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INSPIRE
Harry loves checking out Scandibørn’s latest stock
What inspired Scandibørn? We have close friends living in and around Copenhagen, so it’s been our go-to summer destination for about six years now. We love the whole ethos of Scandinavian living, as it places value on buying products that will last years and fulfil different needs as lives change. We spent a long time getting our home just perfect, and having children seemed to open the door to a whole set of eyesores that I didn’t want in our living room! There was a gap in the market for people who want to create playful spaces for their children that fit in with their contemporary homes. Maternity leave gave me the much-needed headspace to think about my career, the family life we wanted, and write a business plan. At around the same time my husband, James, was made redundant, so in 2016, we took a leap of faith and invested the very small pay-out in Scandibørn.
GRACE TINDALL Scandibørn’s co-founder talks about taking the start-up plunge, creative styling and the Scandinavian aesthetic that there are so many different ways to be creative. I discovered my passion for interiors when I moved into my first rented property. I found such joy in creating beautiful spaces, spending hours at flea markets and upcycling old furniture. Once we bought our first home there was no looking back! Describe a typical day for you. I’m always up at least an hour before the rest of the house – it’s my time to have a coffee in peace, plan for the day,
When did you discover your passion for interiors? I was never good at the arts, but I’ve learned
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or go for a quick run. Chaos then ensues for an hour and half, with breakfast, nursery drop-off and the dog walk! I’m usually in the office for 8.30am, where I’ll take calls with the customer service team and the warehouse. The rest of the day is varied: I might be at the warehouse doing quality checks, making re-orders or sourcing new products. Running a business isn’t easy, but I feel so lucky to be doing what I’m passionate about – it doesn’t really feel like work.
How do you source brands? When I started Scandibørn, I wrote a list of key words about what the brand should be, so I go back to that when I’m undecided. Everything Soft ball pit we sell has to fit with £114.95 the Scandi aesthetic we
adore. Harry even helps with the product research, as we tend to try out items with him first. What has made you most proud? We’re just so proud of what we’ve achieved in just over a year: the great brands we sell, our social media following, our customers’ support and the awards we have won. Every positive review and customer Instagram post makes us so happy. Do you have any advice for budding entrepreneurs? Be passionate about what you do. Anyone can launch a website and stock great brands, but it’s the curation and customer experience that’ll set you apart from your competitors. It’s a real challenge to stand out online. What’s up next? The autumn/winter 2018 range is our immediate focus but we also have some very exciting developments we’re working on. I can’t share too much yet, but it’s going to help Scandibørn to continue to grow! scandiborn.co.uk