Meet our member: Lucy, from Lucy Loves This
We recently caught up with our Christmas Gift Guider, Lucy from Lucy Loves This. Lucy hand designs amazing location prints (which make ideal Christmas presents). Here we talk about the talented designer’s go-to podcasts for inspiration and her leap into the world of prints.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF! WHAT IS YOUR NAME & WHICH COMPANY YOU’RE FROM?
Lucy Stephens, Lucy Loves This.
INTRODUCE YOUR BRAND IN 3 WORDS?
Typographic location design.
AMAZING! HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR?
7 years now!
WHAT DOES YOUR BRAND MEAN / STAND FOR?
The brand helps our customers celebrate the key moments in their life through location and the memories of where they have lived and travelled. My female entrepreneur-led, small business, champions British design and British business to showcase the many corners of the world.
WHERE DID THE IDEA FOR YOUR BUSINESS COME FROM?
The first letter in the Location Letters collection was Brixton. I was a book cover designer at the time and had always been fascinated by type and the way it was used in design. I drew Brixton for fun and as a way to celebrate where I was living at the time, I started selling the design at local craft markets and requests came flooding in. The collection now features over 160 different letters.
DESCRIBE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF YOU?
As a mother of two small boys, my working day starts with getting them off to school and nursery before I make a coffee and head to my office, in a studio at the end of my garden. There is no typical day when running your own business but my favourite days are when I get to spend the day researching the places our customers have recommended, and drawing new designs, for new products. When I’m not drawing, I’m keeping on top of the accounts, managing the production of new products with suppliers, updating our website, and keeping on top of all the day to day admin. My day in the studio ends when I pick up the boys and go back into Mum mode for dinner, bath and bed, before having dinner with my husband and catching up on some TV or finishing off some drawing on my iPad on the sofa!
HOW DO YOU UNWIND?
I love spending time with my family and we try and get out and about at weekends, making the most of London’s parks, galleries, and cafes. The Tate Modern is a favourite for both me and my 4-year-old son, particularly the recent Lego installation in the turbine hall!
CURRENT FAVOURITE READS OR PODCASTS?
Holly Tucker’s Conversations of Inspiration, is a genuine inspiration for me as a small business owner. I also really enjoy the High Low, one day a week my friend and colleague Martha works with me and our day always includes a chat about that week’s episode of the High Low! I’ve been in a book group for over 10 years which a bunch of wonderful women and we’ve read so many great books over the years. Recent favourites would be Daisy Jones and the Six, Ordinary People and Educated.
ANY FAVOURITE BRANDS OR SHOPS?
I’m a made.com addict, our house is turning into a made.com showroom! I’m also a bit of a magpie and have a bit of a jewellery obsession. There are so many amazing independent jewellery companies that I have discovered through work events. and a few favourites are One We Made Earlier, Wolf and Moon and Mystic Forms.
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