COMPANY PROFILE 25 MISS MILLY T: +44 (0)1905 622 509 www.missmilly.co.uk different, that and our fantastic price points, which we reduce when we can and don’t automatically increase annually. What are some stand-out moments since the company launch? Coming back from COVID with a loyal customer base and strong post-lockdown growth outstripping pre-COVID turnover was a huge personal achievement after what was a period of intense stress and doubt. This definitely puts all other moments, such as getting to award finals, in the shade. And honestly, I still do an internal jig when I see new orders on the system and the biggest buzz is seeing ladies out in the real world wearing Miss Milly. How are you finding the current climate in the UK? Is it affecting business? 2024 has been a challenging year. It started off brilliantly and we had our best ever trade show at Spring Fair, and then it tailed off a bit. September was fantastic but October was tough, and as I write this, we’re experiencing a positive pick-up in November. Retail has lost predictability, as has the weather, which makes it very hard for shop managers with regards to staffing and when to launch new seasons. The outcomes of the budget have yet to take effect so 2025 is definitely an unknown but we have faith in the industry to dig in and continue to offer amazing products in beautiful stores that will make consumers want to keep visiting. How do you view the future of independent retail? Following on from above, we have a fantastic array of independent retail in the UK, and whilst at times we all appreciate and take advantage of the convenience of online shopping and supermarkets offering everything, our love of mooching around stores that are different is holding fast. Business Improvement Districts are working really hard to create experiential town centres, motivated retailers refresh their offering and strive to attract new and repeat customers, and suppliers are doing what they can to provide quality products to support this. But in the background, we need a system that supports and rewards entrepreneurship, makes trading easier and ensures the viability of retail and its status as a large-scale employer. As I mentioned earlier, the results of the budget on independent retail are yet to take effect and I think Spring 2025 will feel a bit like walking on eggshells. Are you active on social media? How is this important for the business? Miss Milly is active on Instagram and Facebook where we engage with both retailers and end consumers. We love to share our customers content to help drive footfall and also create a lot of our own to keep the brand top of mind. It’s very hard to know how well it is working unless somebody specifically tells you they found you on socials but this does happen, so we know it is effective. The old adage of eight touchpoints is still true; people rarely engage after one or two experiences of you, they need that build up and this is where social media helps by adding to the more traditional channels like Attire Accessories and trade shows. And more than ever, retailers want to know that you’re stable and here to stay so social proof is incredibly important and nothing does that better than a photo of your products on display in another retailer or a glowing review. Do you have any advice for new businesses starting out in the world of gifts? If you’re wholesaling, having products that you truly believe in will make it so much easier to sell them as conversations with retailers will be just that, a conversation and not a pitch. Great photography from the offset will get you noticed more as the media will want to use your pictures and social media is all about the aesthetics. For retailers, location is key. If you’re not sure about a particular site, can you try it for a few months with minimal risk? Start building your media presence from day one, talk to the local papers and see if they have a shopping editor. And don’t restrict your product offering to only items that you’d buy; understand who your customer is and have faith in the advice of suppliers, it’s in our interest that you order from us more than once. And for anybody starting out, trust your gut within your financial means and control your overheads. What can we expect in the future from the company? 2025 has an exciting start as we launch the new recycled leather bag and purse range alongside our largest jewellery collection ever. We now have a network of five very active sales agents covering Scotland, Wales, the Midlands, the South West and the South East corner. And we’ll be at Giving & Living and the Spring Fair this season as well as participating in the brand-new online Gift Fair. So aside from our own website there are many ways to explore what Miss Milly offers. From January, we’ll be working on our AW25/26 collections and looking to build on the good growth we’ve had over the past few years. And we’ll keep being as colourful, happy, honest and helpful as we can!
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