mummiez & daddiez magazine May - June Issue 2013

a box of hats. Both of us have grown a lot in our
creative fields since then and I’m very lucky to
count Ange Harper (Ange Harper Photography)
as a friend, she was a huge support in the early
days of building my business and we continue to
work together to this day!
From that point on I have studied and honed my
skills as a milliner never shying away from new
challenges. I specialise in vintage style pieces
taking my influences from film and TV as well
as vintage images, photos and magazines. I have
a particular love for the 1940’s/1950’s and the
pin-up style of Vargas. I have been lucky
enough to make hats for Royal Ascot and for
many Burlesque performers as well as creating
bespoke Bridal pieces for some beautiful
weddings. In 2012 I was asked to create a Union
Jack inspired crown for singer Misha B as part
of her on stage wardrobe for The X Factor Live
Tour.
I juggle working as a Milliner with working part
time as a Nurse and being Mummy to a
tenacious 2 year old daughter. The challenges of
running a business, working part time and
family are many and I really have to be quite
organised in my work. I do a lot of my work in
the evenings when my little girl is asleep, or
when she’s at Playgroup in the mornings, 3
times a week. I’m lucky to have a fantastic
support system in my Husband and our families,
without them I don’t
know where I’d be!
Sometimes it can be
extremely hard,
especially if I have to go
away for a few days to
attend events such as the
Bridport Hat Festival.
It’s difficult to leave my
little girl behind, even
though I know she’s
being well looked after
by her Daddy, but that’s
the nature of running
your own business.
To any Mums out there
looking to start your own business I have a few
pieces of advice. Firstly do something you love!
I love hats and I love creating. If you’re doing
something you love to do it doesn’t feel much
like work! Secondly, if you can, find yourself a
business mentor or coach, someone who can
help guide you through some of the pitfalls of
starting your own business. It’s not easy, but
with a little help and guidance it is possible to
achieve your dreams! Finally I cannot stress
how important marketing really is! I used to
spend the majority of my time creating pieces
and wondered why my sales were so low. The
rule of thumb I now follow is ‘50% making,
50% marketing’, and I split my time
accordingly. Social networking sites such as
Facebook and Twitter are great for engaging
with people and attracting potential customers.
Over the next few months I have articles being
published in Vintage Life Magazine and will be
debuting my Spring/Summer 2013 Collection
‘Turning Japanese’ at Nightwalk in Glasgow.
Lisa Jones
You can find Off With Her Head Millinery at
www.offwithherheadmillinery.co.uk
On Facebook at www.facebook.com/
OffWithHerHeadMillinery
On Twitter at www.twitter.com/CroquetandRoses Or
follow my Blogs at www.croquetandroses.blogspot.co.uk
(Business) or
www.millineryandmotherhood.blogspot.co.uk (Business,
Personal and Parenting!)