Women in Business: Plum & Ashby

Carrying on from International Women's Day, we continue to celebrate Womens History Month with another Women in Business focus, which celebrates the achievements of inspiring women in women-led businesses.

Below we chat to Freya one of the Creators and Directors of Plum & Ashby about her experiences and advice for other women looking to start their own businesses, as well as her current inspirations and recommendations.

Can you tell us a little about the beginnings of Plum & Ashby - what was your background in business and how was the label launched ?

I decided to dodge the traditional university route after leaving school and set up a small business instead, this consumed my time for 3 years when I then finally moved down to London from the Lake District and started working for shoe designer Beatrix Ong and Ralph Lauren. I met my now business partner in 2014 and my Plum & Ashby journey began. P&A started life as a humble general store, we did everything from soft furnishings to leather goods to stationery. We had a small offering of bath, body and home fragrance but it wasn’t until 2018 that we specialised in this area.

Where do you draw your inspiration from for the brand ?

I try to stay away from social media for inspiration. Memories and emotions are much more important for me. When scent creating it’s important to fully understand and appreciate the power an emotion has on a customer and how scent can take someone back to a particular moment in time. It’s really special.  

Who are your muses, who are you designing for ?

We a designing for customers who care about quality, design and good ethical products. We take such pride in creating products that not only look great but really work. Candles you can actually smell when burning. Hand creams that really do nourish dry hands.

What other female led companies do you admire ?

I’m so lucky to have met many female founders and their resilience and intelligence never fails to amaze and inspire me. Rachel from Navygrey, Emily from If Only If, Babara from Honna. The incredible Vix, founder of Faeger & Co. She is so unbelievably talented and an old school friend. Finally, my sister Nancy, founder of Nancy Nicholson Studios, a true creative in every sense of the word.

Any advice for women starting out in business ?

Preserver!!  And there is a superpower in some naivety. Overthinking will stop progress and sometimes you have just got to take the leap of faith. Better to try and fail than never try at all.

What would you like to see next for Plum & Ashby?

We want to continue exploring the relationship between scent and interiors. They have a lovely friendship and we want to build on this more.

Which is your current favourite product? 

It is and always has been our Bath Essence. I love it. In all fragrances but particularly the Geranium & Orange. It turns your bath into a milky consistency and makes your skin feels silky smooth with no need to waste time rubbing in moisturiser.

 Where is your brand based, where you recommend to visit if we made the trip ?

We’re based on the South Coast, directly opposite the Isle of Wight, in a little town called Fareham. I would recommend visiting Meadow in Stockbridge if you’re down in Hampshire. It’s a gorgeous café with a little art gallery upstairs.

When you take time away how do you spend it

Hmm what’s time away? Only kidding! For me it’s about being outside with family and animals, mainly our two dogs. Growing up on farm in the Lakes, we are use to spending days making hay, shearing the sheep and helping lambs back to life in the aga.

Shop Plum & Ashby here