The Conran Shop

The loss of Sir Terence Conran on 12 September 2020, design titan and founder of The Conran Shop amongst many other incredible design and hospitality businesses that gave so many in the industry a leg up had me looking back at my time as the PR for The Conran Shop.

Working under Sir Terence, I was lucky enough to meet with him and visit his beautiful home Barton Court with press. It was a job that was fun and inspiring in equal measure.  Sir Terence Conran’s design ethos around well designed products and furniture that eased the difficulties of everyday ‘plain, simple and useful’ were at the core of the business and its aesthetic.

With a talented buying and design team, the way the products were imaginatively and creatively displayed in store was one of the things that set The Conran Shop apart and made it such a joyful place to be. So much so that its store and window displays would regularly make the press (a hard sell for most retail businesses and one I have not been able to replicate) – Living etc, Evening Standard, Elle Decoration amongst others were regular supporters. Here are a few of my favourites..

“Beach hut chic in ice cream colours to celebrate Spring Summer and the launch of ‘Holiday Shop’”

“The potting shed installation of design goods around Chelsea Flower show displayed John Derian plates to Jasper Morrison design classics in a setting that was inspired by Derek Jarman’s Prospect Cottage.”