achieve this?

I am passionate about supporting yoga teachers and healers from all angles (not just business strategy!). Without confidence and clarity, teachers and healers can lose steam and burn out of their business journey very quickly. Within my programs, I focus heavily on strategy in conjunction with mindset and accountability (oh, and shoutout to the amazing coaches I have on staff who support my clients deeply from these other angles). I help teachers step into their confidence by recognizing their superpowers and work through self-esteem blocks.

For any aspiring coaches, what advice would you offer to those that are just starting out?

Focus on one audience at a time and dive in headfirst. Most likely, you’re trying to serve multiple communities at once (because you have a big heart and want to help everyone!) but you end up splitting your focus and spiraling into Overwhelm City. Focus on one audience and deeply understand their problems, challenges, and tendencies. Then, go crazy creating valuable content to help them improve their life!

Talk us through an average day in your life…

I try to be really intentional with how I get things done during the day. Typically I wake up between 6:30 and 7:30 and try not to connect to any electronics until I’ve done a movement practice and had my coffee (it’s not perfect every morning but I try). I do my best work in the morning so I’ll usually spend 1-2 hours getting administrative tasks off my to-do list (responding to messages, creating social media content, delegating tasks to my team, etc). Then I take a break to eat breakfast and drink my coffee with whatever book I’m reading at the time. After breakfast, I do what I call “client support” tasks. These include answering any client questions within my programs, creating slide decks for upcoming trainings, and directly reaching out to my clients to see how I can support them. After I check in with my clients I typically have a few more things to wrap up and then I shut off my computer by 4pm (sometimes sooner). I’ll do a 30-60 minute workout and then make dinner and watch a good show!

What does self-care mean to you?

Self-care means tuning in to what I need in the moment on a particular day. It ranges from yoga in the morning to getting a massage to deleting Instagram off my phone for a day. Sometimes it’s screaming into a pillow if I’m being totally honest. I think “self-care” has become a trendy word for bubble baths and face masks when really it looks different for everyone and most likely changes daily. The best thing you can do for yourself is taking the time to understand your own energy and recognize that you’re an ever-changing human that needs something different each moment.

During 2020, what have you learned about yourself that you didn’t already know?

I learned that I am capable of so much more than I ever thought I was. Does that sound cheesy? Oh well. I’ve had one foot in the “business world” for years now but until 2020 came around, I hadn’t truly jumped in with both feet. Once I did, it was a scary, exciting, rewarding, vomit-inducing roller coaster ride that I never could have anticipated. I learned that I have a mental toughness that I had never quite tapped into before and it’s like meeting a part of myself for the first time.

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?

Australia! One of my best friends is moving there this year and, while I am NOT a good flyer, (sorry for anyone who has sat next to me on an airplane) I have always wanted to go. If anyone out there reading has been there, send me some recommendations on places to visit!

Where can people find out more?

The best place to connect with me is on Instagram @meg_sangimino or you can find all of my offerings on my website www.megsangimino.com. Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you!

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Girlbosses of Great Britain : The One That’s good for your Mind, Body and Soul with Chic & Raw

At Chic and Raw they strive to create and curate aesthetically beautiful products that will be good for your mind, body and soul. They firmly believe in the soothing power of beauty to promote a joyful spirit and a harmonious mind, which in turn establishes emotional stability and a healthy body.

Right now, we all need Chic and Raw in our lives. Founded by a husband and wife duo, they have been on a mission ever since turning to meditation to greatly improve their mental and physical health and they want to continue learning and sharing what works for them, and getting even better.

With positivity oozing from this brand, we couldn’t wait to find out more…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to launch Chic and Raw…

There are 2 main reasons why – firstly I’d been working for major brand owners and retailers for a few years and I’ve always dreamed of having my own business. I enjoy the creative process and trying new things and so I thought why not create a lifestyle brand with my own vision.

The second reason is I believe in an economy where small businesses should be able to thrive and people should be able to express themselves and their values through what they create. Discovering a new small brand is so exciting and when you buy from them you know you are supporting something real, not the corporate machine. So I wanted to be part of that. Obviously the current pandemic has been difficult for those very small businesses so I think it makes me more resolved than ever to succeed, since a future where everyone shops at the same big brands would be so boring.

What has been the biggest learning curve since launching the business?

Logistics has been the most difficult thing to learn about and manage. We were previously using Amazon to deliver our products and they were getting lost or broken. Ultimately it has been a worthwhile learning curve, as we now work with two excellent logistics companies in the US and UK. This means we have more control over how customers receive our products and the overall customer experience has improved.

Wellbeing is at the forefront of what you do, why is this important to you?

If you don’t have peace of mind then everything else will go out of balance. I definitely believe that disease starts with negative thought patterns and emotions we can’t release and eventually take a toll on the body. When your thoughts, emotions and desires are in harmony with each other then you feel at peace. Looking after your body and diet is important but the mind and emotions are often neglected. This is where meditation and creating a beautiful home can also help. If your mind is chaotic and you live in a chaotic environment – how can you feel good? So step by step, it’s important to sort out your life. I’m no different to anyone else and life can be a rollercoaster, but I always find that by creating order and practicing self-care routines I can find a way to recover from any crisis.

As a husband and wife duo, how do you separate work and home life?

This is definitely harder to do during this time of lockdown! I have an office at home, which really helps. I can work very well in there and at the end of the work day, I leave the office and leave work behind. I think because I meditate I’m really good at switching off and relaxing. I can also do long stints of work but then take time off and completely chill out. I think down time is so important because otherwise you will become less productive. I also find that when my mind is relaxed and I’m doing something else – that’s when I have some great ideas and inspiration. Even though I’m not working my mind is solving out problems in the background and I suddenly figure out solutions!

Again a big part of this is taking time for self-care routines, such as meditation and exercise. Lighting a lovely candle and enjoying its fragrance!

What roles do you both play in the company?

I suppose I’m the person with the overall vision and the creative director! I also decide on the marketing plans and product design. My husband has the technical skills as he is a software engineer so he looks after anything to do with the website, graphic design and coding. It works really well as our skills complement each other.

Meditation plays a huge part in your lives, how has this helped you?

I started meditating quite by accident 28 years ago. It wasn’t common back then but I found a meditation technique that really works. To be in the first stage of meditation you need to be in what is called ‘thoughtless awareness’ where you are fully alert and aware but without thought – so you are completely in the present moment. Once you start developing that state it is very rejuvenating and relaxing. You can then be in meditation most of the time, so you don’t need to think too much, just when you want to – so you are much more relaxed and calm. This is very important for me and I think that having this inner life is so nourishing. It’s really our thoughts and emotions that are draining our energies. When I met my husband, he also started to meditate with me as he found it so beneficial.

How often do you launch new products?

We’ve launched a few early products quite aggressively in our first year of business and we’ve got quite a few products planned for this year. However, one or two new launches every quarter or every six months is what I would like to aim for.

Looking back since launching the brand, is there anything you would do different?

There are always small things that with hindsight I might do differently but I couldn’t have known those things in advance. Overall I don’t have any regrets. I think that the journey itself has been interesting and enjoyable. I’m learning new things all the time!

Talk us through an average day in your life…

My lockdown life! My husband and I try to wake up early to meditate. I find that way we start the day right! Later after showers and breakfast, we start work. I plan my week so I know which tasks I’m doing on a particular day of the week. I aim to get one big thing done each day – which is very satisfying when I can mark it as complete.

I do some exercise before lunch. Then after a lunchtime break, I go back to work in my office and catch up on emails and other messages.

Around 4pm I meditate again for about 20 minutes to switch off from work. I have created a meditation room in my house which is only used for this purpose so it’s the perfect place to light a candle and listen to some music.

Then I usually watch some TV before making dinner. My mother calls every evening like clockwork to check I’m still alive. Sometimes after dinner, my husband I make keto desserts – which are delicious and healthy! Then I spend the evening watching either K-drama on Netflix or reading a good book. I don’t usually work in the evening unless I have an important project with a deadline. Eventually I go to bed but there’s no set time – just when I feel sleepy – sometimes early and sometimes late.

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

A great deal – I think it’s the main way people are discovering our brand. Instagram in particular is such a great platform if you have a lifestyle brand. People are creating great content on there and sometimes we even our customers send us posts and stories that they’ve made with our candles. One lady sent us a photo of our Citronella Candle where she had recycled the tin as a flower pot, which was brilliant! Recently a lady sent us 3 stories about how much she enjoyed the amethyst candle she had bought. It is very gratifying when I know we’ve created some real value and joy for customers.

What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?

I love Jack Canfield’s Success Principles book – which is very motivating but I can’t say it’s a go to for quotes. I think I have internalized a quote that I heard many years ago from my meditation teacher, H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi – where she said “Whatever you want to do, go for it with confidence, and if it is good for you, you will be helped.” I’m paraphrasing a bit but that’s the gist of it. So this is now my belief.

What’s next for the business?

We have new products in the pipeline, hopefully launching this spring, and more throughout the year. We want to continue to expand especially in the USA. We’re still a small brand so there’s lots of headroom.

What advice would you offer to someone launching their own business?

I would say go for it, but have a plan and choose a category that is not over-saturated as that is easier. Be original and be authentic to who you are.

What does self care mean to you?

I think the self is the spirit, not the body, the mind or the emotions. Do what is good for the spirit. Do what gives you joy!

Where can people find out more?

People can find us at www.chicandraw.co.uk or follow us on Instagram @chicandraw and Facebook @ChicAndRawStore. You can see our best-selling Crystal Chakra Candles here: www.chicandraw.co.uk/collections/chakracandles.

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