Building a global beauty powerhouse with Founder and Director of Bespoke Advantage, Janet Milner-Walker #4
Having launched beauty products for brands including Crabtree & Evelyn, M&S, Harvey Nichols, Boots and Body Shop, Janet Milner-Walker is an expert in the global beauty industry. Now Founder & Director of Bespoke Advantage, Janet works with clients to develop purposeful brands that have a positive impact on people’s health, beauty and wellbeing on an international scale.
In episode 4 of the Extrology podcast, Janet joins Lee Cooper in exploring the shift from face-to-face collaboration to the online tools with which we have now become well acquainted, as well as looking at the future of the high street, and the beauty industry’s increasing demand for eco-friendly products.
Lee & Janet discuss:
Becoming the face of your own business
Blending online and face-to-face work for efficiency
The advantages of experiencing multi-cultural business practices
Accessibility of the current beauty industry
Shifting attitudes towards sustainability
Combatting a diminishing necessity for physical stores
Links & references:
Lee Cooper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecooperrecruiter/
Janet Milner-Walker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmw21/
Bespoke Advantage: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bespoke-advantage/
Get in touch: lee@extrology.com
Episode highlights:
“I realised that I actually prefer developing products rather than selling other people's products. People came to me because of my background and beauty and asked me to provide support in their business, and it was there that I actually established Bespoke Advantage.” - Janet Milner-Walker
“When you are the first person in your business, you are the face of your business. You are the business. I think a lot of people probably could relate to that in terms of feeling exposed.” - Janet Milner-Walker
“A lot of what we do as a team is work with people online. Even with the clients that are based in London, it saves a lot of time in terms of travelling, unnecessary time. It's far more productive working online.” - Janet Milner-Walker
“My sense and my hope is we're all social creatures, and despite the fact that we clearly find ourselves in the times in which we find ourselves, I'm convinced we want to go back to meeting people. We are, by nature, social creatures. We want to get down, face to face, interact, and that's how I'm convinced that's the way we will go back to wanting to do business - at least I hope so.” - Lee Cooper
“I think understanding different cultures is very important, even more so for all of us now, because I think all of our careers are going to move forward in a different direction. Whether we stay in the same job or not, the way we do business is going to change. And I think the more we understand about people and different markets and how to relate to different people, the more important that is.” - Janet Milner-Walker
“I think there are certainly consumers out there who are 100% focused on sustainability, not just in beauty products but also when it comes to food or when it comes to fashion as well. And then there are others where they are obviously looking for products that deliver.” - Janet Milner-Walker
“There's a consequence of the pandemic that's just brought technology forward, the big shift that would have come over the next 10 years has just been accelerated.” - Lee Cooper
“A lot of us hold back on pursuing our dreams because we are worried about losing our house, or losing money, or not being successful. But what you realise - certainly over the last few months - is that very little is actually within your control. So if you do have a great idea, or there is something that you've been wanting to do for some time, I think now is the time to do it.” - Janet Milner-Walker
Extrology is sponsored by Progresso Talent Partners who for more than 25 years have successfully delivered interim and permanent leadership talent to transform businesses and to hire the talent you need to enable your business to thrive: https://www.progressotalent.com/