For about thirty years I taught people how to work more effectively with others within their organisation as a management training consultant. They say that you teach best what you most need to learn, so for the past ten years since I launched Look Fabulous Forever, I have been able to put all that theory into practice by helping to build a team of individuals who can both sustain and grow our business.
In the very early days it was just me doing everything. Then, after six months, my daughter Anna decided she’d like to help me, despite there being no money to pay her or any job title! Anna and I have always been better at the visionary ‘big picture’ stuff, so, as LFF grew, it was very evident that we needed someone to take care of the detailed stuff like stock and cash flows. Fortunately, I had another daughter who loves a spreadsheet, so Suzy soon joined us to ensure that we didn’t run out of either money or products to sell.
We are now a team of ten women. Every decade of age is represented from Amelia who is in her early twenties to me in my mid-seventies and we all work very flexibly, sometimes from home and sometimes in an office near Clapham Junction in south-west London.
Most of you reading this will have a relationship with Look Fabulous Forever, so this week I thought that I’d introduce you to the individuals who make up our team. Without each of them working together there would be no website, no makeup or skincare, no new products or videos, no Super Troopers, no response to our customers, no Sunday blog for you to read and no joyous celebration of the fabulousness of older women!
Meet the Team:
Anna (48), Managing Director
I live with my husband and two (almost) teenage boys, Patrick and Rory about 10 minutes walk from the LFF office which is near Clapham Junction (no prizes for guessing who found the office!). When I’m not ferrying the boys around or watching a rugby or cricket match, I enjoy dragging everyone out to an art gallery on a rainy afternoon. Before LFF I worked in the art world for 12 years and I now enjoy looking at art just for the sake of it.
I joined LFF about 6 months after Tricia set the business up and I became MD in 2016. My job is to oversee all aspects of the business from working with Suzy on the finances to discussing with Janis what direction our marketing should take. I work with Tricia on any press opportunities that come our way and also look out for potential partner brands for Bryony to organise competitions with. It’s been a rollercoaster ride, but I’m proud of the way we have grown the business from such modest beginnings to the success it is today.
Suzy (45), Operations Director
I live in Wimbledon with my husband Ben and our 3 girls aged 13, 11 and 6. When I’m not working, I am usually at a spin class or out running with our beloved Cockapoo, Maggie. I love where I live and having had 3 girls at 3 different local schools, I have a lovely pool of local friends that I often meet up with for a glass of wine or two! As many of you know, my middle daughter, India, has significant additional needs so I also spend a lot of time organising medical appointments, writing reports and dealing with general SEN admin which is also a full-time job in itself!
I worked in the Wealth Management arm of a large high-street bank for 12 years. I met my husband there and spent many happy years looking after high-net-worth individuals then went into front office operations. After India was born, I went back to work for a while but I struggled to keep all the plates spinning and was ready to do something else. It was at this time LFF was gaining real traction. Mum and Anna seemed to be having a great time, so I joined them to take on all the jobs that I loved but which they didn’t! I now run the finance function, look after all the warehousing, stock purchasing and product development.
It’s a wonderful business and I love working with family and our great team. I feel incredibly lucky to have a job that can work around the needs of my family but that is also very fulfilling.
Anna - Managing Director (Left) and Suzy - Operations Director (Right)
Janis (49), E-Commerce Marketing Director
Janis is actually on holiday at the moment so we’ve put together a few words about her in her absence.
Janis lives in Hemel Hempstead with her husband Dave and beloved cat Jamie. She is passionate about film and every year spends two weeks attending the London Film Festival. She is also a fan of eating in restaurants and frequently shares new discoveries with the team.
Janis has a wealth of experience in e-commerce and since she joined us nearly 3 years ago, has really made a difference to all aspects of LFF, from how much information we give to help our customers to choose the right products, to how quickly the pages load (rather slowly at the moment but this is set to change!). She is constantly looking for ways to improve our customers’ experience and the quarterly surveys some of you kindly fill in are down to her. She takes those findings very seriously because they help us to find even better ways to make our customers happy!
Caroline (64), Customer Services
Having moved out of London during lockdown to the historic village of Wickham in Hampshire
to help with my ‘Aged P’s’. I am lucky to work from home and get to visit the office once a month. If I am not at the gym or helping Mum, I can be found with my fingers in the dirt in my second year as an aspiring veg grower.
I have worked for LFF since 2016 and was employee number 3 in the business. I set up the customer service function, including the systems, processes and team. Prior to LFF, I spent nearly 30 years in sales and marketing roles with IT-related companies. I also had a 14-year stint with my hobby entertainment business.
Customer Services is hugely varied but I can still be surprised by some questions and observations of our customers and am passionate about helping them and keeping them happy. When LFF appeared on the horizon it saved my life and Tricia says I saved hers!
Julie (60) Customer Services
Born in Glasgow, I moved to London 47 years ago. I have completed two London marathons at the age of 50 and 53. My knees won't let me anymore, but my grandson keeps the rest of me going. When I'm not working, I have a passion for anything creative! I like to call myself an artist. I paint in oils, I play the ukulele and the drums. I also love doing face painting at parties and events.
I am a proud mother of two daughters and have an adorable grandson who brings me so much joy. This year, I turned 60, and to celebrate this milestone, I have made it my mission to do 60 new things that I have never done before. It's been an exciting journey, and I can't wait to see what else I can accomplish.
I have worked for LFF since 2017. As customer service manager, sharing my strengths as a problem solver is so satisfying. From taking our customers through the online shopping experience, to helping with the best colour choice of lippy to go with the hat that the granny of the bride is wearing! I am also a trained makeup artist and so I often do virtual consultations talking to fabulous people from all over the world, to help them look and feel their best. If you call or email LFF, you would more than likely speak to me or Caroline.
Julie - Customer Services (Left) and Caroline - Customer Services (Right)
Clare (33) Senior Customer Relationship Manager
I live with my partner in East London. Outside of work, I enjoy keeping fit, running & boxing as well as finding new restaurants to try and exploring the city I live in. I've worked for LFF for 4.5 years.
My job involves analysing data and building our long-term customer strategies across email, direct mail, and advertising. I love that it involves using data & numbers as well as being creative. Working for a small business you really get to see the direct impact your work has on business performance, which is rewarding. It's also great to see how much our customers value the products and advice we offer them
Beatriz (27) Customer Relationship Management Executive
Born and raised in Portugal, I made the move to London eight years ago to study Business Management, and have been calling it home ever since. In my spare time, I enjoy travelling, hosting get-togethers with friends, as well as taking long walks with my partner and our dog, Rusty.
Recently, I completed my Master's degree in Marketing at the University of Manchester and joined LFF as a CRM Executive eight months ago. In my day-to-day life, I am responsible for the planning, copywriting and design of our newsletter emails. I enjoy how my role blends creativity with data analysis - I especially enjoy designing our emails and sharing some makeup tips with our customers. I love working with a small marketing team that encourages a highly collaborative environment, where each person's opinions are valued and appreciated.
Bryony (31) Senior Brand and Content Manager
I live with my husband (we got married last September) in Crystal Palace, South East London - excellent for me as it's a nice easy commute to the office! Outside work, I love creative activities and crafting - working with clay, painting and baking. I have worked for LFF for just over 3 years as I started at the beginning of our first lockdown in March 2020. Before joining LFF I worked for a luxury biscuit brand called Biscuiteers.
My job is the perfect combination of creativity and organisation - two things I love! I oversee 'all things brand' at LFF. I am responsible for the look and feel of the brand - making sure that all visual aspects of the business are inline. I oversee our social media channels, content creation, events, partnerships and new product launches.
I love the fact we all get to work so closely as a team - being part of a small team means you get to see so much of what goes into running a business like LFF, an experience you wouldn't have at a larger company! I also adore working on the photo and video shoots with Sally and Tricia and getting to meet our customers and spend time with our Ambassadors.
Tricia - CEO (Left) and Bryony - Senior Brand and Content Manager (Right)
Amelia (21) Content and Social Media Intern
After finishing my degree in Fashion Communication and Promotion at Nottingham Trent University last year, I made the bold move to London with my partner. We live with my sister in Battersea which is only a 20-minute walk away from our office!
Photography has always been a passion of mine, which is why I was drawn to LFF in the first place. It's such a creative and dynamic environment, and I love that no two days are ever the same. As the newest member of the LFF team, I've been blown away by how welcoming and supportive everyone has been.
My role involves taking care of our social platforms, creating content, and working with our amazing ambassadors. I love how much creativity is involved in my role, and I'm always learning something new. Starting my career at LFF has been a dream come true. Because it’s a small business, I've had the opportunity to get involved in so many different aspects of the company, and I've already learned so much in the five months I've been here. I can't wait to see what the future holds!
I hope that our team introductions have given you a real sense of what am amazing group of women we have assembled to create and embody the spirit of Look Fabulous Forever. I have always believed that the best teams are greater than the sum of their parts. If we have grown and prospered as a business over the past ten years, then it is largely down to the ingenuity, energy, intelligence and enthusiasm of the individuals who have been part of our LFF story.
I also hope that you have been enjoying this weekend during which we have all witnessed the momentous event of the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, surely the very best example of what teams of people working together with total focus for a very specific purpose can achieve. Well done to all concerned, and a huge thank you to my lovely team at LFF for being such a pleasure to work with.
Tricia x
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