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#WomenWorldwide: Creativity from the heart of Lagos with Oeuvre Designs

For our #WomenWorldwide series, we’ve gone out on the road to find the most innovative and inspiring entrepreneurs we can from every corner of the globe. Today’s interviewee, Zainab Akingbehin, is an interior designer at Oeuvre Designs, based in the heart of the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria.

HOC: Great to meet you Zainab! Let’s start with the tricky stuff! What’s your elevator pitch for Oeuvre Designs?
Zainab: Oeuvre Designs is an interior design studio based in Lagos Nigeria, we specialise in bespoke designs with the client’s personality and functionality being key to our designs.

HOC: Your work is beautiful! Tell us about your journey to running this business?

Zainab: Oeuvre designs started in 2016 with as little as nothing! It’s been quite an interesting journey though, of course there have been some learnings also on this journey, and hasn’t always been a smooth ride, but the determination has been strong.
When we launched the first question was, where do we get clients from and how? But we came up with our first furniture design “Hexa Stool” and everything went from there and brought us to into limelight. I guess that’s how we started!

HOC: You are based in Lagos which is known globally for being a hub of design, what’s it like running your business there?

Zainab: Trust me, Lagos is one of those tough places to get anything done on a daily basis. The hustle and bustle is real and the design process isn’t a smooth one here, getting things done in time is quite challenging and there are limitations too as we
almost never have the right places to source for things. But, hey, we are strong people here and the passion drives us so we never get tired of the challenges!

HOC: How do you balance these varying demands on your time-being creative and running the business side of things?

Zainab: As a creative designer and a business owner in today’s industry you often have to wear multiple hats. It’s a juggling act and not always easy to get the balance right. I don’t think there is ever a perfect balance though because there is a guilt either way.

I’m a perfectionist and the reality of being a creative designer and a business owner is that something always have to give which doesn’t sit well with me. But with the support I get from my team at work allows me to shuffle both.

HOC: Who would be your ideal client?

Zainab: Definitely clients that love good finish and clean lines; clients that have creative personality and also the support co-creation process.

HOC: Why, in your opinion, is good design so important?

Zainab: Good design is important due to the aesthetic value it possess in a given space. The fact is having an interior design that looks nice and beautiful will make you like your home even more. Also, good design means functionality because it
affects your quality of life. In your home, people live in such a way that they interact with their environment on a daily basis. Trust me, if a design does not work for you it’s most likely to frustrate you more than making you happy!

HOC: For our creative readers, what advice would you have for them to grow their artist practices and get their work seen?

Zainab: Firstly, self-confidence is very important. For instance, a stranger asks what do you do, and your response is not portraying any aura of confidence, then you are not doing a good job being a creative artist and selling yourself. No matter how
amazing your work is, if you are not confident enough in your work then it’s going to take series of miracle for anyone to see and appreciate your work!

Secondly know your value. One man’s paint splatter is another man’s masterpiece. So when you are trying to decide how much to charge for your work you need to take a lot of things into account like the time and cost of your supplies.

Thirdly consider the factors in the intangibles of your work that gives it value.

HOC: What piece that you’ve created means the most to you and why?

Zainab: Definitely my “Hexa Stool” : it was the start of my furniture design and it brought me into limelight so it means the most to me.

HOC: Where do you get your inspiration from?

Zainab: I get inspiration everywhere, from nature, my environment, architecture, sometimes in books and design blogs. Also by surrounding myself with positive minded people.

HOC: If you ever have a creative block / funk; how do you get yourself out of it?

Zainab: Most times I just take 2 days off work and it helps a lot. I always have in mind the idea of finishing what you’ve started because the creative part is in seeing it through to the end and turning that dream into reality! I can also be spontaneous in nature; some of our designs are done lastminute and that is the fun part of being a designer.

Check out Zainab’s work at Oeuvre Designs at OeuvreDesigns.co

Follow along at @Oeuvre_Designs

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Accessories

Girl Bosses of Great Britain: Q&A with Tia Roqaa Beauty Box Queen

Our resident beauty worshipper Rachel McAlley recently interviewed beauty box subscription queen Tia Roqaa for House of Coco. Rachel delved deep into the world of the beauty box and into the future plans of Tia Roqaa’s business Roccabox.

Q1. What made you go into the subscription beauty box industry?
I liked the idea of giving women a little treat delivered to their door every month, a little surprise present for themselves – who doesn’t love presents or surprises? I had seen a few subscription based models pop up here and there and the whole concept really interested me, and with my background being in beauty PR I had some good beauty contacts so it just all made sense.

Q2. How long have you been running Roccabox?
We launched March 1st 2017, although I started working on it behind the scenes from November 2016. I did everything myself in the beginning alongside my full time job, I even taught myself how to build websites and all the social media!

Q3. Do you have a team of beauty experts that source all the products for each Roccabox?
Each month myself and my team scour instagram for new beauty launches and exciting brands that our audience would love. Sometimes we work with bloggers to curate their box of fave beauty finds, but if i’m honest, I prefer doing it myself!

Q4. Do you have a favourite Roccabox that has been produced and if so what were the products inside that the subscribers received?
I really loved working on our first limited edition box, it was such an exciting time thinking of how far we had come from our first box. When I look back now that first flyer was absolutely awful, although the products have always been great. Our limited edition boxes are more premium and run alongside our monthly boxes, they’ll usually contain more lifestyle products like a gorgeous Katie Loxton pouch, a full size candle and notebook as well as the usual skincare and make-up. I love working with big brands such as St Tropez, L’oreal, Pixi and Nails Inc.

Q5. Are you happy with Roccabox as it stands or will you look at other beauty avenues in the future?
Funnily enough I have just done a really successful pop up in my hometown of Leeds, I am thinking of doing a tour of events so I can meet our subscribers as well as get the brand out there more. But I am also looking to do collaborations with big brands, we have just started doing corporate gift boxes in collaboration with a big travel brand. I am open to pretty much anything as long as it’s products beautifully put together in one of our boxes that will make someone feel great, I am all over it!

Q6. Do you like any other beauty subscription boxes that you think are good quality and value for money?
My main competitors, Glossybox and Birchbox are huge international companies, so they just don’t have that love and care that we put in. There have been lots of other boxes pop up over the last couple of years but unfortunately they haven’t lasted long. It’s a really competitive market and you’ve always got to stay ahead of the curve.

Q7. You work with some excellent beauty brands for each Roccabox, are there any beauty brands you are looking to work with in the future?
I’d love to work with more of the bigger brands such as Nars, Charlotte Tilbury, YSL etc, so watch this space for a possible premium quarterly version of what we do.

Q8. Can we delve into the December 2018 box, and are you able to tell us what subscribers can expect in their Christmas edition?
Ooh now that will be a surprise! But we are looking to add in a couple of little extra bits outside of your usual skincare and make-up, but you’ll have to sign up and see.

Huge thanks to Tia Roqaa for taking the time to be part of a #TeamCoco #GBOGB Q&A session.

Search online for Roccabox to find out more about this wonderful subscription service.

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Accessories

#WomenWorldwide: Contemporary Swiss Accessories with Jennifer Berger and Mädi

Jennifer Berger has always been a big dreamer, and all her big dreams are embodied in her own bag brand, Mädi. Inspired by the traditional art of paper cutting, Mädi is an accessory brand that plays on Swiss culture and modernity, and is instantly our favourite new arm candy this spring.

In this latest instalment of our #WomenWorldwide Series, We chat with Swiss Girl Boss Jennifer Berger, about her inspirations, overcoming challenges — and all the beautiful lessons she’s learned in between.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. What inspired you to start Mädi?

I’m a big dreamer; I’ve always been.Probably because I lived in a small town with not much to distract me from developing my imagination and ambition. Frustration and boredom are a big part of what motivates me. Once in a while, I need to get bored. This boredom generates space in my head, which allows my imagination to develop new ideas. Then comes the urge to turn those ideas into a reality.

My work as a designer for other brands played a role in the creation of Mädi. It can be frustrating in situations where decisions are made that don’t align with my values, nor with my perception of things. It made me want to be in a position where I could make my own decisions. I like to have an overview of a project, and understand all the different aspects and challenges involved in it.

Deep down, the will to create something of my own was born a long time ago. I didn’t know what or how I was going to do that, until I took a break from my job as a jewellery and watch designer in 2013 and began my Jewellery and Accessory Design degree at HEAD in Geneva. I used this time to develop my creative universe and bring to life the first Mädi bags, during my graduation collection in 2015.

We love Mädi’s dynamic shapes and bold colours. Where do you usually get the inspiration for your designs?

I like bold designs, authenticity, and shapes that you can read easily. Mechanical systems, harmony, and beauty, are things that bring joy and talk to the heart. My inspiration can come from fashion, product design, art, illustration or nature. The natural environment in Switzerland has had a big influence on me. Everyday, the landscapes shaped by mountains and lakes never cease to amaze me. When I look at this, it grounds me in front of the power and beauty of nature.

How does your Swiss heritage influence your aesthetic?

My Swiss heritage influences me through three major aspects — first of all, through imagery. Swiss popular art like native paintings and paper cut pictures decorated the walls of my childhood house. Some of them came from artists in my family or family friends. So from an image perspective, this has really influenced me a lot, as I have an emotional connection to it.

Second is through shape: The shape of my bags are inspired by vintage swiss military leather bags. You can find them in second hand shops now. They are functional, simple and robust.

Lastly, Swiss heritage also influences my construction process. I imagined a product thatcould efficiently be built through an industrial process. I needed to understand how something is built, and knowing that I could build it on my own. This is why my bags are made by folding pieces of leather and holding them together with studs. With the studs becoming a kind of decoration as well. However, nothing is there just for decoration. Everything has a function, nothing is hidden, and you get what you see. I guess it is a Swiss approach to efficiency and functionality.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced as an entrepreneur so far?

Before starting this adventure, I thought that the hard part was going to be working many hours, not sleeping much, and enduring the pressure of deadlines. But actually, as I am the “boss,” I choose how much time I want to invest. Having a good balance between work and personal time is very important to me. Sleeping enough, spending time with family and friends, physical activity, and taking care of my body and mind is important.

I think the biggest challenge is to believe in myself no matter what, and making choices when I don’t know what the best solution is. I always want my work to be perfect, which doesn’t help in the decision process. Nothing would have come out if I’d always waited on perfection. Bringing a brand to life requires a lot of energy, both mentally and physically, and sometimes it can be quite overwhelming. However, as I move forward in the project, my vision becomes more and more precise; and I become more and more determined.

My belief in myself grows together with Mädi’s growth. And in the moments where I doubt myself, I am lucky to have very supportive family and friends. In the end, I know it is all worth it. I’ve learned so much, and I am excited to see what will happen in the future with Mädi and how it will continue to shape me as a person.

What advice do you have for women who would like to become a GirlBoss like yourself?

First: Take time to build your own story. There is not one way to build your dream and as you move forward, this dream will evolve, become more precise or even change. It is important to have a vision, but there can be many different paths to get there. So stay open minded.

Second: Stick to your values because values are the core of your business. Be authentic and honest about where you stand.

Third: Surround yourself with people who believe in you and who are competent; because it is not an adventure you do alone. The true richness of an adventure like this, is in the exchange of know-how with people your work with and the trustworthy relationships you build. To me, celebrating achievements are more joyful when I can share them with a team. Everything I have done until now; I did because of many talented collaborators.

www.madiofficial.com

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Designer

#WomenWorldwide : Following Your Intuition with Ellie at NITARA

There’s a special kind of anguish when you’ve worked so hard for one path – perhaps a childhood dream – and you realise that it’s just not the one for you. However, in these times of turmoil and disappointment, incredible strengths can become apparent ; that lead you to new paths and a new, perhaps truer, version of yourself.

Today’s interview with Ellie, founder of NITARA might have you itching to hatch your own escape plan. Take that as our disclaimer!

HOC: Hi Ellie, great to meet you! Tell us about your journey to being an entrepreneur?

Ellie: I always wanted to have my own business. When I was a child, I always wanted to be a fashion designer. I have a really vivid memory of drawing up interior designs for my own clothing shop one day (It was called ‘Ellie’s’ and it was in Paris, obviously – haha!); that was all I ever really wanted.

Long story short: I did end up doing a Fashion design degree, after that I worked in the industry for a brand I love and thought that would be enough…but it wasn’t. Within four months of working there I realised that I’m wasn’t really cut out for working for someone else! It wasn’t too long after that I left that job and started teaching yoga full time and the first plans for NITARA were born.

HOC: Tell us about your business, NITARA?

Ellie: NITARA was the brainchild of being a busy yoga teacher, living in activewear and being unable to find clothing that really aligned with the yogic way of life. I was on an endless search for activewear that was modern and cool, something different to ‘black on black’, but that was sustainably an ethically made…at the time I couldn’t find anything, so I decided to made my own!

As for the name, NITARA is a sanskrit word which means “to be grounded/deeply rooted”. It’s actually the spiritual name I was given at the end of my yoga teacher training on my first trip to India.

HOC: Tell us about the ethical side of your business?

Ellie: I’ve felt really connected to the ethical side of fashion for a long time, actually since my mum took me to a talk by Katherine Hamnett at the V&A when I was about 16/17. After uni, when I became more serious about yoga and the philosophy thats behind it, I started applying yogic principles into my life away from the yoga mat. The first connection I made was, again, to my clothing. how I expressed myself and what I was choosing to spend my money on.

When I decided to take the leap and launch NITARA, there was no question about my approach. Everything I put out into the world has to be 100% authentic reflection of how I live my life and the values I uphold. I often refer to it as ‘yoga first, business second’ because that’s just how my day pans out: first I do the yoga, then I do the things…and I try to make whatever I’ve learned on my yoga mat filter down into every action I make throughout the day.

The earth has a MAJOR overflow problem right now in terms of waste – as we should all be aware of by now! So it’s my strong belief that anyone looking to bring a new product into the world, should make it their mission to clear some of that waste away in order to make room for the new…which is why our collection is made from recycled plastic bottles, of course!

HOC: Couldn’t agree more. I love how you’ve combined your passions and creativity in your current business / life. How did all these little career swerves come about?

Ellie: Fashion was always my big dream. Then in my last year of my fashion degree, the idea to do my yoga teacher training kinda sprung into my head out of nowhere…It became a thought that would pop back into my head all the time, and if something haunts me like that, I just have to follow it!

So I travelled to India and completed my training right after I graduated, with no real intent on teaching in the end, I just did it to get that thought out of my system and for the sake of learning more…but I left my training with a burning desire to share everything I’d learnt.

After that came the stint working in the fashion industry. During my time there I taught yoga on the side. It didn’t take long to realise that I felt much more at home in the yoga studio than I did at work; which is why I decided to leave and teach yoga full time.

That sparked many more trips to India to continue my learning and to develop my practice. On my second trip I stumbled onto a massage course – can you see a pattern here? haha! Anyway, it turns out I’m quite good at massage (who knew?!) and since then I’ve massaged in almost every 5* spa and hotel in London, in a private home in the Seychelles and worked with celebrities and royal families…all at the same time as teaching yoga, of course.

In the background of all of that, I started working on NITARA. It took me 4 years to actually launch it, which is what happens when you try to spin too many plates at once I guess!

I did the Prince’s Trust Young Enterprise programme, I secured funding from them, developed the concept and products…and finally launched in April 2018. Now, I guess I’ve gone pretty much full circle! I run NITARA most of the time, I still teach yoga (and always, always will!) and I massage sometimes, but no where near as much as I have done in the last few years.

HOC: I feel like you are the right person to ask this to! Where does your drive come from?

Ellie: I feel like it’s a cliche entrepreneur thing to say, but without a ‘Why?’ you can’t drive anything.

So, my drive comes from creating a brand that’s an honest representation of the way I live, the kind of businesses I want to see and the world I want to live in. I’ve never understood why we have ‘ethical fashion’ or ‘non-ethical fashion’ , ‘conscious living’ and ‘unconscious living’… you know? That makes zero sense!

I think drive comes from your ‘why?’ ; being a reason bigger than yourself, your purpose has to bring about some new culture, idea or to change peoples lives in some way. That’s where real fire comes from. If my ‘why?’ was just to make some cool yoga pants, it would never have come into fruition.

My recommendation for keeping focus is to have some kind of vision or goal that you’re aiming for. You should have a 5/10 year vision and constantly ask yourself if what you’re doing is in alignment with that. That vision can be quite fluid, it can change slightly over time but it always has to align with your ‘why’ and your deeper message behind your business.

HOC: That’s very true. Without true passion you won’t find the energy to push your business forwards. Let’s go back a bit, for our entrepreneurial readers, what advice do you have for them to start their own thing?

Ellie: In my mind: launch fast and grow with feedback. I know I didn’t do that; 4 years is a long time to launch something! But if I could do it all again, I’d stop talking about it and just launch the thing as soon as I could. Your first products will never be perfect, so just launch with what you have and grow from there.

HOC: What personal achievement of yours means the most to you and why?

Ellie: Thats a hard one! I’ve had a crazy career so far and my life has taken loads of unexpected twist and turns, I’ve achieved a hell of a lot in quite a short space of time and I’m super proud of that.

But the achievement that means the most to me is probably the relationships I’ve managed to keep or nurture through all of that. You know how a lot of people say that: when they launched their business, tried to become artist or make it in music, that the people around them weren’t so supportive, they were told that it would fail or that they should probably get a “real job” well, nobody has ever said anything like that to me – not even once!

My family and friends are everything to me, I’m still best friends with people I met when I was 11 years old and through yoga I have met literally the most inspiring people you’d ever care to cross paths with. It would have been really easy to lose connection when we were half way across the world from each other, having completely different experiences for months at a time, but somehow that hasn’t really happened.

Because of that support network I’ve never really felt like I needed to prove anything to anyone, be anything other than myself or that anything was really that impossible. So every idea I’ve had or turn I’ve taken has just been an authentic expression of whatever I was really feeling intuitively drawn to at the time, because what ever hair-brained idea I had was greeted without question; just complete support.

That means everything and I’m fully aware of how incredibly rare that is! I don’t know if that counts as an achievement in the normal sense of the word, but it does mean a lot to me.

HOC: Where do you get your inspiration from?

Ellie: I feel like most designers have the same answer for this: Everywhere! I’m such a magpie! Part of a design could come from my travels but then I could get a colour palette idea from some artwork, a photo on Instagram/ Pinterest, a book, piece of graffiti, a flower in a garden or a student that walks into my yoga class with a cool attitude that I want to encapsulate somehow. Inspiration is everywhere, you just have to keep your eyes open!

Inspiration for the shapes of our clothes are easier to come by because I usually find those while I’m practicing yoga or while I’m teaching. I want our pieces to be cool to look at, but also functionally do their job. I want your outfit to be the last thing on your mind while you move! Those ideas usually come when I’m on my yoga mat or working out in something that’s perhaps not doing its job so well, so I dissect why it’s not and how I can make something better!

HOC: Finally, If you ever have a creative block / funk; how do you get yourself out of it?

Ellie: Most of the time, I get outside. I grab a coffee and walk in nature, or as much nature as I can find in London!

Or I move: I’ll do a 15min yoga session or some other kind of work out. This is a bit random, but I’ve found a quick 8 minute ab workout on youtube works well when I’m really lacking motivation! I get back into my body and out of my head, focus on something else for a bit and then I’m usually good to go!

To follow Ellie’s business head over to Nitara-London.com

Follow @Nitara_London

All photography Sam Lindley

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Fashion

#GirlBossesofGreatBritain – The One with the Bootstrapping Designer

House of Coco chatted with fashion designer Elizabeth-Yemi Akingbade about her fashion brand Yemzi, the importance of bootstrapping and pursuing your dreams. (Photo credit: ©www.jamesperrin.com 2016)

HOC: Hey Elizabeth, tell us about Yemzi and where we can find your products?

EA: Hello House Of Coco! All Yemzi pieces are made in London with Africa inspired hand-illustrated digitally printed premium silk. The brand is stocked in the GoodPlace boutique in Chelsea and my ultimate dream is to be stocked in similar boutiques worldwide Alara (Lagos), Browns (London), Collette (Paris). In Nigeria they respect good quality European design and I plan to approach stockists there over the next season or two. Until recently I have been selling my Black Label, a more affordable segment of the brand, on ASOS Marketplace but I’ve made the decision to solely focus on my high-end items in the Gold Label.

I’ve been approached to showcase my work at a number of small fashion and trade shows but my target is on the British Fashion Council’s official London Fashion Week schedule. I hosted my own fashion show last year on Dalston Roof Park, which was great and I’m planning another for this September in a World War 2 bunker! It’s all about stepping stones and building up; nothing happens overnight.

HOC: How did you come to running your own brand?

EA: After completing my undergrad degree in Surface Design at London College of Communication I took some short courses in Garment Construction, Bespoke Tailoring, and Pattern Cutting. I’m currently studying MA African Studies at SOAS which also informs my creative direction. I started working with sustainable printed t-shirts after I graduated in 2013 and had them stocked in one of the top 3 African boutiques.

From my presence in this store a fashion talent scout and strategist invited to show in Paris at Labo Ethnik. I really didn’t want to be going to Paris with just t-shirts so I applied my prints to cut and sewn styles. My first success was my silk kimonos, they sold so well and propelled me to create my first all silk 13 look ready-to-wear collection, ‘Straight Out Of The City Via The Motherland’ (SS16). My work explores British-Nigerian identity, fusing the fast pace of the city with the chilled vibe of the sea-side and often touches on politics as well as culture. I’m like Yinka Shonibare’s love-child with Vivienne Westwood.

HOC: Do you feel you get to be creative with your brand, is that one of your reasons for running this business?

EA: Absolutely! I’ve just started working on my new collection and I’ve been sketching and painting loads. In fact, I need to focus more on the numbers but my business is proof that you can carve a career doing exactly what you love. At the moment I’m so excited about Spring/Summer 17 (SS17), the Nigerian influence is stronger this season. After reading ‘Yoruba Photography: How the Yoruba See Themselves’ by Stephen F. Sprague for class ‘Ibeji’ (Yoruba twins) are a theme within the collection. Nigerians are most likely to have twins and I plan to play on this in the lookbook. The fashion prints that I’m working on are reminiscent of scarification and I’d love to book a stunning Nigerian model called Paula who has tribal markings on her stomach.

HOC: In the fashion industry we feel that it’s important who you know and where you are seen? How do you find the right people and places?

EA: It is important to sustain relationships and seek valuable connections. If you keep in touch with your fashion network you’ll hear about industry news, events and parties.

I also have a few mentors that I’ve met in various places. There’s a coach called Kofi who I met through Bootstrap company’s enterprise bootcamp, who I often go to as a sounding board. I always keep him in the loop and ask for his advice. I recently went to the The StartUp Kitchen to meet with well-established entrepreneurs who are willing to give gidance. These types of events are great forums to talk about new ideas and get your feedback from experts in other industries. We all have different approaches to business; for instance I met a lady who was all about picking up the phone, chasing for sales and making money. It’s different from how I operate but it’s interesting to see a different perspective. You can learn a lot from other people’s experiences and take aspects to shape your direction.

HOC: There’s a lot of work that goes into having your own fashion brand and you work and study alongside! How do you manage it all?

EA: My savings have given my business life and I do work when I can to top it up. I’m lucky to have a committed intern, Krezsend, who comes to the Yemzi HQ in Dalston to help out with whatever is on the agenda.

For blogger outreach I was working with a friend with a PR company but it is all in-house again. Outside of contacting bloggers I reach out to photographers, models and musicians who may want to collaborate. A big part of the search is for the ‘Yemzi Girl’; the girl that embodies my brand and can influence others on social media. For instance, I connected with a model from NYC who I had been fangirling for a minute and sent her a ‘Spbra’ bralet which she showcased on her Instagram.

I’m not shy to get exposure. Sadiq Khan visited my studio the other month and he said he was heading to Ben TV next and would shout me out. I held him to it and sure enough he co-signed me on international television. I’m all over my google analytics so I know what generates traffic to Yemzi.com so I always keep and eye on activity and plan accordingly.

HOC: You mention the Yemzi girl influencer, tell us more about her and how you find her?

EA: As I mentioned earlier I do a lot of tracking through analytics, I find the girls that have influence through looking at their follower to interaction ratio, who are the kinds of people who follow them and like their content. Yemzi girls have natural hairstyles, they tend to be creative and positive. I’ve got a #GirlBoss tip for you actually, check out Talia Wolf (Taliagw) and Mark Suster (msuster) on snapchat for snapstorms where they gives quick strategies on how to get more engagement online and other killer marketing and business tips.

HOC: So it sounds like social media is incredibly important to Yemzi at the moment?

EA: Absolutely, although I have had some not so great experiences. The other month a photographer was indirectly trashing me on twitter to his few thousand following. It was really unfair as I respectfully approached him about a shoot with an influencer (a beautiful model with 45k followers and 3k likes per post) but because there was no budget he was airing our direct message conversation in his public timeline rather than politely declining. I don’t care though, we all have to start somewhere and the most successful hustle hard to get things popping. If in 2016 Kanye West can ask for a billion dollars for his ideas then I can ask for a TFP (time for print) photoshoot from a local photographer!

The fashion industry in London is small, you really have to be aware of this.

I successfully approached a fashion photography graduate a few years ago via Twitter, we’ve done some amazing (unpaid and paid) collaborations, and she currently works at Net-A-Porter. The creative team are an important part of any shoot and the photographer needs to be as excited about your work as you otherwise the passion won’t be translated to the consumers.

HOC: You’re achieving so much, is there anything you wish you could spend more time and energy on?

EA: Visiting the spa? Jokes aside, networking more, my schedule does not priorities it. It’s on my list of activities to make regular but I have very little spare time. I need to just dedicate some time to finding events through friends, eventbrite and twitter and go. You can make some amazing contacts and even if you just walk away from an event with one decent contact it’s worthwhile.

Thank you Elizabeth for a whirlwind tour of your world and we cannot wait for your new SS17 collection. If you, dear reader, like what you’ve read do check out Yemzi. This #TeamCoco writer can vouch for how awesome they are, our hubby wants to nick our unisex green/blue print silk sweater!

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All aboard the Bombay Sapphire Express!

When House of Coco was invited to step aboard the good train Bombay Sapphire for The Grand Journey we could barely hold our excitement – cocktails and travel?! Now that’s the ticket!

The Grand Journey is a spectacular celebration of ten of the key ingredients in the sparkling blue Bombay Sapphire bottle, taking us around the world to sample the ingredients and hear the stories behind them.

The train passed through London in mid-October before carrying on to other European destinations like Berlin, Barcelona and Amsterdam. We were lucky enough to jump onboard for the ride and grab a classy G&T with the culinary masterminds behind the experience – The Robin Collective…

Upon arriving at London’s Bike Shed we were welcomed by a nicely dressed chap called Gerald with what can only be described as a goblet of gin and tonic and then ushered onto the Bombay Sapphire train by the conductor. Seated in a gorgeous art deco style banquette with our fellow travellers we weren’t at all sure what to expect when the ‘train’ embarked on its journey – complete with sound effects and the very clever use of screens acting as the train windows, taking us through the countryside of Italy, the volcanoes of Java and finally the great british fields on our quest to learn about Bombay Sapphire’s ingredients.

Each of our Grand Journey stops was accompanied with a culinary trick, alcohol treat or immersive sketch to keep traveller’s fatigue at bay. The edibles by The Robin Collective immersed us in the ingredient’s location; a vegan lemon pate for lemon peel from Spain, a stunning floral jelly (that takes 20 minutes to make by hand!) and savoury almond churros that were to die for. Alongside tasty tricks and were quirky cocktails by Happiness Forgets’ Geoff Robinson that were served next to smoking volcanoes and in a Chinese tea-set. Our ever-so-slightly camp train staff kept us amused with shadow puppet stories, slight of hand magic and even a little floor show that got some of our fellow travellers a little hot under the collar!

We absolutely adore a fun evening out with a few tipples and this was no exception – the cocktails were delicious and really showed another side to gin, just in time for the autumn and winter season where a crisp G&T just doesn’t quite cut it anymore!

Disembarking from the train we ended our journey in Laverstoke; the distillery location for Bombay Sapphire, nestled in rural Hampshire and shared a cheeky cocktail with Robin and Brandy, Co-Founders of The Robin Collective to learn more about vegan surprises, chefs favourite moulds and jelly technique…

HOC: We loved the treats on offer tonight and were bowled over that they were all vegan, how did that come about?

Brandy: Vegan food is accessible to everyone and you can’t say the same for meat dishes! Plus we work with an amazing chef who runs a vegan restaurant in Glasgow. Alongside the food we had a lot of fun working on the aromas in the train to help take you on your journeys.

HOC: That lemon pate (shaped like a lemon) was incredible and the jelly was a masterpiece – we almost didn’t want to eat it!

Robin: The moulds for the lemon pate were made from real lemons and our chefs have their favourites to work with, it’s so funny! The jellies are a labour of love; it takes 20 minutes to make each one as we paint them by hand. The idea for it came about in one of the ‘Inspiration Afternoons’ we held in our office. Now we’re making 1,000 jellies per location and having to send out one of our team to Berlin to keep an eye on the jelly production!

HOC: Well, they are worth it! We love what you guys do but it’s got to be tricky sometimes- what’s some of the biggest challenges you come up against?

Brandy: Kitchens are always a challenge but we’ve designed our own set up to be as mobile and efficient as possible. Running water can also be a challenge, depending on where you are working from. We love to travel and be a part of everything we work on – we’re only a small team and we like to be close to everything and make sure it all goes amazingly!

With that we let Robin and Brandy get back to painting their jellies and escape in a VR headset tour of the Bombay Sapphire distillery – looking to all onlookers as if we’d definitely had a few too many!

The Grand Journey has now departed for mainland Europe but fear not, you can enjoy a Bombay Sapphire cocktail at The Gilbert Scott, Cahoots and The Cocktail Trading Company in London until 6th November. The Bombay Sapphire distillery is nestled in rural Hampshire and open 7 days a week, perfect for a day out – we’ll see you there?

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France

#WomenWorldwide: Taking the Leap with Leanne Silverwood

Sometimes the stars align and situations converge, giving you the opportunity to step up and take a leap into something you know will benefit so many people, not least yourself. Our interviewee today, Leanne took that opportunity with both hands and her company Local Care Force is always popping up on awards lists for the work that they do and also how they treat their employees. Read on and be inspired…

HOC: Great to meet you, Leanne. Let’s start with the tricky question… what’s your elevator pitch for Local Care Force?

Leanne: Sure! Have you ever had to step in to prevent someone from harming themselves in the worst possible way? Unfortunately, I have. Whilst working on a secure psychiatric ward, a worker responsible for providing one to one care and support for a suicidal patient fell asleep – I was horrified.

I loved my job on secure psychiatric wards, but I was appalled at the standard of some of the workers and it wasn’t uncommon to experience the wrong attitude or a lack of training. Because of this, I took a leap of faith, acting on something I knew was wrong, I was certain that I could do better, so led by a mix of gut feeling and passion I set up on my own.

Since establishing Local Care Force, I have trained thousands of care workers, creating new career paths for many and teaching a deep understanding of what is required to be a vigilant, passionate and safe care worker. I work with trainers who are so passionate, that two out of four have saved people’s lives in their own time, and we now have government quality accreditations.

My team includes nurses who have created award-winning Mental well-being projects, who have won ‘Nurse of the Year’ and Patient Safety awards. I have a team of empathetic passionate managers who go the extra mile for the clients they provide staffing support for. Some great examples of this include booking vintage war-time singers, dancing with care home residents and providing virtual reality experiences to Dementia homes!

My leap has created a safe, exceptionally well-trained supply of workers to an industry that is notoriously short of staff. We provide a consistent and ethical service which is delivered with passion every single day.

HOC: So inspirational and an amazing positive business! How did you make this leap?

Leanne: The leap to running my own business took a lot of confidence, experience and knowledge. All of which was gained whilst working in a mental health hospital for years, often alongside agency staff, and also within a large agency where I established and ran two department,. It was however, because of this hands on experience, that I knew I could offer a better service myself. I could see the failings clearly and had first-hand experience of what not to do, so I knew that if I was in control, it would be a success.

 

HOC: Love it! It must be tough when you have such a passion for your job and have to make sacrifices to get it started / keep it going….

Leanne: I am the most loyal person you could meet, my motto is ‘treat people as you want to be treated’, how you treat people resembles the rest of life, you truly do get out what you put in. Because I live this way, I am fortuitous to have an amazing team that I consider family. But there are people who you work with, have invested in (not just financially, emotionally too) who don’t give the same back, don’t respect the ethics or culture and/or take advantage of my generous nature. The most difficult aspect mentally is to not let those people affect you, the ones who you help the most who take advantage – it says so much more about them as a person than you. It’s a hard lesson but you mustn’t let it change the way you are, you have to rise above it and continue running your business and treating people as you always have.

Choosing when and if to remove someone from the business are also the most difficult choices. I am a good person and have had to fight to retain as such. Not letting the ‘few’ spoil it for everyone else is a conscious choice I have had to make. Because we are such a close-knit team, the most difficult choices have been severing relationships because it’s not in my nature to do so. I respect people who work to support our business, I see the best in people and try to develop the rest, but sometimes in a business such as ours, inefficiencies are so transparent and the damage one person can do to an culture, environment and the teams wellbeing cannot be underestimated. Ultimately it is always me who has to make the most difficult decisions.

HOC: That’s so very true! What does your team look like?

Leanne: I have attracted a team of steadfast ethical professionals. They say you recruit in your own image and that’s exactly what has happened. In addition, they all bring a wealth of knowledge crossing all sectors of our industry, which makes us a force to be reckoned with. The majority of my senior team have been with the business for eight years and above. The respect, the responsibility and autonomy I give them, is returned week in and week out with their loyalty, consistent level of work and passion. When we applied for the Times Top 100 companies, we came 21st and the feedback from my team was exemplary. All of our core values were scored highly, and because the feedback came from my team, it meant so much more – and all the hard work and intricacies over the years paid off. 95% of our employees said I was inspirational, 99% feel supported, 93% have fun with their colleagues and 91% loved their roles – we were ranked the highest small business in Yorkshire to work for! I personally received the highest leadership score across all the businesses assessed. As a reward – many of my team have been made associate partners with a ‘say’ and ‘stake’ in the business for their loyalty.

The support we provide our staff team goes above and beyond the usual. We are lucky to have such professionals in our business and we have introduced innovative mental health first-aid training for all. Our designated mental health nurse lead and senior trainer developed a program to provide support and signposting for all of our staff, and a ‘buddy’ mentoring system has been introduced to ensure there is always someone for my staff to talk to.

This initiative has already been shortlisted as a finalist for two Nursing Times Workforce Awards for Diversity and Inclusion, and Wellbeing and Staff Engagement. We’ve also been recognised by the HSJ Awards for creating a positive staff culture. Following this success, we plan to roll this out as a training and support package to other businesses so they too can support their workforce.

HOC: I’ve got goosebumps just hearing that, what an exciting story! In addition to all this, how has your business grown?

Leanne: My business has grown an average of 35% year on year since its inception in 2004 because of our team, their reliability passion and loyalty. We have grown approximately 70% by word of mouth and recommendation, and the consistency of our service has ensured client and worker loyalty. We have clients who have been with us since inception – which is unheard of for an agency and a transient workforce.

I really believe in engagement as a business growth tool. We have a people business and so if our team isn’t engaged, don’t love their workplace or feel appreciated then we truly have nothing. Visitors to our offices regularly comment on the positivity and happy nature of the team. Our culture really is everything and our ranking in the Times Top 100 stating 99% feel supported, 93% have fun with their colleagues and 91% loved their roles, proves that our success and growth is down to the happiness and wellbeing of people.

Some examples of what we do include;

Our innovative ‘Legends’ peer feedback app shows how different from other companies we are. We are proud to be a supportive family business. We collate feedback positively on each other throughout the month, and on the first Monday of the month we all receive our anonymous feedback by email. Positivity in the workplace is an absolute must in maintaining positive mental wellbeing in the team. The monthly crowning of the LCF Legend is a date everyone looks forward to. The winner receives a glass award, digital character, free meals, bar tab for the team, clothes vouchers, a sleep in and early finish, massage and a drawer full of their favourite treats.

Every year we also throw two special events to ensure engagement and celebrate all the hard work. These events grow in notoriety each year and are fully paid for, luxury, all you can eat and drink affairs. From a Gin development & marketing day and night to Local Care Fest which was a self-organised music, food and booze filled glamping festival. We look after our staff and this supports our growth and their commitment to the business as a great place to work and be part of.

HOC: Absolutely amazing. What a huge – but exciting- responsibility you have to your teams! How did you set yourself up for this? Can you…?

Leanne: I believed in myself.To succeed you must be able to motivate yourself, be consistent, dust yourself off and begin again each day., if you are someone who tires easily, and find it hard to motivate yourself, then it’s not for you! Be prepared not to have a day off until you are properly established – which can take years and the right people. You have to be prepared to take a gamble, risk a steady income, and accept a blip on your cv whilst you’re doing all the groundwork…… I remember Tony Robbins made a fabulous statement – If you want to take the island – burn your F***ing boats! Great analogy.

HOC: How do you take time out, do you ever find it difficult?

Leanne: I am not very good at relaxing; my mind is very active and there is always so much I want to do! I love a challenge and my husband and I are currently renovating three separate properties in our down time. One is a stunning five bed Winemakers home with a separate cottage, heated pool etc in a beautiful village in the south of France. The others are in The Dales and North Yorkshire #Yorkshirelass ). The luxury property in France will soon become a rental for a few weeks each summer.

I have a fabulous friend who is an outdoorsy personal trainer at All change PT, who I run with. This is the best way to get me out of the office and into the fresh air – we have even been known to do HIT sessions by the canal which gets some interesting looks, I also enjoy pilates with her and it is the only thing that calms my mind and keeps me focused, but that’s mainly because I have no coordination!

HOC: Hold the phone, we need to know more about that Winemakers home…

Leanne: Haha, of course! The luxury property is in Languedoc, called ‘Bois D’argent’ which means ‘Silverwood’! It’s a 1869 six bed winemakers home with an independent cottage converted from the original stables,. It also has a heated pool and a summer kitchen, it’s dreamy. We bought it from the family that owned all the vineyards surrounding the village and it hadn’t been lived in for 20 years so had no suitable water, drainage or electricity but we fell in love with it anyway!

It has been a real labour of love, but we are now finally at the exciting part – finishing it off and selecting furnishings, so I am currently obsessing over hand finished kitchen handles by The Period Ironmonger, taps from Perrin and Row, Rudge & Co and Jim Lawrence light fittings…

If you love a bit of a renovation project – be sure to check us out over at @LeBoisDArgent. The house is in Puissalicon, one of the famous ‘circulade’ villages where the ancient houses constructed in a spiral fashion outwards from the centre, which is full of charming and unique restaurants and bars. It’s in the heart of the Languedoc vineyards and has multiple wine domains in the village itself…..who also conveniently allow for wine tasting.

HOC: Okay, back to business ; what’s next?

Leanne: My ambition was to avoid the label of ‘recruitment’ due to negative connotations and so much bad practice in the industry. We are a Nursing and health specialist provider, we are professionals in that industry and we have stood tall and fought since day one to be respected. Something I feel we have achieved. Examples of this include being asked to display our projects at the Department of Health Patient Safety Conference, to working on pilot projects with the NMC (Nursing Midwifery Council) and RCN (Royal College of Nursing) resulting in being named as one of the RCNs Top 100 Nursing Innovators 2018. I believe we are pioneers; we have removed ourselves from the shadow of ‘recruitment’ and deservedly stand proud alongside Commissioning Groups, Independent care providers and the NHS. Being inducted into the Royal Collage of Nursing library of best practice as the gold standard for agency Nursing last year was a testament to our professionals and the hard work they invest in this business.

Immediately on the horizon for me is a slot as a guest speaker at this years Business Insiders 42 Under 42 awards dinner. I was crowned overall winner at last year’s event, so this is a real honour. I will be up on stage infront of everyone so wish me luck!

HOC: And finally, a classic question; the ’10 years ago’ challenge is all the rage on insta at the moment, what advice do you have for the 2009 you?

Leanne: I think it’s the other way round, the 2009 me was smarter with her work life balance, less sensible and far more frivolous – she bought far too many expensive shoes, travelled the world to some of the most luxurious hotels ….. !

I would say, keep it up girl – LIVE LIFE!

By the time my niece / goddaughter is 18 she is going to have a seriously extensive, luxury vintage shoe collection! 2019 Leanne needs to take the time to buy more shoes and take more holidays for sure…especially with the big 40 rapidly approaching! Visit https://www.piciandpici.com.

To find out more about Leanne’s business visit www.LocalCareForce.co.uk

Follow the restoration of Leanne’s French property on instagram @LeBoisDArgent.

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Fashion

Girl Bosses of Great Britain: Lauren Stevenson & Virginia Norris on PR in the digital world

For those on the fringes of the fashion industry, the perception when it comes to fashion PR’s are often inextricably linked with images of Absolutely Fabulous. Let me tell you “darling” that over-the-top, flamboyant, PR woman of the nineties is a thing of the past.

Enter Virginia Norris & Lauren Stevenson, looking towards the future of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty, with their agency Aisle 8 Communications. Fully embracing the power of digital has set Aisle 8 apart from other agencies; and their deep understanding of the fast-paced needs of that digital world has enabled them to elevate brands like Manu Atelier and DCL Skincare to a global scale. We chat with Girl-boss Lauren Stevenson, about what it takes to start your own business, and how the future of fashion pr can be found on your screen.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background, what inspired you to start AISLE8?
I’ve worked in PR for 15 years in large and small agencies, as well as two major in-house roles. Every role gave me valuable experience in the impact that PR can have as part of the wider marketing mix. I was privileged to be fully immersed into the digital world from the beginning, and I saw how a dynamic entrepreneurial young team could build a world class business. After a year as the Head of PR & Communications at Harrods, I missed that nimble and dynamic approach to PR. I saw a gap in the market for an agency that understood the changing face of PR and communications, being able to bridge the gap between digital marketing and traditional PR. Aisle 8 could do just that, understanding the importance of how PR could really deliver retail sales and build a business from the ground up.

How did you two meet? What made you decide to start this business together?
Virginia and I had met while I was the head of PR for my-wardrobe.com and she was the head of PR for Whistles.Two fast growing British fashion retailers, carving out a unique position in the market with clever, creative PR tactics and strategies that stood out. We were at the same events with our CEOs and often said, we should start a business together. We were regularly pitched to by digital and PR agencies but none of them seemed to understand the nuances of our retail business and how we approached digital in a 360 way.

In 2014, I called Virginia from Miami and said I’m going to resign, let’s start the agency we always talked about. Within a week we had both resigned, drafted our business plan, and registered Aisle8.

What makes Aisle8 Comms different from other agencies in the industry?
We have a deep understanding of retail and e-commerce, understanding how fully integrated PR and digital communications can build a brand. We understand the frustrations of working with agencies when you’re an in-house team, offering a service that goes far beyond a traditional PR agency. We have a track record for taking brands such as Manu Atelier to become a globally sought-after name, to securing retail for DCL Skincare in one of London’s leading department stores.

How do you go about finding the right brands and businesses to partner with?
We have been in a privileged position that so far, brands have always come to us and we have been able to be selective on the right brands to work with. We look for businesses with an authentic story and interesting product. We are storytellers. Introducing new brands, services, and products, so we have to fully believe and be incredibly passionate about those stories.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced as businesswomen so far?
Nothing can prepare you for running your own business. I’m very lucky to have Virginia by my side and I couldn’t have done this without her. You know how to do your job as a PR professional, but growing and running your own business — well that you learn on the job every day. The biggest challenge has been cash flow. You no longer just receive a pay cheque at the end of every month. You have to wait for your clients to pay their invoices to be able to pay your suppliers, team, and office costs. It’s the one thing that keeps us awake at night.

What advice do you have for women who would like to become GirlBosses like yourself?
Today’s digital world has allowed us to have a much more flexible approach to work. We all have phones, laptops, social media, and global marketing channels that enable us to market to a worldwide audience with one image or sentence. The opportunity to launch a brand or start a business, has never been more readily available. It’s just having the courage and belief to do it. Virginia and I gave each other the courage and belief to do this and without each other the dark days would be a lot darker and the bright days, less bright.

AISLE8

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#WomenWorldwide: Tricia Scott leads a community of female entrepreneurs with The Female CEO

Here at House of Coco, we’re all about women empowering other women, and this is exactly what Tricia Scott and The Female CEO are all about. With a background in business coaching, Tricia has created a community of women all over the world, whose only goal is to help female entrepreneurs further their businesses.

Through mentoring, coffee break catch-ups, and informative blog articles at her very own CEO Magazine, Tricia Scott and The Female CEO are changing the world by lifting up one world changing woman at a time. In this latest #WomenWorldwide interview, we caught up with Tricia Scott and talked about what drives her passions, personal mantras, and the importance of having a kick-ass support system. Because with Tricia Scott and The Female CEO, ‘you are never alone’.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. What inspired you to start The Female CEO?

Looking back now, working towards the inclusion, success, and empowerment of others is always something I’ve held close to my core. I’ve always held a deep rooted (somewhat rebellious) nature at heart. Growing up, I’ve always gravitated to people who were different. As soon as I was able, I left my school days behind and was quickly and easily swept into the corporate world, climbing every ladder of every job I was ever presented with.

I was never happy to stand still, and was always looking for a higher position, higher learning and more to do. My free time was spent with people who preferred to stay outside of the norm, with different ideas and inspirations. This is probably where my love of entrepreneurship came from, I think entrepreneurs are creative people who view the world a little bit differently. My mantra was always (and still is), to never judge a book by its cover. Some of the most beautiful and interesting souls I’ve ever had the pleasure of spending time with, were people I met through following this mantra.

Over the years and like so many of the women I speak to today, I’ve faced my own personal hurdles, family tragedy, divorce, and debt to name just a few. Eventually I paused and looked around I realised that I really wasn’t alone. Women everywhere were stalled, scared, and hiding under layer upon layer of life experiences. I started to work with small groups of women at first, creating topics to start or further their businesses. Confidence, support, empowerment, focus and passion became the foundation of our work. This eventually led to bigger groups, large scale speaking engagements, interviews, videos and eventually the birth of The Female CEO & CEO digital magazine.

What is The Female CEO all about and how does it help aspiring GirlBosses the world over?

I have worked with women from all walks of life both as the Female CEO and in my previous role as a business coach and mentor. Watching women come together and work through their struggles, as well as celebrating their wins. Knowing that working as a solo-preneur can be lonely, these groups and support systems have become a lifeline to many. The mantra? ‘You are never alone here’

The Female CEO and CEO magazine aim to offer support and guidance to entrepreneurs through various methods. This includes specific training, a community-based Facebook page, In The Spotlight Interviews, and coffee break catch ups with inspirational people from across the world. We also offer printables, blogs, support, and ideas and it’s open to anyone. You don’t have to have your own business to be part of it, far from it in fact. I’m a firm believer that incredible things happen when women come together in solidarity and that’s what this business is all about – community driven empowerment and world-changing women.

As a CEO yourself, how important is having a strong support network to achieving your goals?

I believe that a strong support network is vital to achieving pretty much anything. It’s one of the reasons when I created The Female CEO I handpicked a team of fabulous Guest Editors, all with different skill-sets to work alongside and share their collective knowledge with our readers. I am the first to put my hand in the air and say that I don’t know everything. That is the amazing thing about a community like ours. Everyone is unique and at different stages of their journey therefore we all have so much to offer to each other!

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a female CEO?

Oh my goodness, there have been so many! If I had to choose just one I’d say overcoming the ‘disease to please’. I spent so many hours listening to everyone else’s opinions but my own about how I should set up and run my business. I was trying to please everyone else rather than tuning into my own gut feeling and going with it. Looking back it was a tool for procrastination too. The longer I listened, the less I put myself out there for fear of judgement. I don’t do that anymore!

What advice do you have for women who would like to become a GirlBoss like yourself?

Just do it. Don’t wait for the time to be just right, trust me you’ll never get there. Seek out communities of people with similar interests, ask for help (people really love to help) and be brave. It’s not impossible to set up on a minimum budget either, there are so many free resources out there from building your own website (I created The Female CEO from scratch with literally zero experience or knowledge) to taking payments and protecting the privacy of your customers, it all just takes a little bit of research. Finally, believe in yourself and your capabilities.

I wish you all of the success in the world.

WWW.THEFEMALECEO.COM

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Australia

#WomenWorldwide: Hannah Terziu captures wedding moments with Love Story Events

Someone’s wedding day, is probably the most important day in most peoples’ lives. It is an unforgettable experience that marks the beginning of a new story, shared with the couple’s closest family and friends. To be a part of a wedding is truly a special experience, but to plan the magic of a wedding, is a whole different story.

Hannah Terziu has built her business around capturing unforgettable wedding moments. Not to mention, capturing them amidst the stunning backdrops of the Amalfi Coast. A love for events and wedding planning led her to leave London and jump headfirst into her passion. Love Story Events is a testament to her talent and willpower as both a wedding planner, and an entrepreneur. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and if these photos say anything, it’s that Hannah certainly made the right choice in pursuing her dreams.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. What made you fall in love with wedding planning?

I tend to think of myself as having 3 children — my actual two children, Benjamin who is 2 years old and Serena my 5 months old baby — but also my third baby which is my business! Every day is a struggle to balance my time between these 3 commitments. They keep me busy — but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Whilst I was born in the UK, I moved to Sydney 4 years ago and live in Sydney with my husband and kids. We travel back to Italy each year to deliver the seasonal weddings, which is a great excuse to also visit family and friends in Europe at the same time.

I remember the moment I knew that event planning was for me – I was evaluating different career options following my degree. (which was in Law, not events!) There were about 4 different roles I was thinking about. However, the only thing that kept “sticking with me” was event planning. I decided to pursue it.

My first role was at the Ritz Hotel and this cemented my passion for wedding planning – I loved meeting couples, exploring their vision and seeing the wedding day unfold. I then moved into the field of private events working for HM The Queen’s Household at Buckingham Palace. I loved every moment of my time there and was privileged to be involved in some of the big historical events. However, I missed working with the public and especially with couples; and that’s when I moved to Italy to pursue destination wedding planning.

What made you decide to move to Italy?

My career in London spanned 5 years and by then I felt I had experienced the best that London had to offer. As a person, I like to continually grow and challenge myself. I had always LOVED Italy as a location — so when I was thinking about the next step for my career, moving abroad, learning a new language and working in destination weddings, sounded like a good fit for me. The concept of Love Story Eventswas born, but I knew I needed to get hands on experience in Italy before I could fully launch the company.

When I got to Italy, there were a number of challenges. At first I worked in Rome – it wasn’t the best experience as I ended up not being paid for the 6 months I worked and having to sleep in the office. But by then I had already invested and was determined not to go back home without having gained the experiences and insights into destination wedding planning that I needed. 

I moved to the Amalfi Coast and was fortunate enough to connect with the right people there and so my destination wedding planning experience began. The language took me a good 6 months to pick up — it was helped by the fact that I met my (now) husband there, which was certainly all the motivation I needed to learn quickly! After 2 years delivering destination weddings in Italy, fluent in Italian and having married myself, I was ready to move into the next phase.

In your expert opinion, what are the essentials to creating an unforgettable wedding?

In my opinion having a destination wedding it makes it unforgettable — it sets the wedding apart as an experience of a country, especially as guests tend to make a holiday experience out of it. I love seeing both the Bride & Groom’s reaction when they first see their wedding venue and also the guest at the wedding — they are often rendered speechless as they step into the venue and see the views (especially on the Amalfi Coast).

Another essential to an unforgettable wedding is the delivery — what I mean by this is how it flows on the day, how relaxed the couple are and the guest perception. The key to the success of this is in the planning. It ensures that all the details you have put into the day come to pass and that the celebration runs smoothly. It is important the wedding is a true expression of the couples styles, personalities, ideas and vision, so that the day feels genuine not a like putting on a show — making for an authentic, unforgettable wedding for all.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced as an entrepreneur so far?

Being discovered has been the hardest thing. Whilst I was confident I had the passion and skill to create destination weddings, I needed to learn a lot about how to reach my target audience and thus about social media. Marketing is always evolving, it is a constant learning curve to keep up with. Persevering with getting the brand out there is still challenging, but I am beginning to see real growth in the company and so I am encouraged to see that my efforts are starting to pay off.

What advice do you have for women who would like to become a GirlBoss like yourself?

The best advice I can give is not to over think things in the start-up phase and to deal with problems or challenges as they arise. It is easier to find a solution when you are “in motion” rather than thinking about it being static. Honestly, before I set up Love Story Events, I found myself wondering how living in Australia and having a baby (I had just given birth to our son at the time) was going to work logistically with planning weddings in Italy. But I also knew I had worked too hard to give up on my dream. So I started the company. — and solutions presented themselves as I went along. So my advice is to get started! ?

www.lovestoryitaly.com

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