Featured Post
Megan and Devin’s Dreamy Desert Vow Renewal by Things Are Lovely Photography
Happy Monday, after a fun filled few days of birthday celebrations I am now back...
16
Apr
2013
Today I am delighted to be talking to Erica Illingworth from Molly Brown London. As well as telling us more about her Designer Jewellery company Erica is giving you the opportunity to win £700.00 worth of bridal accessories with wedding dress designer Charlotte Balbier.
‘Molly Brown London is the UK’s leading, luxury designer jewellery brand, described as ‘Tiffany for girls’ by Vogue and with collections in Harrods, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason, as well as over 100 independent jewellers throughout the country. The brand houses classically simple jewellery that can be worn and loved forever; the perfect keepsake jewellery collection for bridesmaids and flower girls.
With celebrity fans such as Tess Daly, Darcey Bussell, Dannii Minogue and the star of “Les Misérables”, Isabelle Allen, it is no surprise that Molly Brown London is the UK’s no. 1 designer jewellery brand for girls.’
The reputation of Molly Brown London inspired the creation of the adult brand Molly B Couture; a fine jewellery collection. ‘Molly B Couture jewellery is defined by romantic, timeless designs and houses glamorous, feminine collections. The jewellery has an enduring beauty and encompasses exquisite treasures that will illuminate your look and become your signature style. Core lines include the sophisticated Signature Bow, the romantic Love Knot, the stunning Innes and the exquisite Salon collections.
Molly B Couture has quickly become one of the UK’s leading bridal jewellery designers, with magazines such as You & Your Wedding featuring the collections regularly. Using timeless sterling silver, classic 9ct gold, lustrous cultured pearls and sparkling diamonds, Molly B Couture houses the perfect romantic, feminine jewellery to complement that special dress and hold the memories of your big day forever.’
Molly B Couture have teamed up with esteemed wedding dress designer Charlotte Balbier for an exclusive bridal accessories competition worth £700.00. The ultimate accessories prize includes:
Simply click on the link below to enter. http://www.mollybrownlondon.com/charlotte-balbier
What made you start your business?
I have always loved jewellery and whilst I was researching new openings, I noticed a real gap in the children’s jewellery market. I set about creating a jewellery collection that was simple enough to be worn by young girls and yet sophisticated enough for them to want to wear forever. Molly Brown London is now the leading girls’ jewellery brand in the UK and the natural development for us following this success was to launch a fine jewellery collection for women. We launched Molly B Couture for women online on a dual-sited website so that our customers can shop both brands at the same time.
We are based in Chiswick, West London and I set the business up in May 2006 , we are just coming up to our 7th birthday. Molly B Couture was launched this time last year.
Our website ships internationally but we are stocked in department stores such as Harrods, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason, as well as 100 independent jewellers throughout the UK and Ireland.
What were you doing before?
I used to work for a global search firm within the Investment Banking sector. However, when my children were young I decided that I wanted more flexibility in my working life.
How would you describe your style?
I would like to think effortlessly chic! But let’s just stick to simple and sophisticated; the mantra for Molly B Couture is “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”.
What is your biggest achievement so far?
I have been so lucky and have so much to be proud of. Molly Brown has been described as “Tiffany for Girls” by Vogue, we have been finalists in the UK Jewellery Awards twice, within the first few months of being in Harrods the brand was the best-selling girl’s accessory across the entire children’s floor and our iconic Jelly Bean Collection was awarded Best New Product at the International Jewellery Show London.
What makes you different to your competitors?
The jewellery is truly keepsake and whilst other children’s jewellery is quite babyish, our designs are simple and yet classic and sophisticated. So, the USP is that the Molly Brown jewellery grows up with the child, and can be loved and worn forever. I strongly believe that jewellery is unlike any other gift in that it holds our memories and so if you have been given a piece of jewellery as a child or a teenager, it will remind you of the person that gave you the gift, or the occasion such as being a bridesmaid forever.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
That’s a hard one as there are so many aspects of the business that I enjoy working on. Developing new collections and working developing new marketing initiatives are probably my overall favourites.
What sort of customer do you think you attract?
I think we attract a variety of customers. The Molly B Couture collections are simple yet sophisticated and therefore complement THAT dress perfectly without diverting any attention. We also find that we get a lot of brides buying their bridesmaid and flower girl jewellery from Molly Brown, as we have designed many of our collections with this in mind.
What would be your ideal wedding to work on?
The next Royal Wedding!
What can you never leave the house without?
My iPhone and I have been known to turn back if I’ve forgotten to put some perfume on!
Who would be your 5 dream dinner guests dead or alive?
Stephen Fry, Anthony Hopkins, Michael Mcintyre, Victoria Beckham and Coco Chanel.
What would you do if you won the lottery?
Invest loads into Molly Brown London and Molly B Couture so that we could take over the world; buy a house in Italy, an apartment in New York and an apartment in Paris.
If you weren’t running your business, what would you be doing?
I would probably do an interior design course and spend ages doing up our house rather than running around trying to make quick decisions on things. I’d love to learn a language and learn how to play the piano properly. I did have piano lessons as a child but was naughty and never practiced.
We are just about to launch the Hope Collection, five necklaces featuring large and small open hearts, flowers and a cross, for christenings and Holy Communion. We are constantly asked for items that can be engraved and the Hope Collection is pretty, feminine and very contemporary and so will appeal to girls of all ages – in fact almost every girl in the office now has asked for one!
www.mollybrownlondon.com
www.mollybcouture.com
FACEBOOK
@MollyBrownHQ
Telephone: 0844 335 3923
Fax: 0203 002 4639
Dear Kelly,
What a lovely post! Thank you so much for blogging about us. We absolutely love your site and the beautiful brides that you feature each week.
Thanks again!
Erica xx
Oh Kelly! You’ve captured the heart and soul of Molly Brown London perfectly.
We’ve made so many Brides happy with their choice of gifts and bridal jewellery, and look forward to more!
Thanks so much,
Charlotte xxx
Love the chain necklaces especially the multicolored flowers with pearls, they look delicate! Would love to own these fabulous necklaces one day :)