74 It seems we can sell sparkle all year round these days, it no longer appears to be the preserve of Christmas and the party season. Also, we are braver (as a nation) with colour which is very exciting – historically the UK colour palette has consisted of the cooler and more neutral colours but we appear to be kicking off those shackles and having some fun! How do you keep your designs fresh and current? Do you follow trends? Yes, I’m always looking at forecasts, colours and trends but that needs to be tempered with some caution because you can be too early and that’s just as frustrating as getting it completely wrong. I’ve always been aware of up and coming trends from interiors through to fashion and vice versa – in my experience they inextricably linked and influence each other. We also have strong relationships with our suppliers – most of whom we have been with since the early days. The longevity of our relationship means they are happy to follow our design briefs, safe in the knowledge that it’s an investment from their side that will bear fruit. What sets you apart from your competitors? I think you’d have to ask our customers – we like to set ourselves apart at trade shows and take pride in how we display and present ranges. We also like to ‘share the love’ when it comes to all the props, bits and bobs we use and we’re always happy to reveal our sources. My theory is if your store looks amazing, your customers will literally buy into it and you’ll sell more – win, win! How are you finding the current climate in the UK? Is it affecting business? My most favourite expression is that I feel we’re getting our fair share – this is a wonderful industry and there genuinely is room for us all. It’s so easy to be swayed by all the doom and gloom out there – undoubtedly times are harder at the moment but we had a bumper year last year and are currently ahead of that. My advice would be that while we can’t ignore the facts, don’t get sucked down that bleak rabbit hole peddled by the media. In tough times we all have to work harder and dig deeper – there’s a vast reservoir of talent in the independent sector – we can do this! How do you view the future of independent retail?
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