5 March 2021|Latest Posts, Meet the Successful Founder
On Valentine’s Day 2017, Lucy Hull launched For The Love of The North with her husband Paul.
Lucy had come from an education background, previously working as a Deputy Headteacher whilst Paul was heading up local tourist information centres around the North East before taking the plunge to set up their business.
The main focus of For the Love of the North is to celebrate the beauty of the North. Lucy and Paul work with a fabulous team of local creatives. The team initially started with the talented Ebony Newton Designs and Lisa Kirkbride, then, as they expanded, they now work with over 60 different artists who have all had an influence on the brand and shaped the way they represent the North and the North East.
Before the pandemic, Lucy was very involved in a variety of charities and often visited schools and HQs to discuss how they could use their business to support the local community. Whilst Lucy is still involved in these charities, her physical presence has been diminished by the pandemic, so she used 2020 to support a range of initiatives in her own special way.
In early 2020, they collaborated with local artist Lisa Kirkbride who created an exclusive series of North East inspired NHS fundraising rainbow prints with 25% of each sale donated to local Northumbria NHS Trust’s Bright Charity. By the end of 2020 Lucy and Paul had raised an incredible £10,000.
What would you love to share with other women to encourage them to start their own business?
Do something that you love. This passion will come through in everything you do.
What are your top 5 tips for entrepreneurial success?
Surround yourself with supportive people who can help you achieve your vision.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help in areas where you need it to allow yourself time to focus on making the biggest impact you can in your business.
Try to keep spending as lean as you can in the first year or so, re-investing this money back into the business
Make sure you spend time working on your business as well as IN your business.
Carve out time for your hobbies – it’s sometimes very easy to lose sight of taking care of yourself!
Who are the top 5 women who inspire you the most?
Holly Tucker – everything she’s done for small indie business and her passion for all that she does
Emily Bronte
Jane Austen
Gertrude Bell – all women who challenged the status of what the norm was for women in their own way
Michelle Obama – She used her position to do good, particularly for women and girls. She makes the world a better place.
What is your favourite saying/Inspirational quote?
‘It’s just a skill’ – as in you can learn to do almost anything when you take the time to do so.
‘We all have dreams my dear, I’ve got plans’ – I have this on a print as you come out of the bathroom and it makes me smile every day (and feel it’s ok to be quite as determined and focused as I am).
Website and socials
Website: https://www.fortheloveofthenorth.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveofthenorth/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoveoftheNorth
Twitter: https://twitter.com/loveofthenorth
