Laura Bartlett here, founder of House of Coco magazine, and I have some exciting news to share with you. Last week, I had the absolute pleasure of attending a fabulous lunch hosted by the British Society of Magazine Editors (BSME) with none other than the fashion powerhouse herself, Dame Anna Wintour DBE.
Picture this: two editor-in-chiefs in one room, surrounded by an intimate group of industry insiders. It was a dream come true. Alongside me were Siobhan Murphy, our Interiors Editor extraordinaire, and our incredibly talented and world renowned head stylist, Taheed Khan. We were all part of this exclusive invitation-only gathering, thanks to my role on the BSME committee. Talk about a perk!
When Anna made her grand entrance, turning heads and commanding attention, her eyes locked onto our team at House of Coco. Was it our bright, sparkly outfits that caught her eye? Or perhaps it was the fact that we were the only representatives from the publishing industry in the north of England? Either way, we felt an instant connection, a camaraderie that bridged the gap between London and the vibrant spirit of the north.
The venue was none other than the elegant Mirror Room at Rosewood London, located in the chic neighbourhood of Holborn. As we settled into our seats, anticipation filled the air. We were about to hear from Anna herself, a true icon who has steered the ship at Vogue for an impressive 35 years. And let’s not forget, she’s also Conde Nast’s Global Chief Content Officer and global editorial director. The woman is a force to be reckoned with!
Anna’s talk centred around the ever-evolving digital landscape and the challenges it presents to traditional magazine brands like ours. She emphasised the importance of trust, something that resonates deeply with us at House of Coco. In this fast-paced era of AI and algorithms, it’s easy to lose sight of our founding principles. Anna reminded us that trust is hard-earned over decades but can vanish overnight if we don’t stay true to our core values.
She urged us to build trust with our readers by demonstrating our unwavering commitment to quality content and human expertise. No algorithmic shortcut can replace the years of hard work and knowledge that go into creating meaningful editorial. And boy, did we raise our glasses to that sentiment!
As we savoured each mouthwatering course during our unforgettable lunch, Anna’s words resonated deeply within us. It felt as if she had tapped into the very essence of the discussions I had shared with my team during our drive from Leeds to London that very morning. Her insights and advice were a perfect reflection of the thoughts and aspirations we had expressed, reaffirming the path we were already treading.
Anna’s words became a catalyst, propelling us forward with an even greater sense of purpose. We knew that with our unwavering commitment and the lessons we had learned, there was no limit to what we could achieve. It was a truly transformative experience, one that will forever be etched in our minds as a pivotal moment in our journey of growth and success.
We left the lunch feeling inspired, motivated, and ready to take our endeavours to new heights.
So, my fellow magazine enthusiasts, let’s take Anna’s advice to heart. Let’s continue to build trust with you, our incredible audience, through the content we produce. We promise to remain steadfast in our dedication to bringing you the best in travel, fashion, lifestyle, and everything that sparks joy.
Images by David Cotter.
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