As NRF focuses on delivering timely information for retailers surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, we're rereleasing some of our favorite episodes from the podcast archive. Find our COVID-19 resources for retailers here.
This episode originally aired February 11, 2019.
Jo Malone might have built two global fragrance brands that are beloved by customers, but the road to success was never easy. Coming from a modest background with no advanced education, Malone built her first brand, Jo Malone London, from the ground up. She later sold it, battled and recovered from cancer, and launched a second successful fragrance brand, Jo Loves. She joined the Retail Gets Real team to share her inspirational story in early 2019.
When it comes to her background, Malone says, “Even today, now that I go around the world, and I do so many amazing things, there is still that little girl within me that will look at whatever is left on the table and make a meal from it, and whether that's building a business or building a product.”
“And isn't that the world we're living in right now? Sometimes, we're left with pieces on the floor. Entrepreneurs are great at picking up pieces, thinking differently, and thinking to themselves, ‘What can we build? What can we create?’ "
Malone emphasizes that no matter how bad the business environment, an investment in creativity is one that never devalues.
"When I go around and share my story,” Malone says, “the three things that it really comes down to is passion, resilience — that fight in you — and the investment in creativity. And I think those three ingredients — if we could only encourage people to grab hold of them ... it's not all the journey, but it makes the journey so much easier if you respect those things."
Listen to the full episode to learn more about Malone’s story and her advice for young entrepreneurs.
