Matthew Pike by a wall

Men’s Lifestyle Spotlight: Matthew Pike of Buckets & Spades

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Matthew Pike is the man behind Buckets & Spades, a brand-new entry into our Top 10 Men’s Lifestyle ranking. Matthew spoke to us about how varied his blog is, his must-have grooming product and the best campaigns he’s worked on recently.

How many different areas does your blog cover and do you have a primary focus?
Men’s style and lifestyle, design, travel, interiors are the main subjects, but design holds things all together.

What are the main differences between men’s and women’s lifestyle blogs?
Hard one to answer as each blogger has their own nuances and styles.

Who is your favourite designer?
Currently I’m really enjoying Drake’s, Saturday’s NYC and Beams.

What’s your favourite grooming product or service?
Currently that would have to be my Harry’s razor and post-shave balm by Aesop.

What’s the best night out near you?
Ha, there isn’t one. So, it’s a night in for us!

What’s your favourite travel destination?
Recently, New York or Berlin. All time favourite goes to Tokyo.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
Use a research and tailored approach. It’s all about building relationships.

What are the best campaigns you’ve collaborated on recently?
I’ve been very fortunate recently. To name a couple of the campaign I’ve worked on in the past 6 months; Burberry fragrance, Ace&Tate home try-on service, Majestic Athletic x Major League Baseball worldwide campaign, Eastpak x Raf Simons launch, Horizn Studios on-going content creation, Pinterest San Fran project.

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
The whole thing is so loose and open to interpretation, so yes I do think a governing body would be helpful. Especially when it comes to producing content with and in partnership with brands.

What other blogs do you read?
At the moment; Jordan Bunker, Basic Apparel, Cate St Hill and Hannah in the House.

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Boris Johnson

Political Headlines – Call for Canada-style free trade deal

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Today’s Political Headlines include Boris Johnson calls on Theresa May to negotiate a Canada-style free trade deal, scrap unconditional offers urge independent school teachers and Corbyn increases fears of no-deal Brexit. 

Boris Johnson calls on Theresa May to negotiate a Canada-style free trade deal
The Telegraph reports that Boris Johnson has laid out what he would do if he was Prime Minister, including telling the EU that Britain will no longer accept the Irish backstop it signed up to last December, and that the border issue must instead be resolved in free trade talks after Brexit. He plans to negotiate a “SuperCanada” tariff-free trade deal during the transition period to maintain the benefits of being in the single market.

Scrap unconditional offers urges independent school headteachers
The Times are reporting on comments made by the heads of Britain’s top independent schools, which called on universities to end unconditional offers to prospective students. The suggestion has been made by executive director of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, Mike Buchanan, who claimed that once students are given unconditional offers and know they don’t have to pass, performance in their A levels drops.

Corbyn increases fears of no-deal Brexit
The Guardian have reported on a meeting yesterday between leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, in which Corbyn told officials he would vote down any deal that fails to replicate the benefits of membership of the single market and customs union. Barnier was said to be interested in having more detail on Labour’s six Brexit tests, with rising concerns in the EU that the UK parliament will vote down any deal put forward by Prime Minister Theresa May.

Alarm over appointment of food supplies minister
The Independent are reporting on concerns over the recent appointment of David Rutley as food supplies minister, who has taken on the brief amid increasing fears of a no-deal Brexit. A former executive at Asda and PepsiCo, Rutley will manage readiness and the ‘food chain’. Labour have described the appointment as an indication of the ‘catastrophic damage’ no-deal could cause.

Head teachers plan a protest at Downing Street funding rally
BBC News reports that hundreds of head teachers from England and Wales are due to attend a rally today to demand extra funding for schools. Teaching union members, parents and staff have taken part in numerous protests about the budget squeeze over the past few years.

£40K spent to hide how rarely former northern powerhouse minister visited the North
According to The Guardian, the Government had spent two years and £40,000 of taxpayers’ money trying to hide how little former Northern powerhouse minister, James Wharton visited the North of England in his role.

Jacob Rees-Mogg targets the PM for doing nothing to support families
The Daily Mail reports that backbench MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has complained the Tories are doing nothing to promote traditional family values. He is planning a major intervention at Tory conference, and will tell party activists that successive governments have encouraged family breakdown with perverse welfare and tax policies.

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three pints of beer

Talking beer with The Pub Curmudgeon

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Choosing to remain anonymous The Pub Curmudgeon shares their thoughts on all things beer and pubs. Recently ranked in the Top 10 Beer Blogs, The Pub Curmudgeon chatted about about whether pubs are dying out, the best brewery and whether bloggers should have their own association.

How has your blog changed from when you first started?
The biggest change is that a lot of the one-liners and links to articles have moved to Twitter, so it now tends to concentrate on longer, more considered pieces.

What’s your favourite ale?
Impossible really to name just one, but if forced to I’d pick Batham’s Best Bitter, a wonderfully complex, subtle and deceptively drinkable beer.

What’s the best brewery?
 One from the select band of independent family brewers that have survived the past forty-odd years and are still flying the flag for traditional British beers, such as Hook Norton and Harveys.

he Black Horse at Clapton-in-GordanoWhere’s your favourite pub?
The Black Horse at Clapton-in-Gordano in Somerset, which claims to date back to the 14th century and retains an unspoilt interior of great character. It continues to be a proper local pub and not just an eating house.

Are pubs in danger of dying out?
Not really, but various social and legislative changes over recent decades have made their appeal much narrower than it used to be.

If you were running a dream pub, what would you have on draft?
My dream pub would be aimed at a wide cross-section of people, not just beer enthusiasts. I’d start with Draught Bass and whatever “ordinary” bitter the locals were most keen on.

What one thing should PRs know before contacting you?
 The dishwasher. And the dyson. Anything that makes my life easier.

What one thing should PRs/brands know about you?
I have a good face for radio.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
I’ve not really gone in much for collaborations, but one memorable one was last Autumn when Martin Taylor, Richard Coldwell and I had a day out in Leicester and each blogged about it from our different perspectives.

Do you think bloggers need their own association?
No. Bloggers cover a huge range of standpoints and it can’t really be said that they have a collective interest.

What other blogs do you read?
I follow a wide range of blogs, but three I would pick out are Retiredmartin, Tandleman and Velvet Glove, Iron Fist.

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Carole King from Dear Designer's Blog

Interior design spotlight: Carole King, Dear Designer’s Blog

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Carole King is behind Dear Designer’s Blog, which was recently ranked in the Top 10 Interior Design Blogs. From mastering the mood board to finding your own personal style, Carole helps readers bring their home to life. We spoke to Carole about her own personal style, her favourite room and the one thing PRs should know about her.

How has your blog changed over time?
When I first started blogging 9 years ago I was posting 7 days a week. I was still holding down a job at that time and the pressure was relentless. Consequently, the posts were short and covered all sorts of design aesthetics. These days I have a much more relaxed schedule, my posts are more in depth and I only post about things I absolutely love. I also include a lot more of my own photography now.

How would you describe your style?
Sometimes it takes someone else to sum up your style succinctly and this is what was said about me recently. “Her design philosophy mixes down-to-earth staples with high drama details to create interiors that are lush, luxurious, and liveable. Striking a balance between light and dark.” I love that.

What makes a great interior design blog?
Consistent posting. A genuine love of the subject and fantastic images!

What’s the split between your own creations/designs and featuring others’?
I probably feature others about 75% of the time. I wish I could renovate a room a week, but budget and time doesn’t allow that. Clients don’t always want their homes featured so that’s another restriction. I do try to put my own spin on posts though, by creating mood boards that are my own interpretation.

Dear Designer blog bedroomWhat’s your favourite room in the house and why?
In my own home my favourite room is the bedroom. It’s large, light and has a dedicated dressing area.

How do the seasons affect your content?
Obviously I write things that my readers want to read. So, if it’s cold outside I like to offer suggestions for warming up the home. But those posts are occasional. I don’t dwell too much on seasons because we can’t change our decor that often.

What’s your favourite household object/item?
 The dishwasher. And the dyson. Anything that makes my life easier.

What one thing should PRs/brands know about you?
I genuinely do only work with companies that I love.

What are the best campaigns/collaborations you’ve recently worked on?
I enjoy all the collaborations I work on. See above answer! I’m starting to get invites for travel stories too now, which is my other great love.

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
That would be great. And very helpful to others just starting out in the industry.

What other blogs do you read?
Loads! Too many to mention. But I’m obsessed with Scandinavian interiors so whenever I need a fix I head to My Scandinavian Home.

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theresa may in paris

Political Headlines – Corbyn to back Brexit deal if ‘sensible’

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Today’s Political Headlines include Corbyn’s offer to back May’s Brexit deal if it’s ‘sensible’, May losing Cabinet support over no-deal plan and bringing the Budget forward. 

Corbyn offers to vote for May’s Brexit deal, but only if its ‘sensible’
The Guardian reports that Jeremy Corbyn has warned Theresa May that Labour MPs will vote against her Brexit deal unless she is willing to keep the UK in the customs union and protect consumers’ and workers’ rights. He also used his conference speech to promise that Labour would support a ‘sensible deal’. The BBC adds that Corbyn is visiting Brussels today, where he will hold talks with the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier and attend the renaming of a square win honour of the murdered MP Jo Cox.

May’s no-deal plan losing Cabinet support
The Times claims that Theresa May is losing the support of her Cabinet over her plan to pursue a no-deal Brexit if her Chequers proposals are rejected by the EU. Ministers reportedly sharing this point of view include Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Sajid Javid, who want her to consider a Canada-style free trade deal but are not thought to have a plan for the Irish border in this scenario.

UK not turning way from international co-operation, May says
The BBC reports that Theresa May told the UN General Assembly that Brexit did not mean that the UK was turning away from international co-operation, but it was a ‘clear demand for decisions and accountability to lie closer to home’. She has also used her visit to the USA to discuss a ‘big and ambitious’ trade deal with President Donald Trump.

No-deal Brexit ‘catastrophic’ for farmers
The Guardian says that the NFU is warning that a no-deal Brexit would be ‘catastrophic’ for British farmers, after the EU confirmed that the UK would have to wait six months to become an approved third-country supplier. As part of this process 6000 different meat-processing plants would need to be audited and approved, with similar checks on other food suppliers.

Budget brought forward
According to the Financial Times, Chancellor Philip Hammond has ‘rushed forward’ the Budget to 29 October in an attempt to prevent it from being caught up in the final stages of the Brexit negotiations, which are currently expected to be concluded at a special European Council meeting on 17-18 November.

EU steps up no-deal preparations
The Daily Mail reports that the EU is stepping up its preparations for a no-deal Brexit because of threats from Labour to vote down any deal agreed by Theresa May. A leaked memo warns that EU countries could be forced to take unilateral action in order to mitigate the impact of such a scenario.

Corbyn attacked for not apologising to the Jewish community
The Daily Telegraph says that Jewish leaders have attacked Jeremy Corbyn after he used his conference speech to complain about Labour’s ‘tough’ summer and accused the media of ‘lies and half-truths’ rather than apologising for anti-Semitism. Instead he claimed that it was the ‘row’ which had led to ‘immense hurt and anxiety in the Jewish community and great dismay in the Labour Party’.

NHS will waste funding boost unless efficiencies are made
Writing in The Times, Lord Carter of Coles, who has conducted a series of reviews of NHS efficiency for the Government, warns that unless the service seriously cuts down on waste the £20bn extra funding promised by Theresa May will be wasted. His final report, published today, finds that pointless ambulance journeys cost £500m a year.

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Jeremy Corbyn speech

Conference Headlines – Corbyn to attack ‘greed is good’ capitalism

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Today’s Labour Party Conference Headlines include Corbyn’s speech expected to attack ‘greed is good’ capitalism, 400,000 new jobs in Corbyn’s ‘green revolution’ and Labour to commit to expanding free childcare. 

Corbyn to use speech to attack ‘greed-is-good’ capitalism’
The Guardian reports that the theme of Jeremy Corbyn’s speech to conference today will be an attack on ‘greed-is-good’ capitalism, setting out policies to reach areas which he argues have been left behind. Measures he will reveal include a ‘green jobs revolution’ and the extension of free childcare to more families.

400,000 new jobs in ‘Corbyn’s green revolution’
The Times has more details of what it calls ‘Corbyn’s green revolution’. He will pledge to reduce net carbon emissions to zero by 2050, scrap planning restrictions on wind farms, increase public subsidy for renewable energy, use public spending to improve domestic energy efficiency and compel landlords to make similar changes. He will claim that these plans would result in 400,000 new jobs.

Starmer receives standing ovation over second Brexit vote
According to the Financial Times, Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer won a standing ovation at conference yesterday when he told delegates that Labour had not ruled out holding another referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. His comments that ‘nobody is ruling out Remain as an option’ were not in the version of his speech originally circulated to journalists, suggesting that he may have been defying the leadership.

Labour commit to expanding free childcare
The Guardian are reporting that Labour will extend the current programme of 30 hours of free childcare to benefit over a million extra children. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will announce today in his speech that under Labour, the scheme would cover all parents of children between the ages of two and four. Corbyn will also commit to additional subsidised hours for families on the lowest incomes.

Anti-Semitism rules introduced to ease attacks on Corbyn, McCluskey says
The Telegraph have picked up on comments made by Unite boss Len McCluskey, in which he said Labour had adopted the IHRA definition on anti-Semitism to stop attacks on their leader. In a speech at Labour conference, McCluskey compared the recent scandal to the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’, and said that events had strengthened the Palestinian cause.

Thornberry compares Labour anti-Semites to fascists
The Daily Mirror says that Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry used her conference speech to compare anti-Semites in the party to Oswald Mosley. She said that while ‘we all support the Palestinian cause’ there are members who use it as ‘a cover for their despicable hatred of Jewish people’, and they must be ‘kicked out of our party’.

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Kate Williams Crafts on Sea

Chatting crafts with Crafts on Sea

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Kate Williams is the face behind craft blog, Crafts on Sea, which was recently ranked in our Top 10 UK Craft Blogs. Crafts on Sea has hundreds of ideas for all seasons, from Halloween masks to Christmas gifts. We spoke to Kate about what makes the craft blogger community so great, her favourite campaigns to work on and why you shouldn’t pay her in paint!

How has your blog changed from when you first started?
It’s both more professional and more focused. When I started it was very much that I wanted to do some crafts myself, and use the blog as a way of encouraging myself to do more, but over the years it’s turned into a business as I started looking to what my readers wanted, rather than just myself.

In the early days I had photos in a national newspaper that I took on my dodgy old phone, whereas now doing a craft involves getting my rather large lighting kit and DSLR out!

What’s the craft blogger community like? 
Lovely. Almost every gain I’ve made with my blog has been due to someone else helping me out; explaining Facebook tips, helping with my photography or whatever. I tend to chat with the kid bloggers too – there’s a big international group who all chat and it’s fantastic to be a part of that.

Do you think crafts are more important in the digital age?
Well both my kids have a kindle that they love so I’d say yes – there’s lots of things like Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle crafts on my site which are a direct result of me trying to think of crafts my son would actually get excited about and want to do, so he wants to turn the TV off.

Having said that, my daughter loves Mister Maker and is always inspired by him so there’s definitely room for both. As a blogger I spend loads of time online, so acting like anything screen based is bad in front of my kids won’t really wash with them.

Do you have to be artistic to be good at crafts?
I don’t think I’m that artistic, I’m terrible at drawing and wasn’t even given the option of taking GCSE art (although as a dyslexic I was given the option of drawing my dissertation!) A bit of creativity and not being scared to make mistakes works well enough I think.

What’s the easiest craft you’ve made?
A paper plate hulk mask? Well actually my son made that one though, which made it even easier for me.

What’s the hardest?
Honestly there’s nothing difficult on my site that I can think of, my main issue is cleaning the paint off things!

What are the best PR/brand campaigns you’ve worked on?
I’ve loved working with The Big Shot on a couple of campaigns for children’s books. I’ve done crafts for Julia Donaldson, Emily Gravett and Sue Hendra’s books who I adore so it’s been a really fun challenge.

What shouldn’t PRs do?
Offer to pay you in kids paint.

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
To be honest bloggers talk to each other. There will always be people who are willing to do a sponsored post for £20 and if someone needs £20 then that’s totally their choice so I don’t think there needs to be set fees or anything. But if you fail to pay someone or treat them badly then it does get found out and talked about. In fairness I totally expect that the same thing happens amongst PR’s if they have issues with a blogger

What other blogs do you read?
Loads! I love Lulastic and the Hippy Shake and obsessively follow Glennon Doyle who used to write Momastery on Instagram and Facebook because she is all sorts of awesome.

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Maggy Woodley Red Ted Art

Getting crafty with Maggy Woodley of Red Ted Art

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Maggy Woodley is the creator of popular craft blog, Red Ted Art, which was recently ranked number one in the Top 10 UK Craft Blogs. Inspiring kids and adults to find their creative side, Red Ted Art has hundreds of craft ideas for any ability. We spoke to Maggy about the importance of crafts in a digital age, the hardest craft and what PRs should never do.

How has your blog changed from when you first started?
It is much slicker and “neater” than when I started out, but the underlying ethos remains the same: making crafting easy and accessible to all. Using every day materials and empowering parents and kids alike to ENJOY crafting!! But… over the years, I have become much better at photography and understanding what kind of crafts my readers would like to see!

What’s the craft blogger community like? 
I love it! It is a very supportive community and I am always working on collaborative projects with a variety of different bloggers.

Do you think crafts are more important in the digital age?
Absolutely! As kids become more digi-fied they spend less and less time in the “real world”. Crafting is a great way to hone those fine motor skills, develop your imagination and also an opportunity to make gorgeous things for friends and family. Homemade to me, is always more special than anything shop-bought!

Do you have to be artistic to be good at crafts?
No, absolutely not. I often say that I am “not arty” but “very crafty”. I would say it is a different skill set all together and that though they complement each other, you can be great at one and not the other.

What’s the easiest craft you’ve made?
The easiest… oh that is tricky… there are so many easy crafts on my website! I would have to send a poll out to my readers. But generally speaking – the Corner Bookmarks are super popular – as the materials are easy to come by and the designs are easy. Kids love to make them for their friends.

Crochet mermaid craftWhat’s the hardest?
The hardest are probably some of the crochet patterns I have on the site – they are all guest posts by expert crocheters. And though I don’t think the patterns are necessarily hard, you DO need to know how to crochet in order to make them! Having said that, the designs are so cute, you simply have to give them a go. Take a look at this adorable Mermaid!

What are the best PR/brand campaigns you’ve worked on?
Ooh again, I think that is a really hard one to single out. I do LOVE all the Movie related craft campaigns. Ie a new movie comes out and the PR challenges me to come up with a related craft. E.g. these Piggy Cupcakes for the SING movie are so easy and so cute!

What shouldn’t PRs do?
Assume that we work for free!! I know it is stating the obvious but so many PRs to try and get “freebies” out of us, or give us a free toy or DVD in return for a blog post. The problem is that it takes time and effort to create content and the PRs need to be mindful of the time it takes to create this!

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
That could be a great thing – especially to help provide guidelines around best practices (disclosure) and taxes etc.

What other blogs do you read?
Loads! I am mainly very closely familiar with all the crafty blogs out there, such as Hattifant, I Heart Crafty Things, Babble Dabble Doo and Hello Wonderful of course there are many more! But those are great!

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Rachel Newcombe Fresh Design Blog

Interior design with Rachel Newcombe of Fresh Design Blog

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Rachel Newcombe is the creator of Fresh Design Blog, which was recently ranked in the Top 10 Interior Design Blogs. Sharing design ideas and how-to guides, Fresh Design Blog gives readers plenty of inspiration of how to bring a contemporary design style into their house . We spoke to Rachel about what makes a great interior design blog, the best campaigns and collaborations she’s worked on and whether it’s time for a blogging industry association.

How has your blog changed over time?
Fresh Design Blog has been running since 2009, so it has inevitably changed and evolved. When it first launched, I wrote short posts every day, but now I tend to publish two or three longer posts per week. The style of posts has changed slightly too, with a better balance of product ideas, décor and how to guides, and freelance journalist Sara Walker now helps by contributing two posts a month.

How would you describe your style?
All the content on the blog focuses on modern and contemporary interior design style.

What makes a great interior design blog?
 A well-balanced combination of interesting and relevant content plus quality images. It’s not just about the blog these days either – social media and the different benefits from each channel, plus interaction with readers, definitely helps too.

What’s the split between your own creations/designs and featuring others’?
Fresh Design has always focused more on featuring designs and ideas from other companies, including well-established names and up-and-coming designers. But if I happen to have a project on the go, or am working on a collaboration, then it does of course feature my own creations and photography.

Fresh Design Blog gardenWhat’s your favourite room in the house and why?
Probably the living room, as it’s the part of the house where we tend to gather, socialise and relax. I love the fact that we’ve got a huge window, which lets lots of natural light in throughout the year, bringing the outside in, especially during the summer months as it leads onto the garden and outside dining.

How do the seasons affect your content?
The seasons have a big influence on content. I love discovering all the latest trends and new product lines throughout the year, as well as predictions for future trends. I tend to find that Q4 and Q1 each year are usually the busiest times on the blog, as that’s when people are most likely to be looking for home decorating ideas, Christmas décor and of course shopping for gifts. There have already been lots of recent hits on our previous Christmas content, both on the blog and via Pinterest. In the past, I avoided mentioning Christmas too soon, but seasonal posts are getting earlier in line with demand.

What one thing should PRs/brands know about you?
I get hundreds of emails every day, and am juggling other freelance writing work too, so can’t always reply immediately to everything. I tend to prioritise replying to the emails that are relevant and properly targeted.

What are the best campaigns/collaborations you’ve recently worked on?
To be honest, I’ve been a bit more selective this year with the number of campaigns and collaborations I’ve worked on, to ensure they’re fully relevant to the blog. I like anything that’s a bit different and quirky. For example, I worked with Dr Beckmann’s Carpet Stain Remover earlier in the year highlighting the work of an artist who created art using the carpet cleaner, which was rather unusual! More recently I’ve discovered lots of tips and tricks for livening up and decorating skirting boards in contemporary ways, whilst collaborating with a skirting board company.

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
Given how much the industry has expanded, I think it could be a useful move.

What other blogs do you read?
Loads! When I first started, there weren’t that many UK interior design blogs, so I mostly read US blogs, but now I’m spoilt for choice. I enjoy reading the latest posts on other interior design blogs such as Swoonworthy (love Kimberley’s eclectic boho glam style), The Design Sheppard (Stacey writes great in-depth posts), Dear Designer’s Blog (Carole shares some amazing spaces), Making Spaces (Karen Knox is a talented interior designer and creates wonderful modern decor), The White Approach (where Karen shares her love of all things white in the home) and Love Chic Living (Jen comes up with some good design ideas for a family home).

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Jen Stanbrook

All things interiors with Love Chic Living’s Jen Stanbrook

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Jen Stanbrook is the face behind Love Chic Living, which was recently ranked in the Top 10 Interior Design Blogs. Bringing her bright style to life on her blog, Jen encourages her readers to develop their own style and try new things. We spoke to Jen about how the seasons affect her content, her favourite room in the house and what PRs and brands should know about her.

How has your blog changed over time?
I can’t believe how much the blog has changed to be honest. My own home décor style has grown and developed enormously, and the blog has adapted and moved on as a result. As I’ve been blogging for over 6 years now, my skillset and writing has developed and improved helping me create content I’m really proud of. In an ever-changing, competitive arena, it’s important to keep those skills up to date and constantly build on them. There’s always something new to learn.

Love Chic Living living roomHow would you describe your style?
I’d say it’s quite contemporary, homely and bright. I love bold colour accents, strong designs and plenty of wow factor. I’m always keen to try new things and embrace new trends.

What makes a great interior design blog?
There are so many factors to take into consideration but personally, I love great, inspiring photography, coupled with ideas and tips on creating the look in my own home. I love to see how new trends will look in a ‘real’ home and that’s where great interior blogs really come into their own – they show people how to put looks together and what they’ll look like in a home like theirs.

What’s the split between your own creations/designs and featuring others’?
It’s a real mix I think of my own home and interior ideas plus tips and contributions from others.

What’s your favourite room in the house and why?
I must admit this changes, and is often the most recently decorated room! But for now, it has to be my kitchen. We gave it a makeover last year without buying new units and the change has been so dramatic. With a feature floor, dark grey and white cupboards, plus yellow accents, it’s been really popular on the blog and it’s the room I most love to spend time in.

How do the seasons affect your content?
I produce content relevant to the season, particularly the main change from summer to winter. Christmas is obviously very popular, as is the New Year period when everyone is tackling new DIY jobs and renovations begin.

What’s your favourite household object/item?
 Hmmm that’s a tricky one but I have to say it’s my coffee machine right now! Working from home I can’t do without a great cup of coffee and I’ve got an industrial style coffee machine that makes a mean latte!

What one thing should PRs/brands know about you?
I like to think I’m professional to work with and deliver on time, often exceeding expectations.

What are the best campaigns/collaborations you’ve recently worked on?
I’ve recently been an ambassador for Amara Living showcasing their new collection in my own home. The content and imagery was used across their social channels and marketing and I was really pleased with the way it all came together.

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
I certainly think some kind of regulation is needed yes. There are so many bloggers and ‘influencers’ around now, it’s so hard for PR companies to sift out those that are really worth working with. Plus, there’s so much bad press that it makes it more difficult for those of us that are honest, professional and reliable – it puts our livelihood in jeopardy, so yes, an association with regular monitoring would be welcome.

What other blogs do you read?
Oh there are so many! Of course all of the fabulous UK interior blogs listed in the Vuelio top 10 but I’m also a fan of fashion and lifestyle blogs that feed my obsession with design of all kinds!

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conference headlines 25.09

Conference Headlines – Labour plans to nationalise water industry

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Today’s Labour Party Conference Headlines include Labour’s ‘war on the water rats’, Labour’s nationalisation plans causing concern among business leaders and the possibility of a second referendum under Labour. 

Labour’s ‘war on the water rats’
The Daily Mirror’s headline describes Shadow Chancellor John McDonell’s nationalisation plans as a ‘war on the water rats’. During his speech yesterday, McDonnell pledged to put a stop to ‘profiteering in dividends and vast executive salaries’ and announced that the water industry would be the first to be nationalised under Labour. He said that current bosses would be fired and that control would be handed to workers, councils and customers.

Nationalisation could damage prosperity
The headline of The Daily Telegraph features a warning from Business leaders that Labour’s nationalisation plans could ‘put prosperity at risk’. The newspaper reports that business leaders are deeply concerned about Labour’s plans, saying that it would put the economy into the ‘deep freeze’ and ‘crack the foundations’ of prosperity.

Labour MPs plan to vote down May’s EU withdrawl deal
The Evening Standard reports that according to Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer, the Labour Party is preparing to vote down Theresa May’s EU withdrawal deal in Parliament. The newspaper reports that in his speech to conference today, Starmer will warn that Tory ‘division, chaos and failure’ over Brexit is putting the country’s future prosperity at risk.

Labour could offer the chance to remain in the EU
The BBC writes that Starmer has claimed there is a possibility of Labour backing a second referendum offering voters the chance to remain in the EU. This came following John McDonnell’s comments that any vote should be on the terms of the Brexit deal, rather than on staying in the EU. Today, conference will debate and vote on a motion to keep a new referendum on the table if Labour is unable to force a general election.

Shadow Energy Secretary to announce ambitious clean energy plans
The Guardian reports that Shadow Secretary for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Rebecca Long-Bailey will today announce the Labour Party’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. The current aim is to reach an 80% reduction. Long-Bailey will set out new energy proposals, including the aim to generate 85% of electricity through renewable and low-carbon sources, and the doubling of windfarms by 2030.

There’s still one day left of the Labour Conference. Get complimentary bulletins straight to your inbox, sign up here.

Craig Landale

First finalists announced for the Vuelio Blog Awards

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We are delighted to reveal the first finalists for the Vuelio Blog Awards 2018! The first five categories are: Men’s Fashion, Women’s Fashion, Health & Fitness, London Lifestyle and Travel & Leisure.

The Vuelio Blog Awards are in their fourth year and are now firmly established as the most respected awards – coveted by bloggers throughout the UK. Taking place on 30 November, this year’s event will be even bigger and better – with the finest dining, death-defying acts for your entertainment, and the greatest awards ceremony on the planet.

Tickets for the Blog Awards are available online – click here to get yours.

Without further ado, here are the finalists for the first five categories for the Vuelio Blog Awards 2018:

Men’s Fashion

  • Ape to Gentleman
  • Carl Thompson
  • Clothes Make The Man
  • Grey Fox
  • Man For Himself
  • Permanent Style

Women’s Fashion

  • Fashion Foie Gras
  • Fashion Mumblr
  • Inthefrow
  • Lydia Elise Millen
  • Not Dressed As Lamb
  • Raindrops of Sapphire

Health & Fitness

  • Carly Rowena
  • Father Fitness
  • Fitness on Toast
  • Keep it SimpElle
  • The Runner Beans
  • Zanna Van Dijk

London Lifestyle

  • Heroine in Heels
  • Homegirl London
  • Liberty London Girl
  • London Unattached
  • Silverspoon London
  • Poppy Loves

Travel & Leisure

  • A Luxury Travel Blog
  • A Lady In London
  • Global Grasshopper
  • Hand Luggage Only
  • Two Monkeys Travel
  • Wish Wish Wish

Keep your eyes peeled for the next finalists coming soon! For more information about the Blog Awards, including ways to get involved, please email Rebecca Potts.

lab conf headlines 24.09

Conference Headlines – Labour propose to scrap free schools

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Today’s Labour Party Conference Headlines include Angela Rayner’s proposal to scrap free schools and academies, a worker bonus policy proposed by Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell and Creasy’s criticism for Momentum. 

The end of free schools and academies
The Guardian reports on proposals to scrap free schools and reduce the autonomy of academies that will be unveiled by Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner. It is also expected that Rayner will announce that Local Authorities will be able to build their own schools again. This will be the first structural reform Rayner has presented since being in her role.

£500 bonus for workers
The Independent has picked up on another policy announcement that Labour are expected to make, Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell will say that workers should receive a bonus that could be up to £500 for as large companies would be required to give workers shares. This forms part of a plan by McDonnell to allow workers to benefit from any rise in valuation of the company they work for.

Deselection made easier
The BBC reports on rule changes the Labour Party will make, the changes will lower the threshold for a selection contest to be announced. Currently the threshold is 50% of local branches and affiliated unions voting for the contest, this is will change to 33%. This could see more MPs who are not on the left of the party facing opposition from within their local group.

Creasy criticised Momentum
Sky reports on remarks made by Stella Creasy where she has labelled Momentum as toxic and has called on the more moderate members of her party to take back control. Speaking at a fringe event at the conference Creasy said that there is more to being political than trolling MPs online or going to a protest.

Labour Live not a success
The Express has a story that determines that the festival organised by Labour was not a success due to poor ticket sales. The Treasurer of the party confirmed that cash reserves were used to compensate for the lack of attendees. The party Treasurer, Diana Holland did make clear that the event was not organised with the intention of making money and the cost of the festival will be included in the next year’s financial report.

The Labour Conference is in full swing with plenty more to come. Get complimentary bulletins straight to your inbox, sign up here.

shouldn't have missed

Five Things: The Circle, CIPR, GDPR, Evan Davis & Cathay Paciic

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This week’s Five Things covers a week of news (see what we did there?). We have a new social media warning, a new President-Elect, a new development in GDPR, a new presenter for Radio 4’s PM and a new job for the plane paint shop.

1. The Circle

The Circle

Is it another naff reality show or a comprehensive comment on modern society? Possibly both. The Circle sees a group of people isolated in their own flat within a block, only able to communicate through a social network called ‘The Circle’. While the personalities are loud, and some of the interface action quite annoying (the shouting at the ‘voice-recognition’ system, which is clearly an intern typing what’s being said, is quickly grating), there’s definitely an interesting point being made about social media and its role in modern life.

Not everyone is being themselves – for example, there is a gay man pretending to be straight, a man pretending to be a woman using his girlfriend’s pictures and an ad exec pretending to be an oncologist. All of it is being done in the name of being the most popular to win a prize, with regular star-ratings from the other Circle users (oh hi Black Mirror!). It’s hard to watch this without thinking about your own social media use, thinking you ‘know’ people online – and, inevitably, drawing parallels with the frequent ‘scandals’ hitting the influencer marketing industry. In an age of FAKE NEWS, ‘for the Gram’ and catfishing, The Circle may be just what everyone needs as a reminder that we really don’t know who’s behind the avatar.

And if you still doubt whether Channel 4 are using The Circle to troll social media every night for three weeks, check out the retweets of Ian Katz, director of programmes at Channel 4 (including some colourful language):

 

2. New CIPR President Elect

CIPR

The CIPR has named its President-Elect for 2019. Jenni Field, director of Redefining Communications and co-founder of The IC Crowd, will become President in 2020 when she takes over from 2018’s President-Elect Emma Leech.

Jenni has been a volunteer with the CIPR for several years and championed the work of volunteers in her candidate statement. She is going to use her tenure to find a way to further utilise volunteers in the organisation and grow membership. Find out more about her appointment and the CIPR’s 2019 Council here.

 

3. GDPR

GDPR Made simple

The first GDPR notice has been served by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). AggregateIQ (AIQ) – which has been linked to scandal hit Cambridge Analytica – has 30 days to cease processing ‘any personal data of UK or EU citizens obtained from UK political organisations or otherwise for the purposes of data analytics, political campaigning or any other advertising purposes’.

If AIQ fails to comply with this Enforcement Notice, or is unsuccessful in any appeal,

the ICO may serve a penalty notice requiring payment of any amount up to 20 million Euros or 4% of AIQ’s worldwide turnover.

It is the first time a GDPR notice has been served by the ICO, and while AIQ’s activities took place before GDPR came into force, it is still considered to be processing the data after the GDPR. All eyes are now on this story as it unfolds to see how GDPR will shape the future of data processing in the UK.

Vuelio helps its customers to comply with the GDPR – find out more about our extensive GDPR work here.  

 

4. Evan Davis

Evan Davis

Evan Davis has left Newsnight to become the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s PM programme. He was at Newsnight for four years and was previously a presenter on the Today programme as well as the BBC economics editor before that. On his appointment, Evan said: ‘Having survived several years of people saying “you’re not as good as Jeremy Paxman”, I now look forward to people saying “you’re not as good as Eddie Mair”.’

Eddie left the BBC earlier this year to join LBC, where he now presents his own afternoon show.

Evan takes up his new role later in the autumn; a Newsnight replacement is yet to be announced.

 

5. Cathay Paciic

Cathay Pacific

Sack the sub! Cathay Pacific were left with red faces after the livery on one of their planes missed out one of the 13 letters that makes up the company’s name. As any PR knows, you proof, proof and proof again. Then you get someone else to proof, then you proof again – because once it’s done, it’s done.

Cathay Paciic were good sports about the whole thing tweeting:

As was pointed out on Twitter, no Fs were given that day.

 

Did we miss something? Let us know on Twitter @Vuelio.

CIPR

Jenni Field named 2019 President-Elect of the CIPR

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Jenni Field, director of Redefining Communications and co-founder of The IC Crowd, has been named President-Elect of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations for 2019, having stood unopposed in the 2018 Election.

Field, who will take over from Emma Leech as President in 2020, is a chartered PR practitioner and former CIPR Inside Chair. She said: ‘I am delighted to have been nominated as the CIPR’s President-Elect for 2019. I have been a volunteer with the CIPR for several years and I’m proud of the work we have achieved to further our profession. I’m excited about working closely with Emma Leech and Sarah Hall, as well as with those who’ve been nominated to serve on Council.

‘I’d like to thank all those who supported my nomination and I hope that with their continued support we are able to make a real difference to the profession and the communications industry as a whole.’

Current President, Sarah Hall said: ‘Volunteers are the lifeblood of the CIPR and my thanks go to all the fantastic professionals who have put themselves forward to ensure the Institute remains ambitious, relevant and forward looking.

‘Jenni is a superb board member who has brought additional internal comms expertise to the table and has always supported the drive to reassert public relations as a strategic management function. I know she’ll bring strong leadership to the role and look forward to seeing all she achieves over the next three years.’

Field was nominated by 10 other members. In her candidate statement, she said: ‘[The CIPR] should be the body for all practitioners at every level – understanding the changing environment practitioners operate in and how PR has a role to play in organisational leadership.’

She has also outlined her commitments, which are:

  • To grow membership and increase volunteer engagement
  • To improve the understanding of PR as a strategic function
  • To have a training and development programme for everyone

Alongside Field’s appointment, the full line-up for the CIPR’s Council in 2019 has been revealed:

  • Jenifer Stirton
  • Laurian Hubbard
  • Hayley James
  • Chris Taylor
  • Nicola Brown
  • Gary Taylor
  • Andras Sztaniszlav
  • Alison Tobin
  • Andrew Bartlett
  • Michael Blowers
  • Mandy Pearse
  • Daniel Gerrella
  • Peter Holt
  • Kerry Sheehan
  • Rachel Royall
  • Lindsey Collumbell
  • Clare Parker
  • Deb Sharratt
  • Andy Green
  • Trudy Lewis
EU pres

Political Headlines: May vs EU, Javid vs gangs & UK vs cyber criminals

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Today’s Political Headlines include May left humiliated over Chequers deal, Javid primising to target gangs, UK creates a cyber-force and Williamson pledges more support for Ukrainian military.

May left ‘humiliated’ as EU leaders reject Chequers deal
As The Times says, Theresa May was ‘humiliated’ by EU leaders yesterday as they rejected her Chequers strategy for Brexit. The paper adds that a number of factors led to this outcome, including May’s decision to read out an article she had written for Die Welt, her rejection of revised proposals on Ireland without seeing the text, reports that International Trade Secretary Liam Fox was planning to scrap food regulations to secure a trade deal with the USA, support for May from Hungary’s President Viktor Orban, and her admission that revised Irish backstop proposals wouldn’t be ready by the next summit in October.

Javid promises to target ‘county lines’ gang network
Writing for the Daily Mail, Home Secretary Sajid Javid has promised to combat the ‘county lines’ network, under which drugs gangs use children as couriers to supply drugs in small towns and seaside resorts. He has announced a £3.6m National County Lines Co-ordination Centre, allowing police forces to work together in their efforts to tackle the problem, and that there will be several large-scale raids in the next week.

UK creates £250m cyber-force
The Times reports that the Ministry of Defence and GCHQ are setting-up a £250m cyber-force which will aim to target hostile states, terrorist groups and gangs, with around 2,000 personnel – a quadrupling of the number of people in offensive cyber positions. This follows a review commissioned by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, with the creation of the force due to be officially announced soon.

Williamson pledges more support for Ukrainian military
The Daily Telegraph has visited the Ukraine with Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, paying a trip to the frontline of the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. Williamson accuses the Russians of trying to ‘reverse the outcome of the Cold War’ and said that the UK was ‘upping our training and support efforts’ with the Ukrainian armed forces.

60% of public support tax increases to fund public spending
The Guardian reports that the latest British Social Attitudes survey shows that 60% of the British public would now support an increase in taxes to fund higher public spending – the highest level for 15 years. This includes 53% of Conservative supporters. The public’s top public spending priority was revealed to be health, followed by education.

Labour would see surge in support if it backed second referendum
The Independent reveals that two new polls show that backing a second referendum on Brexit would give Labour a boost in support which would ‘carry it to the brink of Government’. A YouGov poll shows that backing the People’s Vote would see the party gain an extra 1.5m voters, while an ICM poll showed that the party would win marginal seats from the Tories – including some that voted to leave the EU.

Nuclear deterrent ‘not fit for purpose’, MPs warn
The Guardian carries details of a new report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee that warns that decisions by the Ministry of Defence to delay maintenance at the department’s 13 sites to support nuclear submarines have left the UK’s nuclear deterrent programme ‘not fit for purpose’.

UKIP to become a ‘radical, populist party’
The BBC says UKIP will release an interim manifesto at its conference, with leader Gerard Batten claiming it should become a ‘radical, populist party’ standing up to the ‘politically-correct thought police’ and helping ‘the people who form the backbone of Britain’.

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Bidding

Auction for Sky – sold to the highest bidder

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The Panel on Takeovers and Mergers has announced that the takeover of Sky will now be settled by auction. Both Fox and Comcast have been attempting to take over the broadcaster for some time, with rival offers driving up the company’s value.

The Panel says all parties have agreed to the terms, which will see a maximum of three rounds of bidding between 5pm on 21 September and the evening of 22 September.

Sky’s share price jumped after the announcement.

The procedure, as laid out by the Panel, will see a first round where two bids are submitted and the lowest may then increase theirs. In the second round, the other bidder is allowed to increase their offer. If there is an increased bid in the second round, a final round will commence where both parties will be able to increase their bids.

Fox first announced it would purchase Sky in December 2016, with an initial offer of £10.75 per share. Throughout the bidding war that has commenced over the last two years, the bid has risen to £14.75 per share. The share price currently sits at £15.80 (at time of writing).

The BBC reports this latest development in the Sky takeover saga with the help of media analyst Alice Enders. Alice describes Sky as a jewel in the crown, thanks to its 23 million pay-TV subscribers. It is these customers that will be hit by the takeover though, Enders suggests whoever wins, it’s likely to lead to higher prices for customers so the winning bidder can recoup its costs.

Comcast is by far the biggest company in the competition with assets nearing $200bn, compared to Fox’s $52bn. Disney, which is going through the process of acquiring Fox, has assets valued at $96bn.

Antonia Ludden

Interior design with Antonia Ludden’s #tidylife

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Antonia Ludden is the blogger behind #tidylife, which was recently named in the Top 10 Interior Design Blogs. Antonia provides her readers with practical advice on how to keep a clutter-free home without losing their personal style. We spoke to Antonia about her own personal style, how she works with PRs and why bloggers need their own association.

How has your blog changed over time?
Quite a lot, actually. When I started out in 2012 I was more focused on upcycling old furniture and finding good storage solutions for my kids’ toys – I even thought about selling storage boxes through the site (hence the blog’s name), but in the end didn’t pursue that. As time went by the blog evolved more into home design in general and, more recently, occasional lifestyle topics that appear to be popular with readers, such as health, fashion and beauty.

#tidylife How would you describe your style?
I like a variety of home interior styles, which is reflected in my own home – I’ve embraced both the ‘dark side’ with our moody front room that features industrial lighting, lots of wood and dark walls, but I also appreciate a fresh contemporary interior, which is how I would describe our light and bright family room. I’m also quite drawn to nature in the home, so you’ll often find me styling with plants and different textures.

What makes a great interior design blog?
I think one that delivers plenty of straightforward home improvement ideas and advice along with decorating tips and styling inspiration. I like quick fixes and fun ways to refresh a room, so I enjoy magazine type blogs that feature a mix of emerging trends, shopping guides, real homes etc.

What’s the split between your own creations/designs and featuring others’?
I’ve found it increasingly hard to feature my own home regularly, as blogging takes up so much time – all the ‘back end’ stuff and keeping on top of social media and pitching for work. When I’m busy creating content for brands, I’m not getting the time to do the projects in my own home that I’d like to feature on the blog! But this is my job and paying bills has to take priority over the DIY & decorating. Sadly, I don’t earn enough from my blog to pay for professional decorators!

What’s your favourite room in the house and why?
I think our front room is my favourite, due to the features it has – the exposed floorboards, the large angled bay window and the fireplace. However, I don’t get to spend much time in it as it is mainly used by my sons as their gaming space! I will reclaim it one day… fingers crossed.

How do the seasons affect your content?
I love a seasonal change! It’s a great opportunity to refresh the blog and its content. I’m likely to feature lots of cosy homeware items and warm metallics in autumn-winter and lots of plants in spring-summer!

#tidylife

What’s your favourite household object/item?
Probably my coffee machine as I’m such a coffee addict!

What one thing should PRs/brands know about you?
That I will go the extra mile to deliver what the brand or PR is looking for – I like to give added value and exceed expectations so that they’re happy they chose me to work with and might want to partner with me again in the future.

What are the best campaigns/collaborations you’ve recently worked on?
I’ve loved working with BoConcept Manchester recently as we’ve established a nice, ongoing relationship. Because they’re local, I can call in and meet face to face, see their latest collections up close etc – with so much communication online these days, it’s nice to connect with people in real life and I think it can really enhance a collaboration.

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
Yes, I would like to see that happen as it is a fast-paced, ever-changing industry and working solo, as most of us are, we have to turn our hand to everything and become experts. Even those who have blogged for a long time could use the support and guidance of a professional bloggers association, I’m sure, so I think it could only be a good thing.

What other blogs do you read?
Although I don’t have loads of time to read other blogs regularly, I dip into quite a few when a feature catches my eye or if I’m looking for decorating or blogging advice, or design inspiration. I like to see what my blogging friends are writing about and the different projects they are up to in their own homes. Quite often I’ll stumble upon new blogs by scrolling through Pinterest. The first blog I ever read was IHeart Organizing and I still like to look at that from time to time when I need any home organisation or storage ideas as I’ll admit I’m not the most tidy person in the world!

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Austria

Political Headlines: Brexit won’t be extended, May will be ‘forced to quit’ in Spring and rail chaos

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Today’s Political Headlines include May’s insistence that Brexit negotiations won’t be extended, the leaked memo suggesting May will be forced to quit next Spring, rail timetable chaos caused by systematic failings and Paisley recall petition fails. 

May insists Brexit negotiations won’t be extended
The BBC says that Theresa May used a dinner with her EU counterparts in Salzburg last night to tell them that Brexit negotiations wouldn’t be extended and a deal must be struck in the next two months. She insisted that the bloc rethink its position on the Irish border, but there are also suggestions that the UK will propose new regulatory checks to try to resolve the issue. The Maltese and Czech Prime Ministers told the BBC that they hope the UK will hold another referendum on Brexit. Meanwhile Sir Mike Penning, who helped to run May’s leadership campaign, has told The Daily Telegraph the Chequers plan is as ‘dead as a dodo’.

Leaked memo suggests May will be forced to quit next spring
The Daily Telegraph has obtained an internal memo, originally written in April but shared among Tory MPs recently, which claims that Theresa May will be forced to stand down ‘soon after March 2019’ and assesses potential successors. It claims that Michael Gove is ‘on manoeuvres’, Philip Hammond has ‘not a hope’, Liam Fox is ‘fading’, Boris Johnson won’t win as ‘the front-runner never wins’ and Jacob Rees-Mogg is unlikely to be in the last two.

Rail timetable chaos caused by ‘systematic’ failings, inquiry finds
The Times reports that an inquiry into this summer’s rail timetable chaos has found that it could happen again owing to ‘systematic’ failings. Companies knew that there would be disruption, but did not warn passengers, the Department for Transport didn’t ask them enough questions, and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling signed-off a key change to services. Grayling announced a ‘root-and-branch’ review of the rail system yesterday, to be led by John Lewis’s deputy chairman Keith Williams.

Paisley recall petition fails
The BBC reports that DUP MP Ian Paisley has held onto his seat after a recall petition against him gained the support of 9.4% of the electorate, rather than the 10% needed to trigger his recall. The petition, the first of its kind, was caused by Paisley’s suspension from Westminster for failing to declare holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government.

Labour plans to speed up handling of antisemitism cases
According to The Guardian, Labour’s National Executive Committee has endorsed plans to double the parties disciplinary body in order to expedite the processing of antisemitism allegations. The plans, which the party’s conference will need to vote on, would see the National Constitutional Committee gain 14 more members, amongst other changes.

Law changes to make it easier for leaseholders to buy freeholds
The Times says that plans to be announced today by the Law Commission, at the request of the Government, will make it easier for leaseholders to buy their property’s freehold by abolishing the minimum period before a purchase is possible. Additionally leases will be able to extended for longer, multiple times, and at lesser cost.

Watson announces plans for £140m tax on gambling operators
The Sun reports Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson has announced plans to introduce a 1% compulsory levy on gambling operators’ gross yield, which would raise £140m each year. The money would be used to fund treatment for problem gamblers. Other policies include banning gambling promotions during live sport events and on using credit cards to gamble.

Number of new social rent houses cut by over 200,000
The Daily Mirror claims that the number of new social rent homes per year has been cut by over 200,000 since 2010, according to statistics it says are ‘buried’ in a Government report. Labour’s John Healey has accused the Conservatives of ‘making the housing crisis worse’.

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Victoria Magrath

Fashion Weeks with the Number 1 Fashion Blog – Inthefrow

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Inthefrow is the number one fashion blog in the UK. Written by Victoria Magrath, the blog has twice been named Best Fashion Blog at the Vuelio Blog Awards and boasts a huge audience both at inthefrow.com and across social media, including 850K followers on Instagram and over 600K subscribers on YouTube. Victoria has also worked with huge number of international brands, whether it’s as the face of Hugo Boss Watches and Ted Baker or signing as a Beauty Ambassador with L’Oreal Paris.

With a recent site relaunch, engagement and book announcement – Victoria is at the top of her game and the excitement shows no sign of stopping. We caught up with the blogger in the front row, who told us how she works with brands during fashion weeks, the best campaigns she’s worked on and the bloggers that inspire her.

How has your blog changed over time?
When I first created Inthefrow it was simply a space to share my love and passion for fashion and beauty. Yes, there was imagery and a design layout but as time went on I started to develop a love for a more editorial style. Fast forward over five years and Inthefrow.com is my most favourite channel. It’s the platform that I own and that if Instagram, Twitter and Facebook all disappeared tomorrow, it’s the platform I would be glad I put so much love into. Each element is individually designed and brought to life to encompass a full brand experience and a much closer insight than ever before, into the things that make up my life in a magazine-esque platform.

When do you start and finish conversations with brands/PRs about fashion weeks?
In all honesty the conversations never really end. The relationships with PRs/brands are ongoing throughout the seasons but for the intimate details such as dressing and invites to the shows themselves, the conversations start weeks or usually days before, and lead right up to the day of the presentations.

How do Autumn fashion weeks affect your blog?
I’d say they impact my blog in two different ways. Firstly, and most importantly, when I arrive back from fashion weeks/month I feel a renewed sense of love for what I do. I adore fashion every day of the year but after fashion month, the inspiration to create, to style and to push boundaries is never more heightened. I feel invigorated and ready to celebrate this industry I’m proudly a part of on all my channels and signal the style transition into Fall.

Secondly, it takes a lot of self-discipline and organisation to continue with content as consistently, because I’m suddenly trying to multitask even more than usual. The three blog posts a week are now intertwined with international travel, multiple shows a day and still finding time to think ahead and shoot quality content for the blog. I definitely feel a lot more pressure to be consistent during fashion month than any other time of the year.

Victoria Magrath

Who is your favourite designer?
Oh this is such a hard question! Dior as you know is by far my favourite luxury brand, I covet almost every item they create and they have a huge piece of my fashion loving heart…

What are the main differences between men’s and women’s lifestyle blogs?
Oh another tough one. I guess apart from their audience being unique, I suppose their style and voice is also different to cater to the way their audience want to hear their messages.

What’s the written/video/picture split for your content?
I try not to weight my content in a particular way and I try, as hard as it may be, to spread my content evenly over all my platforms. I consistently try to create three blog posts per week, two (sometimes three) YouTube videos per week and four or five Instagrams too – as well as time spent on Twitter and Facebook. I find that although my largest following is over on Instagram where people like to consume bite size content in the shape of imagery and short videos, inthefrow.com has the largest engagement growth right now in terms of unique users and those readers are consuming long form content in the shape of lengthy lifestyle text and editorial imagery. All in all, I’d like to think it’s a pretty even split between imagery, video and written content in both consumption and creation.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I like to be straight forward wherever possible. It’s great to get a friendly introductory email where you can discover a new agency, brand or designer but there’s nothing that stands out more to me, than someone who is professional and forthcoming with how they can see us working together and what the both of us can gain from partnering. That way as a team we can instantly work out if our brands are well suited and if working together successfully is a possibility for all parties. Efficiency is a big priority for me, and most, with everyone’s schedules being so hectic.

Victoria Magrath

What are the best campaigns you’ve collaborated on recently?
Another hard question because, as you know, I flat out refuse to take on any collaborations that don’t thoroughly excite me and make me proud to be a part of them, so I would have to say the best campaigns recently have been my Thomas Sabo ambassadorship that was just announced and my partnership with Bvlgari for their new luxury sunglasses collection. Both of them were an immediate yes for me because of how much I already adore each brand and how similar our visions were for each campaign. And I know it isn’t a collaboration but am I allowed to say my new book The New Fashion Rules? It’s been two years in the making and I can’t believe it’s finally here – a dream come true!

Do bloggers need their own industry association?
I think it massively helps, to meet people and to network and get your name out there. But I’m sure there are bloggers out there who are killing it without pressuring themselves to be stuck head first into the industry.

What other blogs do you read?
I don’t get nearly enough time to catch up on my favourite blogs, I wish I could set aside a couple of hours each week to really delve into what I’ve missed but in reality that will never happen as there’s always more work to be done. However, I always try to keep up with Chriselle for all things fashion, Estee for all things lifestyle and Carly for all things self love. All three keep me inspired and ready to take on the next big thing.

 

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