A M B E R ❤: Business

Entries Tagged as 'Business'

Where to eat in London

06.04.13

Whether you’re meeting a new client, catching up with an old business associate, or pitching a new collaboration here’s a round up of my 3 favourite places to cut deals over breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Breakfast: Daylesford Organic

‘With locations in Pimlico and Westbourne Grove, this light and minimalistic eatery is farm fresh. Set up by Carole Bamford (the wife of JCB construction founder Anthony Bamford) whose wide range of business interests includes farming, retailing, restaurants, clothing and spas. Quiet, well lit with beautiful organic food- go early in the morning when the communal tables aren’t packed there are also a few more private tables/ breakfast bars for 2 people. ‘

Eat: Boiled Eggs & Sour Dough Toast. Drink: English Breakfast Tea & Blood Orange Juice

Lunch: Ceviche

‘This eclectic and citrus clean Soho eatery is a hot pick for lunch. Serving a delicious array of tapas style bites, perfect to share and nibble on when you’re talking business. The atmosphere manages to be vibrant and cool without being too noisy and has an infectious positive energy that lingers when you leave. Founded by Martin Morales ( Ex Head of Disney Music) the meticulous interior design, music and layout comprise to make Ceviche a super cool brand ( their website is ace!) and lunch time experience. ‘

Eat: Plantain Chips, Don Ceviche & Grilled Skewers. Drink: Piso Sour

Dinner: Bob Bob Ricard

‘I fell in love with Bob Bob Ricard when it opened in 2008, and after interviewing one of the founders, Leonid, who insisted on shots of vodka, have found it difficult to stay away from this sexy, decadent hide out ever since. Nestled on the corner of Lower St James Street in Soho, this eccentric restaurant is a collection of intimate booths each with their own ‘Push For Champagne Button’. Everything is theatrical and opulent with interiors by David Collins, its the perfect place to impress and indulge.’

Eat: Caviar, Sole Paupiette & Bramley Apple Tart Drink: The Best Bloody Marys in London. Try the chilled Vodka and Pear Bellinis.

Startup Spotlight: Quarterly

01.04.13

‘We spend so much of our lives connecting with people online that we forget the value of tangible interactions that happen in the real world.’

Quarterly, an L.A. startup aims to bridge that gap by allowing anyone to subscribe to influential contributors and receive physical items in the mail from them. Set up by Zach Frechette the editor of GOOD magazine he said recently ‘I want to recapture the romance and impact of a well crafted package, but tie it into existing online communities in an organic way. We think there’s a hunger for analog experiences that complement digital ones, and Quarterly is poised to capitalize on that trend.’

So what do you get if you sign up to recieve a package from say the founders of Cool Hunting or Pharell Williams? Well it could be a bag or in the words of Pharell ‘Whether it’s a book or something I just think is cool, every item I send has inspired me to feed my curiosity.’

Subscription based models such as Glossy Box and influencer led commerce sites such as Shoedazzle or the reward driven Prizeo are gaining huge traction, and I love Quarterly’s ability to add a physical element of surprise. We recently partnered with SheSaidBeauty on a 6 month #FreebieFriday promotion that enabled our customers to get a free beauty sample with their order. Customer’s loved the added extra and we loved facilitating an unexpected discovery.

The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.- O. Winfrey #amberattitudes

Retail Opportunities in Hong Kong

30.03.13

Hong Kong is home to the largest number of billionaires in the world with over 8.8% of it’s 7.2 million populationmillionaire households according to Boston Consulting group. Combined with it’s popularity as an off shore centre of wealth and popularity with tourists, ( over 40 million high spending visitors per annum) it’s easy to see why the retail landscape is dominated by luxury brands.

The current Nick Knight campaign for Lane Crawford aligned perfectly in store

From Hermes to Isabel Marant to luxury department stores Lane Crawford and Harvey Nichols, you would be hard pressed to find a western premium brand that does not have a presence in this former British colony. Whilst this breeds a positive consumer culture of aspiration, in reality there is little shopping choice for the millions of average pay office workers and expats whose spending power, makes up on mass, a considerable opportunity for western mid-tier retailers.

This gap that was identified by Zara back in 2005 and has steadily been filled by H&M, Forever 21, Abercrombie & Fitch (see me looking awkward above) and soon Topshop yet there is a growing demand for affordable fashion and a real opportunity for hip, alternative stores such as Urban Outfitters and dare I say it independents to thrive in this market. Indie surf and skate brands enjoy a strong sales presence whilst outlet malls are springing up all over the outskirts of the city and over 4 vintage shops ( see Select 18 below) have opened in the past 2 years- its an exciting time for smaller brands to enter the market.

My opinion on this open door was bolstered further after a visit to Hong Kong local shopping haven Causeway Bay where I spent much of my teenage years seeking out the secret mini shopping malls. Entered through non-descript doors with staircases leading up to 5 stories packed full of local designers and Korean brands occupying no more than 3 square meters each. Bursting with fashion under £10, when I returned to Hong Kong last week I was impressed by the growth of these malls. Not only are there now more of them, but the little shops have upped their game with sleek visual merchandising and branding that have transformed them from a small space full of clothes to uber-mini uber cool boutiques. Whilst these malls remain largely undiscovered by the expat community and tourists, the local 16-24 year olds acceptance of lesser known and local brands is an incredibly compelling and encouraging sign for indie boutique owners and up coming British brands.

Im eyeing up a popup space in Hong Kong now, as well as speaking to the country’s first fashion e-commerce site ( another huge opportunity) all with a quote from Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu in my mind- ‘opportunites multiply as they are seized.’

Esquire Little Black Book Party

27.03.13

‘The style manual for successful men’ are the bold words you will find on the cover of Esquire Magazine’s bi-annual Big Black Book. Gracefully and quite clearly encapsulating for me why I have always had a penchant for men’s magazines. Particular Esquire. They focus on power and timeless style, ambition and quality objects, they value wit and character over fads and fame.

Overall they promote investment into quality over conspicous consumption and with every page, address the reader as if they are CEO– a boss’s faithful companion- a trusty manual for success. I may have to go get a suit tailored.I first read Esquire when I was roughly 15 on a flight to Sydney with my dad. I remember the tinge of resentment; envy at the tailored suits and silk ties,and confusion as to why the women’s magazines I read didn’t feature stylish people in industry and have people like Ramon Ang on the cover.

Esquire had witty commentry on a company’s IPO and told you what the best thing to say in a board meeting was. Of course at 15 the nearest meeting I got with a board involved chalk, I still felt like I was being addressed as if I was powerful. This masculine perspective of decadence rolled up style in substance- It’s experiences and a successful life they endorse not just shopping and beautiful women. Although there is plenty of that, in between appreciating the female form I’d like to know where to get the best sandwich in every city in the world. Thanks Esquire, now please make a style manual for successful women.

Men’s Essentials Round Up

1.Band of Outsiders Shirts 2. Dan Ward Canvas Bags 3. Katie Eary Skate Board