International Women’s Day: Meet some of the female business owners running some of Lincoln’s popular stores!

International Women's Day is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8th. To celebrate this important day, we went to speak to a few of the women running popular Lincoln stores in the Bailgate and surrounding areas, many of whom have been in business for several years.

Gabbie, Lapid Art:

Gabbie owns Lapid Art, which is located on Steep Hill and they're most well-known for their crystals & fossils! Gabbie’s Uncle originally owned the shop & opened it in 1995, he sadly passed away in December 2019. After a few weeks, Gabbie then took the risk & stepped into the unknown world of running a business. Even with no experience of the products they sell, there was no way she would let the shop close without trying her best to keep it going in her Uncle's honour.

Three years have since passed, and Gabbie wouldn’t change it for the world. Despite her fair share of challenges including Covid-19, having a baby and the cost-of-living crisis, the shop has evolved and adapted.

Gabbie’s focus is to ensure Lapid Art is successful for another 25 years & hopefully her son, Hugo, will want to carry on the legacy.

Claire and Tracy, Top to Bottom Accessories:

Top to Bottom Accessories is run by Claire and Tracy. Wanting a new challenge after years of working for other people, they have a great interest in homeware and their working background gave them the necessary skills to run their own business.

Friends for nearly 40 years, they set up their business in home accessories, gifts and upcycling furniture 12 years ago, followed by opening, growing and developing Top to Bottom in Lincoln 10 years ago.

Suzie, SELF:

Having spent years working for other companies in various sales & management roles, Suzie knew starting her own business was her dream. Suzie has always been passionate about supporting and shopping independently and spending the majority of her sales career working for independent, family-run businesses, it was close to Suzie’s heart.

After taking a short career break to have children, William and Florence, Suzie decided it was time to create the business she had always longed for… an independent shop that will support and promote self-care, empowerment, love and friendship. Offering a range of clothing, homeware and independently sourced accessories and gifts, SELF offers a modern laidback sense of style, quality, attention to detail and a positive outlook on life. 

Deborah, OUI

Having been in business in the Bail for over 20 years, originally as Chantal the shoe shop then diversifying into clothes and expanding the business into the adjacent shop on Gordon Road. In 2019, Deborah had the opportunity of becoming the first partner store of Oui Grouppe in the UK and relaunched the business!

Her favourite hobbies include:

• Cooking

• Cycling and generally being outdoors

• Singing

Josie, Follie

Lincoln is Josie’s hometown, but before opening Follie in 2004, Josie worked in other cities including Sydney, London and Manchester, within various industries like fashion design, recruitment and estate agency, before returning to Lincoln.

Starting her own business over 18 years ago, Josie’s passion for the things she sells, the retail business, and the place she lives, and work are just as strong, if not more so after the past couple of challenging years. Everything sold in Follie ranging from the jewellery, gifts, cards and home accessories are found at trade fairs or one-off vintage items found on her travels!

Shahla, The Collections

Starting her business in 1985 with no help, no training, and only a five-pound note to her name, Shahla knew she had to find some way of making her own living as a single mother without leaving her child in the care of others. Buying a second-hand knitting machine (with no idea how to use it!) and a cone of yarn, Shahla taught herself how to use the machine, design and produce high-end, desirable outfits, both knitted and couture. Shahla became one of “The Chelsea Designers” based on Fulham Rd at “The Chelsea Collections”, where she remained for many years after also coming to Lincoln. They dressed both celebrities and royalty!
 

Ellie and Zara, Cognito

Ellie and Zara were born and grew up in Lincoln, their family own The Pyewipe Inn, so they have been brought up in the industry. After studying hospitality and design management at a University in Switzerland and completing internships in London, the building for Cognito came up for sale whilst they were living in London, and they took a chance and went for it!

Japanese is their favourite cuisine and they thought this was missing from Lincoln. After studying Japanese, they successfully filled the gap in the premium bar/restaurant scene providing cocktails with homemade fresh ingredients, quickly followed by Incognito – the rooftop of Cognito!

We asked them what the most important piece of advice they’ve been given was and they answered:

Gabbie, Lapid Art: 

That mum guilt is a thing, but you should never be ashamed of focusing on running a business while also being a parent.

"The outdated view that women have babies and shouldn’t have the time to be successful in their own right is so frustrating, but there are still so many that believe this." 

After having her son 18 months into taking over the business, many people asked what she was going to do about the shop after giving birth, as though she couldn’t do both.

"If anything, having a child motivates you more to succeed, yes, it is hard work but it makes it all the more worth it knowing you're doing it not only for yourself but your family too."

Claire and Tracy, Top to Bottom Accessories:

Trust and believe in yourself. 

"Sometimes things go wrong but learn and work through them, don’t worry about things you can’t change."

Suzie, SELF:

Always work a little bit harder than everyone else.

"There is a lot to be said for work ethic, that and being a good person. I would also say believe in yourself no matter what and that with hard work, dedication and a positive mindset anything is possible."

Deborah, OUI

Keep your head down and strive for what you believe in.

Josie, Follie

Love what you do, do what you love…

"In retail, your customers know when you like what you’re selling and can see your passion with how you display your products."

Shahla, The Collections

Just carry on doing what you are doing!

Ellie and Zara, Cognito

Believe in yourself 

"If you don’t believe in your product how do you expect others too."

After speaking with each of these business owners, we asked how people can encourage more women to pursue entrepreneurship or senior leader roles in their careers. Their advice included:

• Support each other - Every single woman deserves success and without the support of peers, this can be so much more difficult. Congratulate those you see doing well and offer positive words.
• Give it a try - Pay attention to constructive and well-intended criticism from both yourself and others…this will enable you to improve your offering.
• Trust your instincts and creativity - Know that your differences are what makes you powerful.
• Supporting women from school age - More businesswomen should visit schools to discuss how their experiences in business has been beneficial for them. This would encourage more females from an early age to consider their careers and a potential path into business and entrepreneurship.
• Believe that they can - Too often we question and focus on why we can't do things, rather than focusing on how we can and what we are going to do to get there. 
• Provide more access to resources - Offer training, mentorship, networking opportunities and access to funding to women entrepreneurs. This will promote a positive image of women in leadership and entrepreneurship through media and education, and challenge gender-based biases in the workplace. 

We then asked, if they could have dinner with one inspirational woman dead or alive, who would it be?

• Gabbie, Lapid Art:

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt - She was a seriously powerful woman, most people think just of her beauty, but she was actually very intelligent. She constantly evolved to ensure she stayed in power & was successful. The Egyptians were also known for their use of crystals & I’d love to sit down with her to find out what the crystals really meant to them and the way they used them for energy!
 

• Claire and Tracy, Top to Bottom Accessories:

This would be my Mum, she was such an inspiration to me, hardworking and always able to smile no matter what. She had some difficult times in her life but she always worked through them with a positive mindset and a kind, determined  and caring attitude. She was always willing to learn and adapt.
 

• Suzie, SELF:

It would be Karen Brady. Having predominantly worked in a very male orientated environment I think she is the epitome of women achieving great things against all odds. Her strength of character, work ethic and tenacity to succeed is incredibly inspirational. 
 

• Deborah, OUI

I thought the Queen was an incredibly inspiring woman who helped to navigate her family, country and commonwealth through wars, financial crisis, disease, famine and death in a very male dominated environment, but always kept a level head and sacrificed so much.
 

• Josie, Follie

The Queen - what an absolutely inspirational woman to us all, and with a rather wonderful sense of fun that she only started to reveal to the public a little later in life. Just wonderful!
 

• Shahla, The Collections

Beatrix Potter - Courageous, imaginative, a good human being who created some of the most timeless and iconic children’s literature, and who then became a benefactor to others. All in one of the most restrictive eras in terms of women’s autonomy.
 

• Ellie and Zara, Cognito

Coco Chanel - She famously said a girl should be two things: who and what she wants. She spoke her mind in a male dominated industry and made traditional men’s clothing universal with the first woman's suit. She shows that failure is one more step towards success and to always be authentically be yourself. 

Finally, we asked these seven businesswomen 'what is the most important message they want to share with young women thinking about their careers?' 

They answered:

GO FOR IT!

Believe in yourself and pursue your passions. It’s ok if you don’t have everything figured out yet, you can make mistakes, change your mind, set off on a different path. Try a few different things that you may be inclined towards, and then concentrate on the one which you feel you’re best at and enjoy doing.

Never be scared to push your boundaries and reach out to other women in business for advice or a friendly chat. 

And most importantly, don’t give up.

Our top tips for aspiring women are…

Hard work | Vision | Determination | Desire