Tell us about the first half of your life profession and interests (you can talk about your background, publishing, being a cellist, etc.)
After graduating with a degree in Genetics in the UK, I began my career working as a book editor in scientific publishing. I soon transitioned into the more aesthetic world of art book publishing, initially working for a small start-up (Architecture, Design and Technology Press) before joining Phaidon Publishing as an editor, where I worked on their architecture list and Phaidon’s The Art Book, which became a huge publishing sensation.
Growing up, my passion was always music. I played the cello from a young age, and although I didn’t aspire to be a full-time musician, playing and studying music was an absolutely core part of my life. At university, this took a sharp turn when I met my husband-to-be, a young guitarist from Belfast. We formed a band with several other musicians. I put away my cello and, falling back on many years of piano practice, joined the band on keyboards. We rode the wave of British rock pop through the 1980s, a time of great optimism and musical creativity in the UK; days of writing, rehearsing, recording and performing. On graduating from uni, our entry into the world of work ran parallel to our dedication to the band, running from the office to play gigs across London at night.
But as the saying goes, don’t give up your day job! My career in publishing continued with editing positions across the art book world, in addition to children’s book publishing, followed by a move to New York for my (now) husband’s job. I continued to work remotely for a short time, but then devoted my time to our family, becoming a full-time mom and raising our three children in New York.
You decided to become an entrepreneur at 60 and launch The Pippa Bag! What prompted the decision to reimagine your life in this direction? Was it something that you had been thinking about for years or was it more recent? (Talk about that and the product…in this answer we’ll include the weblink.
With the last of our three kids off to college, the disruption of Covid and perhaps turning 60, I took a leap back into the world of art and design, and began to focus on a handbag line. This was definitely something new for me – I had no prior experience in business or marketing at all, but was drawn to the challenge of attempting something totally out of my comfort zone, a creative project that could be launched on a small scale. I drew inspiration from a small, sturdy box bag that I had loved and kept from many years ago, a mini-suitcase which nowadays is jam-packed with old photographs dating back to its heyday.
The process of developing my bag took a couple of years. It wasn’t a full-time project, but something that moved along in small steps. I made “mistakes”, asked a lot of questions, searched the garment district in NYC for inspiration, and reworked things endlessly until I had created an object that mirrored my vision. I had pictured a bag that was individual, with a whimsical, romantic feel. This new little box bag needed color and texture, while retaining the romance of travel back in the day.
Working with several manufacturers, from New York to Italy, I developed different prototypes for the project, and as the design progressed, these would accompany me day to day, as a way to test the water with the design. I knew I was on to something when complete strangers commented on the bag – on the subway, in museums, restaurants, or simply walking in NYC.
The final samples were prepared, bringing together velvet and rattan, a bold logo and the retro look of that original suitcase. The clasp snaps shut with such a satisfying pop, and you know your day is off to a good start.
And to top it off, its name. The Pippa Bag. Everyone loves the name. It’s fun, adventurous and, well, just cute!
With a haul of bags arriving from the factory, the next step and steep learning curve was to develop the website, set up video campaigns and, of course, to sell the bags. Social media, sharing with friends, securing some press coverage – this has all been a new experience, but the learning process and feedback have been exciting and inspiring.
What is your goal with the business? Your vision? What advice would you give to people who have a dream to launch a new business at midlife?
My first goal is to get the bag out into the world. I’ve had such amazing spontaneous reactions from people and love their excitement when they point out my bag, but standing out from the crowd is definitely the hardest part of the project so far. We’re so saturated with products nowadays, and it’s a challenge to try to break through the noise to find an audience.
I plan to add to the bag with other accessories, a hat, belt, and silk scarf, with similarly warm muted colors and the same uniqueness that you see in the Pippa Bag.
You may have wondered what happened to the cello that I put aside all those years ago. That’s also the story of reimagining. I always knew I would come back to my cello, but my musical involvement was given a boost when I took the leap and joined an orchestra in New York City. This has been incredible, and something that I absolutely love to do. The orchestra provides such a great community with players of all ages working towards a common goal. I have been the principal cellist of the orchestra for the past five years, so the music in my life has come full circle.
In some ways, when you decide to forge a path later in life, you really have less to lose. Search for something that really connects with you, a passion, something that you loved in the past but haven’t had the time to invest in. I very much believe that the interests and “hobbies” we are drawn to when we are young still resonate years later, be it music, dance, art, languages, etc. There are a thousand voices in your head telling you that you cannot achieve something, but with each small step you can move a little closer to your goal, and at an age when you could be sitting back relaxing, each of those small steps seems like a most rewarding achievement.
