How do you view the future of independent retail? Independents have supported Blade & Rose since day one, and I’ll always be passionate about supporting them in return. They offer something that large retailers simply can’t: personal service, genuine relationships and carefully chosen products. I think they’ll always have an important place on the high street. Are you active on social media? How is this important for the business? Absolutely. Social media has allowed me to build a real community around Blade & Rose. I love seeing customers share photos of their little ones wearing our collections and hearing the stories behind the gifts they’ve bought. It reminds me every day why we do what we do. Do you have any advice for new businesses starting out in the world of gifts? Believe in your idea, even if it feels small. Some of the biggest businesses begin by solving one simple problem. Be patient, don’t compare yourself to others and build genuine relationships with your customers. Those relationships will always be your greatest asset. What can we expect in the future from the company? We have some wonderful new licensed collections and original characters launching over the next year, alongside exciting additions to our gifting ranges. We’re also excited to introduce our premium wooden display stands, designed to help larger retailers, particularly garden centres, create a beautiful in store Blade & Rose destination that showcases our coordinated collections and makes gifting even easier for customers. I’m as passionate today as I was back in 2010 about creating products that make people smile, and I genuinely believe the best is still to come for Blade & Rose. Is there anything else you’d like to add? If there’s one thing I’d like to say, it’s thank you. Many of the independent retailers who believed in Blade&Rose at the very beginning are still some of our biggest customers today. Their support has helped turn one mum’s idea on maternity leave into an internationally recognised British baby gifting brand, with many of those retailers telling us that Blade & Rose has become their bestselling baby brand. I’ll always be incredibly grateful for their loyalty, trust and support over the past 16 years. BLADE & ROSE T: +44 (0)1539 730 880 www.bladeandrose.co.uk 54
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