Experience

The British Blanket Company

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founder / Director

  • Nov 2015 - Present

  The British Blanket Company is founded on a love of colour, a passion for British manufacture and our belief that nothing makes a house a home like a cosy throw! We’ve wrapped all this into our beautiful collection of luxurious woollen throws and blankets in a wide range of shades, showcasing the very best home-grown design. The British Blanket Company was created by brother and sister team, Joe and Bethan John in November 2015. We are proud to bring quality blankets woven at traditional woollen mills in the British Isles to fans of colourful textiles all around the world. Each blanket is hand-picked for its quality, style and versatility. Whether you’re looking for a sofa throw for cool nights, a beautiful blanket to add colour to your bedroom or a luxury picnic rug with waterproof backing, The British Blanket Company has a range to suit. All our textiles make perfect gifts for home-lovers. We dispatch daily and offer free delivery to UK mainland addresses so you can sit back and relax while your gorgeous new blanket wings its way to your door. Next day courier services and international delivery are available too. National Winner of Family Business of the Year in the Natwest Great British Entrepreneur Awards (GBEAs) 2019. Find The British Blanket Company on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @BritishBlankets. Visit the shop: www.thebritishblanketcompany.com



UCL

• United Kingdom
• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Business Mentor: Creative and Collaborative Enterprise Masters Programme

  • May 2022 - Present

  I work with UCL as a business mentor on the Creative and Collaborative Enterprise Masters programme. This refreshing MA is designed for students who want to start and run original enterprises, where the way you do things is as important as what you do. I work with UCL as a business mentor on the Creative and Collaborative Enterprise Masters programme. This refreshing MA is designed for students who want to start and run original enterprises, where the way you do things is as important as what you do.



Decorator's Notebook Ltd

• United Kingdom
• Retail

• Founder / Director

  • Oct 2013 - Nov 2019

  After founding and building this beautiful ethical brand, Decorator's Notebook was sold in November 2020 and relaunched under new ownership in January 2021.Founded together with my brother Joe John in 2013, Decorator's Notebook was an online shop selling a curated collection of design-led home accessories sourced from fair trade groups, social enterprises and artisanal co-operatives in the developing world. Our aim was to show that design, quality and ethics can go hand in hand and give our customers a more meaningful connection to the items they choose for their homes.As Co-founder and Director I took charge of sourcing the products for our range in line with our strong aesthetic values and ethical ethos: quality natural materials combined with thoughtful design, skilled craftsmanship and fair trade production values.Decorator's Notebook was named a Startup of the Year 2014 by The Guardian. Our business and products were featured in Elle Decoration, Living etc, Country Living, Homes & Gardens, The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, Ideal Home, Homes & Antiques, Good Homes, Country Homes & Interiors and Red as well as several high-profile blogs, including Design*Sponge.Visit the shop: www.decoratorsnotebook.co.uk

• Blogger: Decorator's Notebook

  • Jun 2011 - Nov 2019

  I started my blog in 2011 and publish posts on interior styling ideas, design and lifestyle.Decorator's Notebook blog has been ranked as one of the "Top 10 interior design blogs" by The Telegraph, The Sunday Times, Red and All About You.



Immediate Media Co

• United Kingdom
• Technology, Information and Media
• 700 & Above Employee

• Freelance Interiors Journalist and Shopping Editor

  • Jul 2013 - Jan 2018

  I specialised in sourcing, writing and styling real home stories, makeovers and compiling shopping pages for interiors magazines and websites I have sourced homes both in the UK and overseas and have extensive experience conducting interviews face-to-face, by telephone and email. In all cases I pride myself on producing lively, accurate copy to complement beautiful styled photography. I have worked with numerous interiors photographers and am adept at organising the practical aspects of photo shoots - including logistics, product call-ins and returns - to ensure shoots run smoothly and homeowners enjoy the day. From 2013 - 2018 I was Shopping Editor of Homes & Antiques magazine, contributing three shopping pages every month in a freelance capacity. These pages showcased the latest interior trends with a blend of contemporary, antique and vintage product ideas. I have a great deal of experience producing 'get the look' features, as well as informative articles on all aspects of home decorating and interior design. I also edited the annual Christmas gift guide. In 2011 I began writing the Decorator's Notebook blog, an online collection of home styling ideas, craft projects, lifestyle articles and design inspiration. This led to the launch of the Decorator's Notebook shop in October 2013, specialising in hand-made ethically-sourced homeware from around the world. In November 2015 I launched my second retail brand, The British Blanket Company, offering British-made wool throws, blankets and picnic rugs. Until January 2018 I worked as a freelance interiors journalist alongside running my two businesses, Decorator's Notebook and The British Blanket Company.



August Media

• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• International Houses Editor at IKEA Live magazine

  • Jun 2011 - Jun 2013

  IKEA LIVE is a quarterly print and online magazine published in 30 countries and 28 languages. As Houses Editor I was responsible for sourcing up to nine real homes for each issue in a broad range of styles, housing types and locations around the world, all demonstrating an inspiring use of IKEA products. My time at IKEA LIVE gave me an insight into customer publishing for a globally recognised brand, and experience producing content for online and digital formats as well as print. I was also involved in IKEA LIVE's social media output.



Time Inc. UK

• United Kingdom
• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Deputy Interiors Editor at Ideal Home magazine

  • Dec 2010 - Jun 2011

  I was promoted to the role of Deputy Interiors Editor at Ideal Home in December 2010, where I was responsible for producing the real home and makeover content for the magazine, together with the Interiors Editor.My responsibilities included writing and styling home and makeover shoots, organising all aspects of the shoot days, liaising with photographers, PRs, couriers and homeowners and producing shopping pages and additional homes-related content.I was also Editor of the 2010 edition of Ideal Home's Complete Guide to Christmas which involved planning and commissioning all the content for this special edition, as well as managing the budget and working with the Art department on the layouts and design.

• Interiors and Style Assistant at Ideal Home magazine

  • Nov 2007 - Nov 2010

• Editor of Ideal Home's Complete Guide to Christmas magazine

  • Jun 2010 - Jul 2010



Aceville

• United Kingdom
• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Deputy Editor at Move to the Country magazine

  • Jun 2007 - Nov 2007

• Features Editor at Move to the Country magazine

  • Jul 2006 - Jun 2007