Walpole Brands of Tomorrow

The 2009 Brands of Tomorrow will be announced at the Brands of Tomorrow Launch Reception on 2nd June, Browns Hotel. The eight fledgling brands, who represent Britain's best new luxury talent, will be supported and nurtured by Walpole during the 2009/10 programme.

Launched in 2007, the bespoke mentorship and coaching programme helps aspiring British luxury brands of the future to fulfil their potential and become global leaders in their field. Our programme takes selected companies through a cycle of quarterly educational workshops on areas such as business planning, marketing, distribution and internationalisation and one-to-one mentorship meetings with some of the UK’s most experienced luxury entrepreneurs.

The founders of Links of London – John Ayton and Annoushka Ducas, Sarah Elton – former MD of Smythsons, Lucia Van Der Post – luxury commentator, Demetra Pinsent – strategist at McKinsey and Guy Salter – Deputy Chairman of Walpole, all give their time to mentor the successful candidates in every aspect of running a luxury brand, from branding and marketing to IP protection and distribution and team management.

All candidates need to exemplify the highest standards of quality, style and craftsmanship, an annual turnover of over £100,000, an entrepreneurial management style and a clear vision for the future of the brand. Showing commitment to a two-way partnership for the programme, which includes active participation and regular constructive feedback with the Walpole mentors is also vital.

Participants can send their entries in now – form attached below. The closing date is Friday 27th February 2009 with the judging taking place on Friday 9th March 2009. On that day the finalist will need to make a short presentation to the mentors where upon they will decide on the successful candidates.

2008 BRANDS

Last year many brands entered and six successfully made it through to be mentored throughout this past year:

		De Roemer Tamsin de Roemer, known for her association with Jean Muir, Koji Tatsuno, Jade Jagger, and Asprey & Garrard, launched fashion label de Roemer in 2004 with Justin Packshaw. The label comprises collections of super glamorous modern classic cashmere for men and women, original, dynamic handbags and fine jewellery. Since launching, the label has enjoyed great reviews and press and is stocked in some of the world’s most influential shops. It has recently launched a fully e-commerce website, to much acclaim. http://www.deroemer.com/
		The Fish society A fish-lover from Grimsby, Alistair Blair was always disappointed by the quality and range of fish available at the supermarket counters. He decided to investigate the potential of using mail order and the internet to market “a fish offering that would make fish-lovers say ‘Wow’”. The Fish Society’s scampi is a stranger to breadcrumbs, its top grade crab legs retail at up to £80 a pack, and its claim that “frozen can be better than fresh” is making impressive headway. http://www.thefishsociety.co.uk/

		Ormonde Jayne Ormonde Jayne is a unique luxury perfume house of uncompromising perfection, creating perfumes, scented candles and a paraben-free bathing collection. Known for the rarity and purity of ingredients sourced personally from growers from the Amazon to Arabia, the perfumes are alchemised in Ormonde Jayne’s London laboratory, attracting the attention of the perfume cognoscenti and fragrance lovers worldwide. Now in its sixth year of trading, Ormonde Jayne is set to open its first two new perfumeries in Dubai this summer outside the flagship boutique on Old Bond Street. http://www.ormondejayne.com/

		The Real Flower Company Karen Watson, Rosebie Morton and Tim Hobbs are the owners of this unique floristry company. Its farms in england and Kenya are dedicated to the production of cut scented garden roses, fragrant flowers and aromatic herbs that retain all of the natural charm,character and exquisite scent so often lost in mass-produced varieties. Its bouquets are available for next-day delivery and it can provide bespoke floristry for any event. It has just launched a range of 100% natural wax candles to compliment its roses and herbs. http://www.realflowers.co.uk/

		Shaun leane Shaun Leane is one of the rising stars in the jewellery industry. Renowned for his darkly romantic and beautifully crafted jewellery, his works have been described by Sotheby’s, London’s prestigious auction house, as “antiques of the future”. Alongside his collections, Shaun is also responsible for creating some of the most iconic catwalk pieces we have seen today. past catwalk collaborations have included acclaimed projects with Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs and Givenchy. http://www.shaunleane.com/

		Timorous Beasties Noted for its surreal and provocative textiles and wallpapers, the design studio Timorous Beasties was founded in Glasgow in 1990 by Alistair McAuley and paul Simmons, who had met while studying textile design at Glasgow School of Art. Timorous Beasties was shortlisted for the Designer of the year prize in 2005 and was winner of the Walpole Award for Best emerging British Luxury Brand in 2007. It has become increasingly experimental in its approach to both hand-printing and machine production and now has showrooms in both Glasgow and London. http://www.timorousbeasties.com/

2008 Walpole Brands of Tomorrow:

Walpole is grateful to Country & Town House Magazine who have kindly supported the 2008 programme. http://www.countryhousemagazine.co.uk/

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Walpole is very grateful to John Ayton and the members of the working group for giving up their valuable time for this initiative.