This dynamo opened her first store at 154 Walton Street in Chelsea in 1994 and admits she had no money and made every error in the book whilst starting out. It all paid off as the Jo Malone brand that was created in her kitchen was sold to Estée Lauder in a multi-million pound “deal of a lifetime” in 1999. Malone grew up in a council flat in Bexleyheath and readily admits she’s a “merchant at heart.” She’s now moved into television presenting and also launched a new fragrance brand, Jo Loves, in March 2011.
Two stories to keep beside you

Rosemary Conley
“Slimming guru” Rosemary Conley’s luck changed in 2014 when her empire went into administration. Though her low-fat “Hip & Thigh Diet” regime was all the rage in the 1990s, newer “blockbuster” alternatives stole her mantle and her business, Quorn House Publishing – worth an estimated £13 million in 2006 – went down with losses of […]

Hugo Campbell-Davys
Described by the Evening Standard as “London’s best connected man”, this Chelsea based sage is the founder of Urbanologie, an online private members’ lifestyle club.





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I love this kind of kitchen based business becomes a brand success story. What a fine example to all ladies out there.