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Laura See talks to Enterprise Issues about her journey to beginning up her very personal luxurious shoe model, Laura See London.
What does your online business do/supply?
Luxurious girls’s footwear designed by me and handcrafted in Italy. The footwear characteristic a splash of my very own paintings and a dainty gold hummingbird adorns the only. The model is concentrated on optimistic, enjoyable and fearless girls who recognize high quality, type and luxury.
Inform us the story behind your online business?
After my husband handed away from most cancers in 2015, I left my job in architectural design to maneuver to Italy on an element scholarship, studying how you can design footwear. On my return, I discovered it was inconceivable to get an internship, until I wished to work for a yr unpaid, so when the primary lockdown hit, I made a decision it was time to work alone model and collections.
I’ve at all times had a ardour for footwear and I’ve painted from a younger age so I made a decision to mix the 2. Working within the design business has additionally held me in good stead – with out sensible design a product won’t work – footwear is identical. A shoe should help the foot, be wearable and aesthetically pleasing.
What’s your background?
I had a very completely different job previous to this however I’ve at all times labored in artistic industries. Though I loved the roles I’ve by no means felt really fulfilled and have at all times wished to do one thing that concerned my ardour for artwork and footwear. I nonetheless discover it laborious to consider that I’m now dwelling my dream!
What does your function within the firm encompass?
I do all of it. I design the collections, work on advertising methods and I’m constructing a community of ladies who will love and help the model. I liaise with the factories in Italy in addition to managing the content material and images that must be deliberate round every assortment. It’s full on!
What units you aside out of your competitors?
My story is one that individuals can relate to it. I’m from a working-class background and I’m pursuing a dream – I’ve to make it occur for myself. Laura See London footwear are distinctive and versatile – the splash of print and the birds provides an instantaneous recognisable USP.
How do you unfold the phrase about your online business?
Primarily via social media, newsletters and networking. I communicate to everybody – In any case, you by no means know who you could be speaking to. I’m additionally holding my first Pop-Up store in John Lewis on Oxford Road in London from 22nd – 28th November. That can be so thrilling.
How has enterprise been throughout the Covid-19 pandemic?
Difficult. As with every new model I’ve been discovering my ft these previous couple of months and it hasn’t been made simpler with folks not likely having the ability to go wherever; it has had it’s moments. Nonetheless, I consider timing is all the pieces and issues occur for a purpose.
How do you see your market evolving over the subsequent few years?
I hope that it’ll grow to be a model that ladies love to speak about, can relate to and wish to be a part of the journey. The footwear can be stocked by some wholesalers and over the approaching months I can be doing much more pop-ups in addition to nurturing my direct-to-consumer enterprise mannequin.
What’s the toughest factor about operating a enterprise?
Worrying that the model can be nicely acquired, time constraints and with the manufacturing facility being in Italy having to cope with points because of Brexit. There are at all times issues occurring behind the scenes, so you need to be taught to be adaptable and resilient.
Have you ever acquired any monetary help for your online business?
No, it’s all self-funded. It may be tough at instances however I get a lot out of seeing the model develop and figuring out that my laborious work has been worthwhile.
What have been the most important challenges you’ve confronted?
Coping with factories. While you place small orders, it may be difficult to search out factories who will work with small unbiased manufacturers. Delays attributable to Brexit. Additionally making an attempt to juggle two different jobs while constructing the model.
What’s the perfect resolution you’ve made up to now?
To spend a good amount of cash on branding and images. Understanding the place to spend and the place you are able to do a whole lot of the leg work your self is actually key.
For those who may return and alter one factor, what wouldn’t it be?
I’d have employed a advertising and social media professional proper firstly.
What has been your proudest achievement up to now?
When the primary assortment arrived, and I held the footwear with my title on the only. Additionally being featured in some wonderful magazines and just lately being named as certainly one of TECHROUND’s prime 26 Vogue Begin-Ups of 2021.
What are your hopes for your online business within the subsequent 5 years?
I would love my footwear to be stocked someplace like Selfridges and all being nicely to have a retailer of my very own the place girls can get pleasure from spending time selecting and making an attempt on the footwear.
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