Jo Malone: A fond farewell from our columnist ahead of her next adventure

Two-and-a-half years ago, I was asked to write a column for the Evening Standard for small businesses.

Me, I thought? No, I can’t, I’m dyslexic, and what can I offer by way of advice? I can’t tell you how glad I am that I accepted the challenge. I have learnt so much and enjoyed being able to help SMEs find solutions.

With the help and advice of other entrepreneurs and business leaders we set about answering some of the queries we received, sharing wisdom, life experiences, contacts and creative ideas. Building a business from scratch can be a very daunting experience — there are just so many things to do. It feels like a plate-spinning exercise 24/7.

A lot of your questions really resonated with me. Everything from non-disclosure agreements to copyright and trademarks, to expanding into new markets, finding your voice in the world of social media, packaging, costs — it’s a never-ending to-do list. In the past two years I have had to jump a lot of these hurdles — building a new fragrance brand, Jo Loves, from the ground up has been challenging.

I speak a lot about that ignition moment in a business where everything starts to take off and is raring to go — it’s a moment we all live for. Well, mine has arrived. Jo Loves is now ready for her global distribution debut and is becoming a very demanding entity.

Any global expansion is an exciting time and I don’t want to miss a second of it, and because of this I have decided to step aside from the Ask Jo column. Thank you for sharing with me, and thank you to the Evening Standard for teaching me what it takes to be part of a publication.

But before I depart I’d like to leave you with three thoughts to continue building your businesses through challenging times. First, don’t let other people’s opinions deter you from fulfilling your dreams — make it happen. Second, share the journey in building your brand with the younger generation. Apprenticeships in all sectors are vital for their future and ours. Teach, share, build and celebrate.

And finally, remember that the currency of creativity will never lose its value. Invest in it. Thank you for the adventure.

Love, Jo