#InFocus: Alison Lowe, Managing Director, Felicities PR

For this week's InFocus interview, I talked to a lady I have admired for quite some time now, who is fiercely in the know about everything to do with PR when it comes to the Music, Fashion and Art industries. I know that I for one, am in awe of the way she handles her impressive client list not only on a daily basis, but during the manic pressures of London Fashion Week.

Read on to find out what's so impressive about Alison Lowe...

__________________________________________

1. What is your official title and what does it entail?

Alison Lowe

I am the founder and managing director of Felicities ltd. My role is to direct the company to achieve it's strategic goals, provide consultancy services and support to our clients and manage our relationships with press and buyers. 

2. How did you come to work with Felicities, were you familiar with the brand?

I started felicities in 2003 after finding a gap in the market for support for emerging fashion labels. Young designers were struggling with a lack of honest support, unsure of the value they were getting from pr and were not business focused. I set up Felicities to support young designers by providing them with pr, business and sales support - we work closely with the brands to ensure they have everything in place to make a sustainable healthy business.

3. What training did you undergo to prepare you for your role, and how did your experience help?

I have a business degree and as a serial entrepreneur who has setup several businesses, I have a good understanding of the issues people face when running a start up business. Prior to setting up Felicities, I had been a business consultant for several years supporting a broad range of creative businesses and through this gained experience of how designers struggle to balance creativity and commerciality.

Headwear by Felicities client Little Shilpa

4. What are you most passionate about when it comes to your role and why?

I am passionate about supporting anyone who starts up a new business - I get great pleasure out of seeing the brands I work with grow and flourish. It is very satisfying to help people and show them that they are not alone, and enable them to understand how they can overcome some of the challenges.

5. What is the toughest part of your role and why?

The toughest part is seeing a brand fail - often through no fault of their own. Sometimes no matter how great the idea, how fabulous the product, how unique the design - the business just doesn't make it due to the market, lack of funding, or just bad timing. In my role, I sometimes have to say to a designer or entrepreneur that they have to give up before they get into more debt or go bankrupt, and that is always a difficult conversation.

Designs by Felicities client Imogen Belfield

6. Can you share some career highlights?

Career highlights have been seeing any of our businesses succeed, being named one of the Maserati100 - an award for entrepreneurs who support the next generation - named alongside people like Richard Branson; celebrating Felicities' 12th anniversary, and being invited to speak at international conferences and fashion weeks.

7. You're very supportive of smaller brands like myself - thank you, first of all, but why is that?

I understand how difficult it is to start up a business - you feel isolated and not sure where to find information or who to trust. I feel passionate about giving honest, valuable advice and supporting brands to achieve their goals.

London Fashion Week catwalk collection of Felicities Client BasharatyanV

8. What would you like to achieve in your role next?

I am currently setting up a new business: Start Your Fashion Label - as Felicities is restricted in how many businesses we can work with, and we have numerous enquiries everyday. So with start our own fashion label, we will launch an online platform that will have a range of resources for designers, including video and podcasts, interviews, and guides to provide basic information on a host of subjects, along with networking and mentoring.

9. What are you most proud of in your Felicities career?

I have had so many proud moments, including when designers showcase their new collections at fashion weeks around the world, when they win awards, and every time they get a new stockist.

10. What advice would you give a boutique agency like mine on how to succeed?

Alison with Yours Truly

My advice to any entrepreneur or start up is to build your network - you need people around you who will mentor and support you. Don't be afraid to ask for help, and finally, enjoy the successes, too often as business owners we are too busy worrying about the next steps to enjoy what we have already achieved!

_________________________________________

Wow. Thank you so much, first of all to the wonderful Alison for taking the time out to talk with me; as mentioned earlier she's a lady I have admired for quite some time, who I am forever indebted to, for inviting me to attend my first ever Fashion Week. I don't know about you, but I've learned so much from her answers, that I am even more grateful for her sharing her time. The word 'Guru' is too often bandied about, but anyone who draws this lady as a mentor is truly Blessed. The only question I have is where can I apply - and I think that's a first since this blog began originally!

To follow the works of Felicities PR, you can connect in any manner of ways, just try one of the following:

Website / Instagram / Twitter

If you have any questions or comments, your stage is below, ready and waiting for YOU to shine, so get to posting - I look forward to conversing with you! Come back next week for another thrilling talk with an expert in the Fashion field.

Until the next...

ES

(Photo credits: EricaSharlette for ES Promotions Ltd. except first of Alison Lowe)

ESP #InFocus:Karen Radley, Scoop & The City Trade Show Founder

Welcome to the first InFocus interview since the launch of EricaSharlette's Purview!

The purpose of this feature is to highlight people in the fashion industry, with careers of note. From those on the front line doing the most obvious coveted jobs, to those behind the scenes, who enable those on the front line to shine.

For this week's inaugural interview, I talked to Karen Radley, Founder of the Scoop & the City trade show event. Taking place in Old Billingsgate, where it was temporarily housed in July; the last event was set to be my first foray into the arena. Unfortunately, I was too unwell during the period in which I was due to attend to take in the experience in all of it's humble glory. Thankfully, Karen had already kindly given me her time, so that I can share her post, her experience, and all of experimental endeavours with you - read on...

Karen Radley

1. For those who are unfamiliar, how long has the event been running?

Since February 2011.

2. As the founder, what do you hope your visitors will take away from the event?

(That it is) contemporary, emerging (and provides), interesting and affordable fashion.

3. What is your favourite part of the event?

Bringing together the buyers and exhibitors.

4. How did your qualifications best prepare you for your job role, and where do you find that you use them the most?

I am the fourth generation in fashion and ladies wear! My background includes design, manufacture, retail and wholesale - for the past 43 years!

5. Most of my readers are people looking to get into the industry via non-traditional means. What advice would you give them in order to become a member of your team or take on a role similar to yours?

Start at the bottom - you can never get enough experience!

6. You've had a very varied career - where do you see your experience at Scoop taking you in regards to your next venture?

One should never stand still. My experience allows me to never be afraid of challenges.

7. What do you feel people most misunderstand about your role?

Some issues are outside of my control, such as weather being too hot / cold for buyers to attend, or transport links / strikes / demonstrations delay visitors attending the show.

8. What role did you perform at your father's company, and how has it prepared you for what you do now at Scoop?

I started at the bottom packing and went onto production, sales, retail and then managing the designer company called Quorum.

9. How did your work with the Saatchi gallery come about?

I simply contacted them to see if they were interested in working with me!

10. What do you see as the goals for the Scoop brand going forward?

Lots of ideas are bubbling around in my mind at present - watch this space!

____________________________________________

The next Scoop & the City trade show takes place at the Saatchi Gallery from the 12-14 February, 2017. Visit the Scoop website for more information.

I have to say a massive thank you to Karen for taking time out of her manic schedule in the lead up to the Scoop & the City event to answer my questions; and also Donna Lambert at Lambs to Slaughter PR for facilitating this interview. I was anxious to hear Karen's answers, and gather that putting on your own trade show is no easy feat! Have a question or comment about this interview? Post it below, and let your voice be heard!

Be sure to come back next week, when I talk to Ali Lowe, Founder and Director of Felicities PR about her start, and how she came to manage some of the world's top brands and artists!

Until the next...

ES

#WearItWednesday: Pure London MUA Laurretta Power is #InFocus

The makeup styling at Pure London in February was a dramatic change from that of Pure34 last August; so much so, that I decided that not speaking to the supertalented Artist who brought the seemingly dark and dangerous concept to life would be overlooking one of the most crucial parts of the entire catwalk show - the part that created the Atmosphere. So after some minimal detective work (printed credits on programmes are all well and good, but Instagram is the best Super Sleuth tool that a girl can have in her arsenal!) I tracked down the wonderfully warm and friendly Laurretta Power, and invited her to share her thought process behind the dangerously sexy edge she added to the stage environment...

Miss Laurretta Power

Chief Makeup Artist, Pure London 35.

ES: What was your guide brief on the looks you created, and how did you go about executing them?

LP: "I was asked to forward my forecasts for autumn/winter makeup trends for 2014 a few months back. I compiled about 6 different boards with different variations on looks, and the client came back a few weeks ago with their favorites, from which I created my take. I opted for light, reflective, bright skin, metallics, smudged, lived in eyes, and naked lips. Brows were defined, but not overly, whilst lashes were piled with mascara for a look that can be transformed with ease for the high street."

ES: Did you have/use any specific inspirations in your planning, and if so, who/what were they?

LP: "For inspiration I channelled Daryl Hannah in Blade Runner meets Michelle Pfeiffer in Dark Shadows - like old glamour meets ghetto grunge."

ES: How many models did you have to prepare? How many do you need in your team to manage that number, and what's the approximate prep time (including practice)?

LP: "There was a total of 10 models. On my team I had 2 assistants and 2 makeup artists as well as myself. Each morning took roughly 3 hours to do makeup with refreshing looks between shows all day. We also did the makeup test the Saturday before which took about an hour, luckily the client loved the look straight away so no changes were made."

ES: How did you coordinate the looks that you planned with the hair department, and did you have to make any adjustments to make the overall looks cohesive?

LP: "The organiser knew what she wanted from hair, I had no say in it. Makeup was signed off on the 1st look (by the organiser); the only thing I changed during the run of the shows was the lip - I switched from a very nude pencil to plain, no colour balm, as the model's lips were becoming dehydrated so the balm looked better and more nourished."

You can find Lauretta on Instagram at the above address, or Tweet Laurretta here.

____________________________________

I hope you enjoyed the very first #WearItWednesday InFocus feature! The Lovely Laurretta certainly does some amazing work - lookout for her backstage at a catwalk near you...

Until the next!

ES ;)