Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - July/August 2024

64 classics, inviting a sense of individuality, whilst retaining a refined elegance that transcends fleeting trends. At Ivymore Living we celebrate luxury and indulgence and believe strongly in the power of the objects we use to comfort, inspire, and uplift. What challenges have you overcome since the company’s launch? Well the company was set up during Covid when travel wasn’t really possible. This meant that sourcing products in accordance with my vision for the brand was tricky initially. Then of course the pandemic was closely followed by the cost-of-living crisis. So it hasn’t been an easy time generally to be starting a homewares business, both logistically and economically. From the perspective of a small business, I think our challenges are largely shared with other similar businesses, which are typically funding, skills/people and logistics. Tell us about your product offering. We offer home and kitchenware from glassware to home décor to kitchen accessories. We are building our range considerably this year, with more beautiful home décor items in particular coming through the pipeline. What are your most popular products? To date our large glass jars are probably our most popular item. I think this is because they overlap function and aesthetic so well. They are also perfect for pantry organisation and open shelves which are both hugely popular right now. Add to this that they are a sustainable alternative to many plastic food storage options, and they tick a lot of boxes! How do you keep your designs fresh and current? Do you follow trends? Our approach is in fact not to follow trends, but to offer unique and stylish pieces that transcend trends and will therefore remain timeless. When I travel, I look for pieces that stand out for their individuality, either because of their interesting design or unusual use of materials. What sets you apart from your competitors? Although we focus on luxury and quality, we also want to feel accessible. We like to bring the fun and don’t take ourselves too seriously. I think enjoying life, and any excuse for a celebration with the people we love, is important. How are you finding the current climate in the UK? Is it affecting business? Having launched in the past couple of years, we have only known these difficult times, but there is no doubt that things feel as if they are getting further squeezed by the day. The climate is undeniably hard and we are all seeing brands and retailers going out of business at an alarming rate, so it is impossible not to feel nervous about the future. Having said this, being a small business

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