Tuesday 3 December 2013

Goodbye London....

It has been a long time since I have posted but I think I have a fairly good excuse! In June I packed up my things (half a tonne of it!) and moved back home to Sydney after 4 great years in London. I also got engaged and brought home a fiancĂ©! 

Sadly, this meant that my super star Bianca had to leave Moi Self as it would be too hard continuing as partners on opposite sides of the world! I would like to publicly thank Bianca for everything that she did for Moi Self. She secured some fantastic press and helped with sales but more importantly was there to share all the ups and the downs. Here are some of the highlights and lowlights that we shared in business together…

- After a great meeting with Sarah Curran from My-wardrobe we decided to celebrate at a bar in Camden only to receive an email that we were a FINALIST in the Mary Portas Young Designer of the Year! (We ended up being one of the winners!) We were on top of the world that night!

- After signing up for the Top Drawer trade show, I worked out the finances and realised that it would almost be impossible to make up the cost of being there. I was on the phone in tears to Bianca and she steadily calmed me down. We luckily got out of it as we found a "Distant Selling Regulation" which means you are allowed a refund within 7 days if you buy anything online or over the phone. Phew!!

- Getting published in the very prestigious STYLIST Magazine, an absolute favourite for Bianca and I. It was a dream of ours to be in Stylist and we were featured on the Style List for Valentines Day 2012. We met at Pret in Angel before work and grabbed about 50 copies each! Very proud moment for Moi!

- Having our very first market stall in Brick Lane just before Christmas and FREEZING to death! Trying to keep warm by drinking endless cups of tea and only selling one hanky! Turns out markets weren't for us!

- Being stocked by John Lewis! Going into the Oxford Street store and re-visual merchandising it and causally dropping hints to passing shoppers!

So long London - you've been awesome, you gave me Moi Self and a best friend for life.


xxx


Sunday 10 February 2013

To Market, to Market!

We're very happy that so many amazing shops are stocking Helpful Hankies but Tara and I decided to try a market, Apprentice style! We went to Brick Lane's Backyard Market yesterday and had so much fun! Admittedly we probably did a bit more shopping than selling but it was great getting feedback about what people liked about our little brand. If you have any thoughts/suggestions, we'd love to hear them. Pretty soon we're going to be doing some focus groups to talk about new products. If you'd like to be part of our panel, or just fancy telling us what you think, drop us a line!




















Tuesday 20 November 2012

First Sainsburys then…


...The world, mwah-ha-ha. Yes, this month we are in Sainsburys magazine. It’s a really good read, packed full of tasty recipe ideas too. I’m planning a day of Christmas cooking. Our little hanky looked pretty on this page, we’re so proud!


Sunday 18 November 2012

Getting Glam with Grace Pham


Tara and I popped along to Grace Pham’s Photography studio to get some new shots done for the press (get us!). We really enjoyed the day and Grace made us feel very welcome and comfortable – so much so that we were even coaxed into revealing more than I thought we would! Those pictures are private (ooh la la) but here are some of our behind-the-scenes shots.

We’d both recommend Grace’s services! This is her website: http://getglam.carbonmade.com/









Sunday 21 October 2012

A Lovely Souvenir

We always get excited when we find a gorgeous shop and my friend Cassie's gallery, Souvenir in Highgate, is quite a find. Packed full of striking illustrations, animal-inspired knick-knacks and gorgeous stationery, this is where I will be buying all of the Christmas presents I don't craft myself. And now the hankies are being stocked there too.

Bianca
x

249 Archway Road
Highgate
N65BS





Sunday 7 October 2012

Wedding Fever

Lots of people have been buying our hankies as bridesmaid's gifts so I decided to do a bit of research and headed down to the National Wedding Show last weekend. I couldn't believe how many wedding businesses there were out there! There were companies who organised weddings abroad (Italy and Greece were popular choices) and some of the most amazing cakes I had ever seen. There was one which was covered in shredded rice paper which looked like feathers. I got pretty excited about all the dresses too. There is no man in my life at the moment but I am enjoying looking for pointers for all of my engaged friends. I'm going to be a maid of honour (for my lovely friend Nicola) next year too so I've been keeping an eye out for good hen party ideas too. Maybe, just maybe, I am considering starting my own 'wedding file' too...

Bianca x


Thursday 27 September 2012

The Olympia Beauty Show 2012


I popped along to the Olympia Beauty Show last Sunday to have a good nosy at some nail varnish (mmm Essie, mmm OPI) and go and see make-up artist Lou Page who was hosting an amazing make-up competition. Tara and I gave her 10  Helpful Hankies to go into the finalists' goodie bags and she kindly put our lil' logo up in her stand.