#022: Growing a Luxury Brand With Chocolate Entrepreneurs, Lois & Michela Wilson

Diversity All Star

English - May 18, 2017 15:37 - 62.4 MB
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Previous Episode: #021: Launching a Food Startup With Coconut Chilli Founder & Boss Lady, Navina Bartlett

Next Episode: #023: Sabrina Campbell Talks Winning In Catering With Instagram

Lois Wilson & Michela Wilson are both sisters and co-founders of Saint Aymes, a brand with a mission to make every moment beautiful, by creating luxury, enchanting artisan chocolates, that are hand painted with 23ct gold, enriched with opulent colour and inspired by artistic greats.

Saint Aymes have been featured at the Saatchi Gallery for Scoop International Fashion Show, London Fashion Week and in Virgin Red Hampers.

Both sisters were selected from hundreds of to represent Virgin Start Up as Virgin Startup Ambassadors. Since the launch of Saint Aymes in Oct 2016, they are now stocked in Fenwick Bond Street, Central London. The Fenwick Newcastle Flagship store, a few independent UK boutiques and they will soon be stocked in the renowned Selfridges, here in the UK.

In this episode, you will learn how making your business partner into your fictitious internal client, can help with productivity and accountability. How Michela and Lois partnered with the right events to help grow the brand. Why when creating a luxury product, you must consider the longevity of the business, not just immediate short term revenue and why rushing your product to market, can kill your business

Check the show notes for resources, notes, and links from the show. Original Music by MadReal

Saint Aymes have been featured at the Saatchi Gallery for Scoop International Fashion Show, London Fashion Week and in Virgin Red Hampers.

The accomplishments of both sisters in business meant they were selected from hundreds, to represent Virgin Start Up as Virgin Startup Ambassadors. Since the launch of Saint Aymes in Oct 2016, they are now stocked in Fenwick Bond Street, Central London. The Fenwick Newcastle Flagship store, a few independent UK boutiques and they will soon be stocked in the renowned Selfridges, here in the UK.

Main points of discussion

An introduction to Michela Wilson & Lois Wilson
We find out what Michela & Lois were like as children in school
How the challenges of dealing with dyslexia and bullying have helped prepare Michela for their entrepreneurial journey
Why Michela and Lois picked chocolate as a business.
We find out if the Art or the Chocolate is more important to Saint Aymes as a brand
What it’s like to do business with your sister
Why modern technology puts you at an advantage in business now, more than ever
Both sisters share their first business ideas
We find out what it’s like to sell vegetarian soaps in a market
Are employment options viable in trying to plan for your future?
Why a market stall business, in unlikely to facilitate a lifestyle with your business
Entrepreneurial advice for job seekers, who are currently handing out CVs and looking for work
The benefit of doing free work
We find out, how many staff members work for Saint Aymes
How making your business partner into your fictitious internal client, can help with productivity and accountability
Michela and Lois share how their chocolate business got started
How Michela and Lois partnered with the right events to help grow the brand
How being the forefront of your brand, can be great PR for the brand of your business
Michela and Lois share how Instagram helped grow their business
We hear a story about some of the early mistakes made in trying to source packaging for Saint Aymes
Michela and Lois share their employment history leading up to the launch of their business
We find out how much money was needed to start Saint Aymes
Why there are no ‘hands off’ ways to start a business, while on a budget
Michela and Lois share how well business is at the moment
Why when creating a luxury product, you must consider the longevity of the business, not just immediate short-term revenue
Why rushing to launch your product in the market, can kill your business
We find which countries like to buy Saint Aymes Chocolates
We get advice on if you should start a luxury brand
Michela and Lois share tips on commercial kitchens, food hygiene and manufacturing certificates
How Michela and Lois managed to get their brand inside Selfridges / how to get your product inside top retailers
Take away lessons learnt from meeting Sir Richard Branson
We find out how mentors have shaped the Saint Aymes founders
Why you should not get comfortable and wait for everyone’s approval before launching your business
How to deal with negative feedback

Key points you will learn

How making your business partner into your fictitious internal client, can help with productivity and accountability
How Michela and Lois partnered with the right events to help grow the brand
Why when creating a luxury product, you must consider the longevity of the business, not just immediate short term revenue and why rushing your product to market, can kill your business

Links and resources mentioned

Twitter Mentions

@saintaymes