Category: Interview

Your products are so trendy… as well as being made from materials with 100% no nasties and are entirely sustainable. Lizzi, tell us your story.

Ah, thank you so much! I am originally a Fashion Designer so always got my eye out for stylish and trendy products. I moved to America straight out of university which was just the most amazing experience to start my career in fashion. I eventually ended up back in London and years later had my son which essentially lead me to start OBK!

What was the initial inspiration to start your own business?

Whilst on Maternity Leave I found that I was buying everything for my son online and really struggled to find nice tableware for him. It seemed to be all the cheap sets you find in supermarkets and it just wasn’t good quality, and it was also plastic! After one meal they stain and go cloudy which I didn’t like and thought it mustn’t help make meals very appetising for my son. This is what lead me to start O.B.K. I have loved working on a side brand whilst I am also still a Fashion Designer. I wanted to create a stylish brand that people would love to have out in their houses. It’s as much for the parent as the child!

Where can we purchase your gorgeous products?

You can purchase all our lovely bits on our website and if you live in Henley or nearby, we are stocked at the amazing We Are The Children shop alongside other amazing children’s brands. 

We love your content. Do you feel that social media has had a crucially positive impact on your journey?

Yes, I feel like Instagram has a huge impact on my journey! I am still learning so much about Instagram and the ways it works, I feel like it changes weekly! My biggest impact on Social Media is when people share my products – that always sees a good footfall along with sales. 

Your no-spill snack pot is a life saver for parents. What made you focus on these designs, with silicone as the material of choice?

Silicone is a fabulous material for tableware because it’s non-toxic, you can use it to heat food up as well as using in the dishwasher which let’s be honest is an absolute lifesaver when you’re a parent! It is also stain-free and has a super soft feel to it making it nice for little ones to hold/chew on and won’t damage!

Not only that, but silicone is far more eco-friendly than plastics and has a lifetime guarantee meaning you won’t need to be replacing them like you would plastics. I love our snack pots! They are honestly such a game-changer when you’re out and about and snacks are needed. I love keeping little toys such as Duplo/Lego in there and dummies, they are so versatile! 

Being featured in British Vogue is a huge business win, congratulations. What’s next for OBK Feeding Little Mouths?

Ah, thank you so much! I was so excited to be featured there! I am working away in the background trying to build my brand around a more snack-focused approach… I can’t say much more but I will be trying to bring my fashion design influences to new product areas which I am very excited about.. so watch this space! 

The children’s fashion, nursery, and accessories market is growing year on year, how do you stay unique and stand out from the other retailers?

For me, it almost relates back to your question on Social Media! That is where you can really make yourself unique from other brands as no two people have the same creative mind.

Do you have any other brands that you simply love and find complement OBK Feeding Little Mouths? Or small businesses bosses out there you support?

There are so many amazing small businesses out there but the one that stands out for me and compliments our brand is Delilah’s Dishes – the most amazing tasty dishes for little ones, homemade and delivered to your door! 

We have done a pop-up together which has been so nice working with a brand where you can support each other like that.

As an entrepreneur with a parent demographic in mind, how do you find the best work/life balance?

I am still trying to figure this one out! My week is bonkers! I have a 2-year-old, working 4 days a week and working on OBK on the side! But I love being busy and seeing all the little ones using our products it makes it all so worth it. 

Finally, what advice would you give your 20-year-old self now?

I would say don’t be scared to try something new and do something that’s against the norm! 

Hi Hayley, welcome to our Journal. We are so proud to feature you. Now, we know you from the Hub and know firsthand how incredible it is. For our readers, tell us all about Southwood Social Hub.

SSH is the most incredible online networking community. We attract women from every walk of life and every industry. The thing we all have in common is that we run our businesses with creativity.

We love networking, getting to know other entrepreneurs, and creating an online family for support. Why do you think networking is so important?

Building genuine relationships helps us grow ourselves as well as our businesses. I have watched so many women join SSH and grow in confidence, develop new skills and form beautiful collaborations. This type of authentic networking helps us to reach more people, be seen, and builds trust within our industries.

Not only do you provide a Hub for female entrepreneurs to support one another, but you host weekly events [online and in-person]. Tell us more about these.

We host four online events every single week. We want our members to be able to access the community with ease whenever they need it. SSH offers different things to our members at every stage of their business. 

We also host monthly real-life meet-ups all across the UK at various locations.

You have come so far with your brand, what was the initial inspiration to launch your own?

I’m 46 and have been self-employed for 21 years. I have worked really hard over the years to create businesses that allow me to use my personal strengths and passions, creating a happy work life and create purposeful solutions to my clients and customers.

Do you feel that social media has had a crucially positive impact on your journey?

I have loved using social media to market all my businesses over the years. I adore community and connecting with like-minded souls.

Now, you’re not only the Queen of networking, but you also own Southwood Living. How did it begin?

SL was born out of my love for retail and interiors. I started with £1000 worth of stock 10 years ago. When I launched, there weren’t that many online-only retailers. It was very tricky to find wholesalers to take me seriously at the beginning as we didn’t have a brick-and-mortar store but 10 years on retail is unrecognisable! 

My online store has evolved with me over the years. We now stock lots of Norfolk artists and makers echoing my love for slow processes and authenticity.

Everyone’s toolbox when decorating a house is so different, how do you find it best to go about deciding on the final idea?

I always have a plan and a clear vision of what I am trying to create. Interiors are all about ‘feeling’ to me.

Your style is so elegant and beautifully minimalistic, have you always had an eye for home decor and final details?

I have loved interiors for as long as I can remember. My parents were a huge influence. My dad is a builder and my mum was always obsessed with interiors too. I think it’s in the veins, to be honest!

When can we come and stay!?

We’ve just launched our own little Norfolk stay – you can book via Instagram.

As we both know, the Design world is forever evolving – how do you stay on top of the latest trends?

I am not sure that I do stay on top of trends, I lean into what makes me feel good. But I do read a lot of magazines, and interior books, I love social media too and gain lots of inspiration from trips and days out.

The world’s most recent events have caused us to adapt and become more ‘digital’ with our own businesses, how did you find time at home?

In a way, the world pandemic was good for my business. It pushed me to take my business online more than ever. I gained newfound confidence around Zoom which was totally alien to me. I discovered that my energy was just as contagious online as it is in a real-life setting.

What were your productivity hacks?

Panic and survival were at the forefront of my mind during the pandemic but as the days passed I lent into holistic practices more and more. I wanted to support my community in the best way I could. Our members became my absolute driving force!

What are the biggest challenges you have faced in business? 

Being self employed has been an absolute rollercoaster. I have owned several businesses over the years and problem solving has become part of the ride that I learnt to love.

Any advice for an inspiring entrepreneur?

Never give up on your dreams, dream bigger than you can even imagine! 

Mindset is *everything*.

Do what feels good.

Try and solve problems for your clients and customers. 

Protect your boundaries.

Be careful who you spend your time with!

Hi Thedi, welcome to our Journal. We are so proud to feature you as our first Travel Expert. For those who don’t know you, tell us about Path Travel Designs. 

I can’t thank you enough for including me in this wonderful space. Believe it or not, I am blushing!

So Path Travel Designs is basically my way to assist you in creating your own travel path, and shape it in the way that will allow you to experience Greece in its most impeccable form. I aim for the services I provide to be as individualised, tailor-made, and exceptional as possible.

You’re a talented lady-of-all-trades, not only female-bossing it with Path Travel Designs, but also launching Rent A Greek Home and Rent A Greek Villa. Tell us more about those. 

Well, I can only speak with absolute excitement and pride about my two youngest. They have unfortunately had a rocky start due to the pandemic, and have just now started being properly introduced to the world!

Both conceived in 2019 and launched early 2020. The philosophy behind them is to be able to offer superior quality accommodation in Greece, with a variety of style and budget rich enough to appeal to a wider range of satisfied customers.

Rent A Greek Villa is focused on offering a plethora of privately-owned, stylistically diverse and superior quality villas available throughout Greece. Whether a luxury villa in Mykonos like Villa Maelia, a seafront gem in Paros like Villa Agnes, a well-kept secret in Santorini like Villa Reina or a charming historical island estate full of character like Villa Karystion in Evia, RAGV has it all, and still enriching its portfolio constantly.

Rent A Greek Home on the other hand, covers a similar, yet also distinctly different range of the holiday accommodation spectrum. Boasting some amazing properties that cannot be categorized as a villa, the aim for RAGH is to equally offer quality, character and style, yet in a simpler shape, form and size.

Take Casa Rini for example, a simple yet so playfully impressive traditional cave house located in Santorini. Or Casa Zephyr, an amazing studio complete with a pool designed by a world famous architect in Zanté. More approachable, down to earth and lovable, yet still charmingly idiosyncratic, stylish and unique in their own right.

Due to the nature of the properties within the RAGH portfolio, these are not just suitable for quality and comfort-focused holidays in Greece. They are also proving to be a very popular option for the globally emerging digital nomad tribe. Business amenities have been taking an increasingly more central role in this type of short- or mid-term accommodation, especially so after the global challenges of the past couple of years. I therefore strive to secure properties that can offer my clients as rich in range and as high in quality services as can be.

 Where was the need for your business? 

Path Travel Designs was actually conceived in 2015 while vacationing in one of my home countries, Greece, enjoying all that the Cyclades Islands in the Aegean Sea can offer.

It was literally a sun-drenched afternoon. Sea salt-covered and very content after a long morning at a ‘secret’ sandy beach with cobalt blue clear water that only locals whisper about, my company and I walked up a spectacular ancient trail used by mariners for centuries, if not millennia.

We ended up having the most delicious piece of homemade apple pie in a small traditional village that had remained virtually unchanged since the time ‘tourism’ was still an unknown word. Visiting this village was recommended by friends whose families descended from this area of extreme natural beauty and wide historical significance from the turn of the last century – that’s how far they can trace back at least.

While for us, this was a possible way of travelling, long tried and much enjoyed, people visiting the same islands would most likely never come across these paths. Their path, often directed by quaint and ever tried tourist guides and cliché travel brochures, would most likely lead them elsewhere, making their experience perhaps still enjoyable, but not special.

The kind you describe as nice but not the kind you reminisce on for months or years after the end of your holiday. However, a whole different world, more authentic, more fascinating, and richer in experience and pleasure, was just around the corner waiting to be discovered. I thought those sharing my passion, my love for travel and unique sights, tastes and experiences should have a chance to know where to look.

So the concept of PATH was born on that special summer day. And here’s a funny twist: PaTh are actually also my initials!

With a career surrounding travel, and particularly Greece, you must love to travel. Where has been your favourite place to travel? And why would you say travelling is so important during our careers? 

For as long as I can remember myself I have been travelling. Being bilingual and multi-cultural (Greek, Latvian and Australian) I travelled quite a bit with my family growing up. I can safely say my parents certainly planted the travelling seed in me. I have also been lucky enough to have lived in quite a few countries. They include Italy, Greece, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Singapore and Kazakhstan, to name a few.

I consider this experience to have graced me with the opportunity to really explore and delve into these different cultures, appreciate the diversity, richness and uniqueness of each and every one, as well as learn valuable lessons from their customs and different ways.

Having said that, I am a firm believer that travel makes you realize that no matter how much you know, there’s always more to learn. And what better way to learn if not by travelling?! 

I honestly cannot pick one place to be my favourite travel choice. Each location, each culture has its own charms, simply yet beautifully radiated in their own ways. Having said that, for some reason Greece has always been the place I return to… and that may have its own special meaning.

We love your ‘Santorini Sunset Guide’ and your ethos towards authentic travel. Santorini is certainly on our list, what’s your top three tips for travellers looking for a new Greek destination? 

I have always considered Santorini to be a marvellously unique, a wondrous place in the world. I have had the opportunity to explore and be totally mesmerised by it, as I have actually lived on the island for 3 years back in the day. It is a remarkable destination that is justifiably on many peoples’ bucket list. Yet, I always feel the need to discuss various and diverse options with my clients. Sometimes I just cannot say it enough: Greece has so much to offer, remember that. Explore the bucket list destinations, they are globally known and appreciated for a reason. Though also consider the lesser known, the more unexplored gems, and you will be rewarded.

My tips for anyone interested in exploring Greece are the following:

• Do some research: Greece actually has more than 200 inhabited islands. Each one with its own unique traits, character and style, appealing to an individual for their own personal reasons, and there is so much more to discover in the mainland.
• Also, most consider Greece as an ideal choice for their summer holidays. Yet, and this can be a surprising twist for many, there are some fantastic winter vacationing choices available. Some people are just now discovering the authentic charm of living in one of our islands during winter. By the way, how many are aware that Greece also has a considerable number of small winter ski and snowboard resorts across the mainland?
• When deciding on your choice of a Greek destination, it can be very helpful to take into consideration what your personal needs, wants and likes are. What you are seeking from the specific trip and experience at that specific time. For example, are you looking for a culturally and historically rich, children-friendly and safe destination to enjoy for a couple of weeks with your family, or are you up for an adventure, seeking adrenaline-rich extreme sports locations, trekking, climbing, or otherwise? Do you need a place to relax and sip cocktails or a glass of wine sunbathing by the pool for a little while to recharge your batteries, or are you seeking to socialise, barhop and delve into the party scene at this point in time? You most likely wish to travel to a destination that will be able to offer and deliver the holidays you are looking for, the type of holidays you need at this moment in your life, and most probably deserve!
• Trust an independent travel agent/consultant. It may sound cliché, and some might think “Why would I? I can always do my own research!”. To that I say “You certainly can! And you may find some great choices out there. Yet, how likely is it that you will be able to discover all that is on offer, as a local would?” Some of the information and insight locals share and enjoy is mostly never made available online. Once it is, it becomes popular, and often increasingly busy. That almost always takes away some of the magic. So locals and the few others in the know usually move on to some other, yet unexplored spot that retains its unspoilt charm. So why not grace yourself with the opportunity to experience something more authentic, something more unique and still pure, while exploring Greece? With me it’s an ever-evolving and never-ending personal bet. I strive to constantly learn, seek out, and offer you the most appealing choices out there. To bust a popular myth, as boutique agencies, we are not more expensive, we‘re just smaller, and often better!

Launching in 2015, you must have had to deal with many rollercoaster, and external contributors. How did you shake the ‘lockdown funk’ with travel being banned for many many months? 

Patience. 

I won’t try and paint it in vivid colours. It was brutal. Especially when the first lockdowns hit worldwide and cancellations were pouring in. It was basically the only aspect I could not control, nor could I fix somehow. Me, like many other small business owners out there, just had to patiently wait and see what the future would hold for us. 

 What’s next for Path Travel Designs? Where do we see you in the next year? 

I hope Path Travel Designs (including my other two ‘babies’ RAGV and RAGH off course!) will grow with me and evolve. My goal is for all three ventures to become the independent point of reference for everything Greece. 

A longer-term goal would be expanding to other quality holiday destinations across the globe. However, my more approachable mid-term goal, dream and personal challenge would be for Path to grow into also being able to offer a small luxury retreat in a very special location in Greece, that I am still keeping secret off course! I would love to be able to host micro-weddings, workshops, specialist retreats and fully private yet serviced short-term luxury residence choices in this fantastic setting.

 Lets delve into you as an entrepreneur, are you an early riser or a night owl, and do you have ritual which you stick by to maintain productivity? 

I think I would say I am a night owl, without a specific ritual. I am lucky in that respect though, as my services are bespoke and I get to work from anywhere. It is therefore not hard for me to maintain my productivity and remain inspired! On the contrary I believe that helps me learn and evolve, in order to keep creating and offering unique experiences that will be memorable for a lifetime. 

 Who are your biggest inspirations? 

I know this will probably sound as a typical cliché, but my first inspiration was definitely my mother. While backpacking through Europe in the 60s she fell in love with Greece and my father who she had just met, and never left. Her free spirit and that love of exploring new destinations, cutlures and continents was definitely passed on to me.

And then I would have to say my other half, my partner in crime and my one true love, is my other biggest inspiration. He not only puts up with my often initially wild-sounding ideas, but he also actually helps me organise and turn them into reality. I don’t know what I would do without him.

 What advice would you give to your 20 year old self? 

• Trust the journey, or should I say the PATH?! 
• Celebrate every single win, whether big or small.
• Don’t allow yourself to be put down, but actually learn and grow from any mistakes, difficulties and challenges that come your way. 

Finally, what piece of advice would you give to other young entrepreneurs at the moment? … and are there any small businesses you would like to say ‘hello’ to?

Never give up would be my primary advice. Whatever the dream, however scary it may initially seem, stay true to it. It may evolve and that is natural. Yet, be honest about it and trust whatever greater power you believe in that you will accomplish what you have worked so hard for, when the time is right. 

Being a small business owner myself, I mostly work with, and shop from small businesses – we have to stick together.

I would so love to mention every single small business I adore, but the thing is I will definitely forget someone and even then the list will be huge. So here are just some of those who do an amazing job and have always had my back one way or another:  

1. Anna and Louise, the amazing duo behind Equipp. They not only have an amazing philosophy, they are also actually the strongest women I know.
2. Donna Tweedale, who tackles the fashion industry with a much needed ethical approach. 
3. Kerry the Sleep Fixer, her ethos is outstanding. 
4. Jemma from Martin & Cox, whose next chapter I can’t wait to see.
5. The one of a kind Lisa Pauley  whose offerings leave me speechless.
6. Ashlyn from Bless Stories, who recently reminded us all to open up our hearts and homes.
7. Photographers Emily Daniel and Jemma Watts and artist Vivienne Schadinsky, all of whom create amazing work through their art.  
8. Nicola from Precious Time Design, who creates amazing spaces even remotely!
9. Ellen from Stretch Frames, who bloomed in her new industry. 
10. Dania Trapani, who loves life more than anyone and lives every moment with a healthy twist.  
11. Carly Caps, who cracks me up while also speaking words of wisdom and truth through her “Unravelling Blocks” podcast.   
12. Last but certainly not least, my two biggest cheerleaders, as any woman would be lucky to have them by her side: Pippa from The PR Set, and Hayley from the Southwood Social Hub.

We are forever blown away by your instagrammable-asf creations. How did it all begin?

Thank you so much! Surprisingly, inflating thousands of balloons a week wasn’t always something I planned to do, but there is a story…

I have spent my whole career pre-Frank and Fancy in the corporate world, mostly Leadership and Development practice in large organisations such as River Island and Thomas Cook. I loved working with people, facilitating workshops, and coaching professionals to be the best leader they can be to their people. But then, I welcomed my beautiful daughter Lulu into the world in September 2020.

The plan was always to return to my very loved career once Maternity Leave was over however as you can see that didn’t happen! I had previously booked the holy grail of balloon decor, Elari Events for a past event at River Island, and if I’m honest, I didn’t really get the big deal on balloons but they blew me away!

During those many hours doing night feeds I found myself seeing more and more incredible Balloon Designers, it was a huge industry but I just hadn’t seen much of this in Corby, and as busy as I was being a new mum in Lockdown, I also really missed being creative.

Lulu was 5 months old when I decided to give it ago, my niece was turning one and I attempted to make a Peppa Pig design, it was hard, it fell off the wall, and still never are those pictures to see the light of day! A week later, it was coming up for Valentine’s weekend and I had a lot of pink and red balloons leftover from the failed Peppa garland so I thought “OK, one last go, let’s make something for valentines!”

This time it worked! It looked great and I thought this was something I could do! I racked my brain on a name, but it ended up being pretty simple, I get called Frank and my nieces call me ‘Fancy Nancy’ so here Frank & Fancy was born!

What was the initial inspiration to start your own business and sell them to others?

My initial inspiration was to create amazing decor that most people had never seen from balloons before. I thought I would mostly sell small collectible items however I soon found my passion was for the big stuff!

Creating these masterpieces must be so much fun, but also such hard work! What are your top tips to shake the ‘funk’?

To look back, whenever I feel I’m not where I want to be, I pull out that Peppa Pig garland, I scroll down my Instagram and see what some of my earlier designs were like in comparison to now, and I pull out my diary and be thankful for every booking I have remembering I could still be commuting to London every day and missing such precious moments with my daughter.

Running my own business was never something I ever wanted to do, in fact, I would regularly say, “I couldn’t think of anything worse than having to deal with that stress”, and it is stressful at times, hard work, late nights fitting it all in once my daughter goes to bed but, its mine, I created it and I’m so proud of how far its come already.

What would be your dream balloon brief?

There are so many and probably would differ depending on what event was being celebrated. But probably a clear theme with space and trust to run with it myself and of course a good budget as I can get carried away! Also, it’s not just balloons now, props are probably what I spend most of my time sourcing, designing, and creating, I’m very lucky to have a very clever partner and dad who can make pretty much anything I ask!

Are there any brands you would love to design for?

Perhaps not any particular brands as such but if the Kardashian’s Event Planner could hit me up I’d be more than happy to work with them – they throw the most insane parties!

You have recently expanded your creative skills, launching floral event decor. Tell us about that.

Whilst my business started with balloons, my goal has always been to make sh*t look good! So to add floristry into the mix and many other new things that are coming soon felt really natural. In January 2022 I took the leap and booked a week-long course with the infamous McQueen Flower School!

I had little experience with flowers other than artificial which featured lightly in some of my designs so I was pretty nervous to go back to zero on a whole new craft. But I kept reminding myself again of the Peppa Pig garland, if I learned this much in a short time on balloons, I can learn flowers too right?

What are your predicted summer trends for parties and events?

Summer trends I keep seeing and filing away for inspiration are mostly props with florals alone, although I will always try to bring balloons into the mix. The neutral tones are still going strong but a huge wave of bright contrasting summer tones are coming! Australia is really in the lead with this type of thing. To see an example, have a look at the neutral ‘Gigi’ example on my page, I think there’s lots more of this to come! Shout out to my Dad for making me my most popular prop to date!

What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?

Don’t stress – it’s going to work out better than you could ever hope for!

I think I spent many of my early 20s wanting to nail down a career, get my first home and tick all the boxes that meant I had been ‘successful’, and whilst that was all amazing and did lead me to where I am now, I wish I was braver sooner!

Trust the universe, it will always have your back, so maybe that’s it, I should of read the book ‘The universe has your back’ earlier.

Finally, what piece of advice would you give to other entrepreneurs at the moment? … and are there any small businesses you would like to say ‘hello’ to?

Immerse yourself in everything available to you.

Follow and learn from those who are leading in your industry.

Build relationships with other small businesses, both similar and also different from yours.

Find what makes you different.

Don’t get caught up on Instagram following.

If you don’t know how to do something, find someone who can teach you!

Trust the process.

Oh, why did you have to ask that, now I’m worried about who I’ll miss out! There are so many but…

@lovebubbleballoons… I couldn’t keep sane without you in this crazy event world,

@lauramillsmarketing… for always supporting and guiding me,

@allthatplatters… thanks for always thinking ‘Let’s do this’ with me,

@_maria_simpson… for keeping me inspired with her very creative Reels,

@illumin8ed_letters… for always being a trusted supplier to work with,

and @ketteringdental… for trusting me with my first ever paid garland!

Firstly, tell us a little about your career so far, your education + how you have found the last 5 years creating, building + running a successful Marketing Brand, Chirpy Bird Social?

At school I was clever but I ‘dumbed’ myself down to fit in. I think this set me back a little bit. I never really found something that I excelled at + that I was happy to be seen to like [I look back + I am kind of annoyed at myself for caring so much about what other people thought because I don’t care half as much now!]

Then I took Business Studies, I loved it. I wanted to carry this on into to Sixth Form, but alongside that, I had to pick other subjects which I didn’t really enjoy +, to be honest, I hated it! I then made the jump to college to study Business. This was one of the best decisions of my life! Completely out of my comfort zone + a year behind, but this didn’t matter at college, it was great! 

Jumping forward to University + a gap year I took where I decided to work to gain experience in Marketing. I never left! I didn’t go back to university, it wasn’t for me + so I continued to work. I quickly fell in love with Online Marketing. But, I wasn’t 100% happy where I was + my heart was telling me that I could do this on my own. So I did… + the rest is history. 

Although I never really talk about it, I have worked super hard over the years + I have learned a lot of what I know today through simply doing, getting stuck in + learning along the way. 

Truthfully that’s how I learn best, it helps that I am so interested in what I do too! 

We know your expertise inside + out, but for our readers, what elements of Digital Marketing do you specialise in? What do you love the most?

I have always loved writing. So, that aspect of my job is a real joy. I also love creating graphics, this is something I would like to delve deeper into this year. 

I have naturally fallen into Facebook Advertising due to the incredible demand for them. I have learned most of this as I’ve gone along, I honestly think this is the best way to do it. Making errors, learning from them + moving on! 

Known as our ‘Ad Queen’, you are our go-to for Paid Social Advertising; achieving results + getting the best ROI for our clients. What are your top tips for a small business owner, with a small budget looking to start Paid Advertising for themselves? 

Get testing, use a small budget to get to know Ads Manager, make mistakes + learn from them. Start by running an advert for Brand Awareness or Reach, this way, you’ll be able to get to know your target audience + how well they respond to your ad creatives + wording. Tweak, tweak + tweak until you’re satisfied. Once you hit the right mark, you’ll get some really great results + from there, you can put aside more budget for each month.

Working with household brands to start-ups, you have had a range of briefs over the last 5 years. What have been your favourite projects to work on?

I’m not sure where to start! You’re quite right, I have had a range of briefs over the years + I have had the absolute pleasure of working with so many amazing business owners from a variety of different industries. 

Without naming names, my favourite projects are the ones where I support a business from its infancy + watch it flourish. I also really enjoy projects where I have free creative reign + my favourite subjects include food, animals + beauty! 

I enjoy being able to put on different ‘hats’ + learn the ins + outs of different products + services, something that not many people may realise I do. 

What would you say have been the most positive learnings since launching your own brand?

Go with my gut instinct, always! 

Now, we know + see the magic you create – but, tell our readers a typical day for you.

A typical day will consist of catch-up calls with clients + you! I ensure that clients haven’t got anything urgent to attend to in their notifications or contact points. I will double check there are no problems with the Facebook Ads I am running for clients + I will normally have a Content Calendar to get stuck into. They’ll be ideas to come up with, lots of writing + coffee to be drank. 

This is a hard question, I am really lucky that no day is ever the same. 

As well as working with our fabulous clients already, who would be your dream client to work with?

I would love to run the Social Media for a Zoo [seriously!]… something along those lines, anything to do with animals… I’d have so many ideas. Completely the opposite to your dream client Abigail. 

I would also love to be on the Social Media team for Aldi – I think they are brilliant. 

At You & Me we have our ‘go-to Toolkit’, what are your favourite apps or programs to use to create a beautifully aesthetic grid?

Planoly all the way. 

Where do you get your inspiration from?

You + also Pinterest, I love it! 

Now, we’re getting a little personal – on the weekend, where can we find you?

Walking the dogs, eating, or chilling on my sofa! 

Are you a night owl or an early bird?

Erm, it very much depends. I can be either!

How do you manage your time + remain productive throughout the day?

Right, I don’t manage my time + it’s something I need to work on! I remain productive because I know when to stop, sometimes I need to clock off early or even go for a nap because I’ve hit a wall, then I am back on it. I always listen to my body! Also going for a walk + coming back to it helps. 

Tell us a piece of advice you would tell your younger self now?

Please please don’t care so much about what others think! If The Secret was around at that time, I would tell myself to get stuck into it + look after my mental health more. 

… and finally, what’s your favourite thing about what you do + working with You & Me?

Learning about other people, their services or products + being able to provide them the awareness that they deserve.

Follow Louise’s journey + the magic she creates on her Socials, @chirpybirdsocial.

We love your ethos ‘modern styling for the style-conscious’. Tell us your story.

I’m Callie – a Creative Event Stylist + Designer based in London. I love to create modern events + specifically tablescapes that bring people together for a shared experience, whether that be brand events, celebrations or weddings. I’m a minimalist, but I’m also obsessed with colour, so I tend to be drawn to simple, modern design with a playful twist. I love to do something a bit different, to jump on a new trend or push a concept so my clients tend to be quite creative themselves too.

What was the initial inspiration to start your own business + style for others?

My background has always been super creative. I studied Graphic Design at university, before freelancing in set design + interiors + then working in-house for various events companies. I just kind of fell into styling as it brought together all those skills in a way that keeps things interesting. I was working super long hours in my previous job but without the freedom to make my own decisions + pick the projects that excited + inspired me, so I decided to take the leap in 2019 + start my own business, I haven’t looked back! 

Being featured in Stylist, VOGUE + Love My Dress are HUGE achievements. What has been your favourite party/event/wedding to style so far?

Thank you so much! Zeena + Zack’s wedding was definitely a highlight. They were one of my first big weddings back post Covid + after having to postpone multiple times, everything about it was just so joyful. I loved every second of bringing their colourful vision to life, + then to be featured in Vogue was just a total dream come true. 

We have also read you design bespoke stationery. If you could design stationery for any brand or individual [famous or not!] who would it be? What style do you think they would love?

Yes! My degree was actually in Graphic Design which has been a wonderful skill to bring into my styling work. I do only offer my stationery services to clients I’m already working with as it’s definitely not my main passion, but I find it’s a lovely added bonus as it means we can really incorporate it into the full design. I’ve always said I’d love to design an event for Glossier so it would probably have to be them. I love their simplistic yet modern style + think it really aligns with mine!

We’re obsessed [not low-key, obsessed!] with Studio Dine. Your dinner candles are gorgeous. What inspired you to start an eCommerce brand too?

Oh thank you! They’re so fun, aren’t they?! Studio Dine was born in November 2020 as a result of lockdown + lack of events work for me really. I’d always wanted to make my own candles as I felt like at that stage I’d seen pretty much everything on the market [now there are hundreds of candle brands!], but had never really had the time so it felt like the perfect opportunity to give it a go! I’m always on the hunt for exciting tableware + props for my styling work day to day, I thought how cool would it be if I could create those products I’d never been able to find?! Now I’m expanding into all sorts of modern tableware which is really exciting! 

Where can we purchase your products? Do you have a favourite + why?

Everything is sold on my website currently [www.calliepettigrew.com/studiodine], although I will be doing a few in person markets over the Christmas run up including A South London Makers Market on the 7th November + London Makers Market on the 4th December. It’s so hard to pick a favourite product, but I’ve just launched the November candle + I’m pretty obsessed with it, so maybe that? It’s a mix of lilac + turquoise so super on brand. I’ve also been working on my very first scented candle that I can’t wait to launch! 

On days you are feeling uninspired, what are your top tips to shake the ‘funk’?

I’m big on finding inspiration from everything around me, from interiors + design, to architecture, places I’ve travelled, fashion, print + illustration. It’s definitely what keeps my ideas fresh, so I try + get out + about for a change of scenery, whether it’s a walk in the park or popping to an exhibition for the afternoon. 

Within your blog we can see you talk about sustainability + eco-friendly weddings. Do you find that more couples are conscious of an eco-friendly approach + what are your favourite top tips?

Definitely more and more these days. The simplest things are to make sure your suppliers are as eco-friendly as possible. Foam-free florists who use seasonal flowers, stationers that work with recycled papers or catering companies that cook with seasonal ingredients are all great places to start. Hire things if you can rather than buying them [+ proceeding to never use them again!). It’s the small things like that which can make a huge difference. 

What advice would you give to your 20 year old self? 

Oooh what a good question. Probably just to go for it! I spent so long wanting to do my own thing + working for other companies as if they were my own so I wish I’d been brave enough to take the leap sooner. 

Finally, what piece of advice would you give to other entrepreneurs at the moment?

Celebrate your wins! It’s so easy to get stuck in the day to day + forget to take a step back to see how far we’ve come. Make time to do that! 

We love your ethos ‘Be a warrior in your business’. Tell us Gali, how did it all begin?

Thanks, I love it too! It stems from my strong belief that you need your tribe, your warrior women, you need a solid crew of women around you to succeed. Whether they are your friends, other entrepreneurs, business mentors. I’m happy + very very fortunate to have all of these. 

I’ve also like others experienced confidence dips + individuals that have zapped my confidence especially along my career journey so have had to cultivate a strong sense of identity, authenticity + it’s taken me years to be OK with being me. More so the acknowledgment that I am strong, able + a warrior. That’s what I want to channel in other women, nothing gives me more joy than seeing other women thrive! 

So my business all started around 6 years ago as a side hustle whilst doing a ‘proper’ job. I’d worked in big business for over 25 years [a long stint!] from fashion to health + it just wasn’t me, I’m not corporate at all, I was leading huge teams + experiencing burnout. 

My side hustle initially was helping small businesses to grow, acting as a strategy consultant. I didn’t have the confidence to go out alone, then when COVID hit I was made redundant so that was my kick up the a** + I felt even more motivated to help other women running their businesses or those thinking about it or those that had just launched, plus also to put my 20 years + mentoring expertise to good use!

For our readers that may not know you yet, tell us what you do.

I’m a Business Mentor + Online Business Manager. So my business is two-fold. I offer mentoring for female entrepreneurs + small business owners that are thinking about starting up, or just launched + for those established + running their businesses well but feeling a bit stuck, not sure how to grow, have fallen out of love with their business, not sure how to sell + want to be confident + thrive. 

The other arm is helping them run the show – social media management, marketing, recruitment, operational processes, time management, getting the business organised, managing clients + teams – being their warrior sidekick! 

My approach is an honest no fluff or bullsh*t one, it’s not about regurgitated advice, it’s about giving women the tools + strategies to see outcomes! Empowering women + women in business must be such a rewarding thing to do. Why do you think female empowerment is so important?  

Because by nature we don’t big ourselves up + we don’t just go for stuff as men do. We overthink, worry that we’re not good enough, we’re not ballsy like men. Men go first then think about it after, they say ‘I can do this’. We’re not good at doing that as women. So the more you have strong women around you telling you, you can + just do it the more confident you’ll be. It’s also important to show women that they can speak out, be confident, challenge things, be assertive, be bold, say no, set boundaries. 

There is also a lot of competition out there + that’s not what we should be about, we should celebrate each other, I always liken it to the pep talk you give to other women in club toilets, I want women to go away after they’ve spoken to me + feel good + like warriors. We should be encouraging supporting each other, then we’re all stronger + better in our businesses.

Reading your story, after spending 25 years in a corporate world – what made you jump into something new? 

Loads of reasons! The biggest factor for me as a leader myself was toxic leadership, sadly I had a long line of toxic unsupportive managers [no empowerment there!] The corporate environment for me was not a good fit – a lot of bullsh*t with no substance, a lack of empathy + kindness + a lack of developing people or getting the best out of people – it was all just results/KPIs. It was also a very stifling environment, different ways of thinking or challenging the status quo were not allowed. You can only pretend to be something you are not for so long!

Who is your ideal client?

Women entrepreneurs + small business owners that know they’ve got a good business but are willing to say ‘you know what, I don’t know that’ or ‘I need someone to help me get through this challenge or help me grow’. Or have fallen out of love with their business + feeling a bit stuck. Plus are willing to work with someone to ignite that inner warrior, the reason they went out alone + do what they do!

Looking back, what are the biggest lessons that you have learnt?

Always, always stay true to yourself. For many years I tried to convey myself as what I thought was the professional way of doing things to fit into an environment that wasn’t me. Never do that, it erodes your confidence + you’ll be unhappy.  

Are you a night owl or an early riser?

Oh, early riser definitely! I’ve got my morning routine down. I’ve worked from home for over 9 years now, so it’s important I feel to have your morning rituals, start your day right. Wake up, don’t check your phone! Exercise, listen to some music or podcasts. Have breakfast, slowly! I trained myself not to rush everything. Oh + coffee, lots + lots of coffee. Shower, get dressed + then at my desk. As if you were going to the office.

What are your top productivity hacks?

Have a plan, I work on 3-month intervals, just easier + more manageable. I’m visual so I set out all my tasks etc on Trello (which is a lifesaver). Manage your time well – block out your diary each week for certain things e.g. Thursday is client day/meetings day, Tuesday is admin day, Thursday AM is a deep focus workday [when you need everything switched off + you can focus on those harder tasks]. Take breaks + get outside during the day, which clears your head + makes you more focused. I’ve got loads, it’s what I help others with! 

What’s next for Gali Siegal? Where do we see you in the next year?

World domination right? Gotta set those goals. Seriously, building my business, building my community + tribe of warriors, mentoring even more women to spread the warrior vibes! 

As fellow Female Founders, we wish you the biggest success in your new venture. Which other Girl Bosses are you loving?

1. Stefanie Sword Williams – F*ck being humble. I’m sure you all know Stef if you don’t check her out + her book. She is all about selling yourself + being comfortable doing it. She’s built a movement, brilliant + is all about empowering others.
2. Sapphire Bate, Founder of the Coven Girl Gang. I recently joined this network as was a part of others + can hand on heart say that this is more aligned with my values. Sapphire is all about empowering other women in business + has set up the foundations for something really special. She is the epitome of a warrior woman in her business. 
3. Aesthetic Laundry – I want to give them a shout-out because their brand is brilliant + what they are doing is brilliant. They are a new fashion brand [been up and running for a year], they are challenging the fashion industry, female-led. 

Finally, what advice would you give your younger self?

Stop worrying about what others think of you [I’m still working on this one in my adult life!].

Follow Gali’s journey online now.

Your designs are bold + beautiful. Tell us the story behind them. 

Thank you! My designs are inspired by my love of alternative culture, gothic artwork, spooky cartoons + tattoos. The very first design I illustrated began as a My Chemical Romance inspired tattoo that I was trying to design for myself. My designs begin as very rough sketches, followed by research + image references before they become digital illustrations. The illustrations that stick and become products are usually the ones that have a stronger concept, or meaning behind them that you wouldn’t necessarily know just by looking but it fits together into the wider collection or the ethos of Sugar Storm.

What was the initial inspiration to start your own business + sell them to others?

I was in my early 20s + I wasn’t loving the choice of clothes that I had + really didn’t feel like I had a style or that I could get excited about fashion. At the same time I had recently graduated from art school + was struggling to find my creative style, so the first t-shirts I made were an experiment in trying something totally new + expanding my skills. I initially got two t-shirts made just to see what they’d look like + ended up sharing them on Facebook asking if anyone would be interested in buying one + I sold about 15 to family and friends. After that I fell in love with the process of creating wearable artwork + seeing my products have a life of their own, seeing other people wearing them to express themselves + show off their own style. I had never set out to start a business, particularly a fashion business, but I always wanted to be able to make a living from my artwork + making things, so it’s a happy accident that I really enjoy the business side of it as well.

Explain your style to our readers.

I’m a grown-up emo kid + most of my style is an extension of that. I love gothic fashion, alternative subcultures + anything spooky. As I got older I didn’t always feel comfortable expressing this – particularly in my art work, but the more confident I’ve felt in my own style, the more it seeps into my work + attracts like minded people. There’s definitely an element of nostalgia in my style + taking the rebellious side of punk, emo, grunge etc + creating something that might be a bit more subtle, but still makes that statement.

Where can we purchase your products? Do you have a favourite + why?

All my products can be found in my online shop, at sugarstormstudio.com. My favourite product is the original Heartbreaker t-shirt, because it was the one that started it all – the product that existed before I even knew I wanted to run a business. It’s one of the boldest designs I’ve ever done + it usually gets some attention when I wear it, which is nice. I really love all the t-shirts because they can be styled in so many different ways + I love seeing people make them their own. 

We have noticed you also encourage empowerment, self expression + individuality through your  Workshops. Tell us, how did these begin? 

I’d been running Sugar Storm pretty much as a fashion brand for about a year before I realised that something was missing. I wanted to expand the brand + reach more people but I didn’t necessarily want that to just mean making more products. I was already running creative workshops that were separate from Sugar Storm + when I decided to take a step back to really explore the mission of what I was doing – which was centred around empowerment, self expression + creativity – incorporating workshops felt like the natural next step. The workshops have taken many different forms + they’re still very much evolving so I’m excited to see how they can grow over the next few years.

Not only do you create alternative fashion, but you also provide Tarot readings. Tell us your Tarot story. 

I’ve always been curious about metaphysical + spiritual practices, but I really started to actively explore it about three years ago. I bought myself a tarot deck + started reading and learning about it. At the time I didn’t really tell anyone, I had no interest in reading for other people, let alone reading professionally. It felt very sacred + I enjoyed it being something just for me. During the 2020 lockdown it became more of a learning project + I set myself the goal of being able to read for other people by the time we came out of lockdown. I practiced + read as much as I could on the traditional meanings + symbolism, + did a course on intuitive reading. Tarot is really important to me + it was a big decision to open this up to the public, but it felt right at the time + I’ll keep doing it while it feels like the right thing to do. I think it’s a wonderful tool to help people connect with themselves + feel empowered to explore their feelings + identity, which is very aligned with the Sugar Storm ethos. 

How can our readers reach out + find out more about Tarot?

I offer two types of readings: a bite-size email tarot reading + a full video-chat reading, and all details of both are on my website. You can read more about how I got started with tarot, how I read, what to expect from a reading + even how you can read tarot for yourself at sugarstormstudio.com/tarot. I also try to share mini tarot readings on Tiktok as much as possible so you can find me there @sugarstormstudio too. 

On days you are feeling uninspired, what are your top tips to shake the ‘funk’? 

When it comes to creativity, I think it’s really difficult to force it, so when I can I like to take a step back when I notice things aren’t flowing + either get away from my desk + go for a walk, or move some tasks around so I can work on something that doesn’t require creativity or inspiration for a while. My uninspired days usually come as a sign that I’m not resting enough or getting overwhelmed with stress, so for me rest is usually the answer. I also try to start my morning off slowly + not immediately reach for my phone, + find that spending time outside, exercising + looking through old notes + sketches are some good ways to spark some creativity again.

In your blog, you discuss women in rock. Who are your biggest inspirations? 

I’m really excited about the shifts we’re starting to see in alternative music to challenge the norms + push for more diversity + inclusion. Right now I’m particularly loving Meet Me @ The Altar, Milkie Way from Wargasm, Dana Dentata + Nova Twins. Hayley Williams from Paramore was also a big inspiration for me, as an early 2000s emo, because she was really the first woman I saw on stage in a very male dominated scene + that was really important for me growing up.

What advice would you give to your 20 year old self?  

Don’t stress about having everything figured out, because nothing is going to go to plan anyway. Just enjoy the experience of learning, growing and trying new things. 

Finally, what piece of advice would you give to other entrepreneurs at the moment? … + are there any small businesses you would like to say ‘hello’ to?

Get comfortable with having unshakeable belief in yourself + your business. It’s so valuable to have people around you that believe in you + will hype you up when you’re having doubts – because doubts will always happen – but through all the day to day challenges + the conversations with people who don’t ‘get it’, it’s your own belief in what you’re doing that will keep you going. I think there’s a lot that you can blag + half-arse your way through in business but if you’re not all in + don’t truly believe in what you’re doing, it’s going to be really tough. 

Follow Charlotte’s journey online now.