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BEHIND THE COUNTER
Liana Moran
Above: Liana Moran Right: Liana is shown with Cloudberry’s owner Julie Pearson at The Greats.
Liana Moran, a finalist in The Greats 2018 Retail Employee of the Year category, started her career in the time-honoured way of doing a paper round. At 17, while still studying, she worked at French Connection, joining Cloudberry gift shop eight years ago. Liana, an artist, works as Cloudberry’s visual merchandiser.
Liana Moran has worked with Cloudberry since the shop opened in June 2010 and is responsible for the visual merchandising in both Blackhall and Barnton. Additionally, she plans the company’s visits to trade shows and retail events, creates lists of ‘must see suppliers’, and is involved in buying decisions. She also makes it a personal challenge to get to know Cloudberry’s regular customers, and enjoys helping people to find what they are looking for. “It was Cloudberry’s owner Julie Pearson, and the experience of working in the shop, that led to my becoming
so interested in merchandising,” explains Liana. She says that what she most loves about her job at Cloudberry is the creative approach to coming up with displays. “I love combining colours, materials and objects into a unified look, as well as the freedom to use the space as effectively as possible. Christmas is my favourite season, as the same customers come in every year and can't wait to see what we’ve bought, and how we are displaying it this year!” A typical day for Liana starts with a cup of coffee, followed by stocking the
shelves and moving stock around. “I then place orders, show the other staff members the new products, and come up with new ways to display them,” she highlights. Interestingly, Liana is also an artist, who has her own business, Edinburgh
Illustrations. “Growing up, I always wanted to be in the arts and went to Edinburgh College of Art, graduating with a degree in Painting and Drawing,” she explains. “After being commissioned to paint Edinburgh’s iconic scenes for a city centre hotel, it enabled me to start selling my original artwork as well as prints and cards.”
LAST WORD
Rona Stevenson
Above: Rona Stevenson. Right: Actress Anna Seyfried is shown in the all-star line-up of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
Rona Stevenson co-owns gift shop Within Reason in Sheffield with her sister Heather, with the sisters also the founders and co-owners of clothing company One Hundred Stars. Most recently, Anna Seyfried, who stars in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, wears the company’s mini kimono, Paris Valerie, in the movie. The kimono was named after Rona and Heather’s own ‘mamma’!
Three words that best describe you? “Ballsy, creative, kind.” Tell us a quirky fact or two that we don’t know about you? “I went to the same art college in Psalter Lane, Sheffield, as rock star Jarvis Cocker and Nick Parks, creator of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep.” What was your first job? “I worked as a nanny in London.” How did you get into retail? “Initially doing antique markets. Our dad was an upholsterer, and when Heather and I got a
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shop, we filled it with new, vintage and upholstered furniture. Subsequently, that led us into gift and home products.” What was the best piece of business advice you were given when starting out? “Stay in business. The longer you stay in business, the more you learn.” What piece of business advice would you give to someone today? “Don’t close the business when the going gets tough. Try not to get despondent. Keep motoring on.” What do you feel gives you the edge in business? “We aren’t afraid to take chances.”
What’s your favourite book? “Hard to say because I read voraciously!” What’s your favourite TV programme? “Scandi noir. I particularly love The Bridge.” What’s your favourite film? “Frida, based on the life of Frida Kahlo. She was a very complex woman.” Where’s your favourite place to go on holiday? “The Greek islands, especially Skiathos and Skopelos where the first Mamma Mia film was shot.” How do you start and end your day? “I begin with a cup of tea and Radio 4, and end with a glass of wine and The Archers.” Which one item would you take to a desert island? “A never ending book! Failing that, an unstoppable face cream for my very dry skin!”