Style Cartel Interview: Deborah Meaden of The Merchant Fox
The Merchant Fox is a joint venture between Fox Brothers, the West Country woollen mill famed for its luxurious woollen cloths and a network of craftsmen, craftswomen and companies producing luxury goods in Britain. Fox Brothers is co-owned by entrepreneur and successful business leader, Deborah Meaden. Deborah Meaden on back of The Merchant Fox (www.themerchantfox.co.uk) has added ladies handbags to its collection of fine luxury goods made in Great Britain. Launched in October with backing from Deborah Meaden (Dragons’ Den.) Every item in The Merchant Fox’s collection is genuinely made in Britain and has been chosen for its provenance, beauty and quality. Wherever possible an element of Fox Brothers cloth has been incorporated into the design to create something rare, something that will become an heirloom for future generations.
StyleCartel had a few questions for this female entrepreneur and her
Ladies Fox Chalk Stripe bag here is to Lady Foxes.
SC: Why do you do what you do?
Deborah Meaden: Why do I invest in businesses? Because I enjoy it, I like a challenge and the mental stimulation of working with all sorts of people operating different businesses in multiple sectors.
SC: What is your inspiration?
Deborah Meaden: Seeing talented people across all spheres doing well
SC: If you could be a super hero what super hero would you be?
Deborah Meaden: Sorry it would have to be a combination. No one strength is all conquering, it is always in the balance.
SC: Where did the name come from?
Deborah Meaden: The Merchant Fox is inspired by the trading of Fox Brothers, the historic woollen mill established in the West Country in 1772.
As a wool merchant, Fox has traded all around the world in its illustrious history, shipping bales of wool and cloth to every corner of the globe and this history inspired the name, ‘The Merchant Fox’.
In putting together the collection for The Merchant Fox we sought out gorgeous pieces being made in Britain, wherever possible, incorporating a Fox Brothers cloth: iPad case made from British bridal leather lined with a gorgeously soft flannel from Fox. Ladies handbags made from fine woollen cloth and premium quality British bridal leather.
SC: What is your favourite web site or blog?
Deborah Meaden: Obviously The Merchant Fox
SC: What to you prefer Facebook, Twitter or Google +
Deborah Meaden: ‘Prefer’ might be too strong a word for my feelings about social networks but they’ve become media currency and therefore a necessity.
I recently joined Twitter and am finding it quite good fun, although it can become a distraction…if you let yourself get carried away with the online banter.
SC: What is your sign?
Deborah Meaden: Aquarius
SC: Do you own an I-Pad
Deborah Meaden: No
SC: Why a Luxury Site?
Deborah Meaden: Fox Brothers makes luxury woollen cloths so there’s an obvious link to The Merchant Fox and the items sold on there.
‘Made in Britain’ also carries a certain caché and rightly so when you consider the quality and design of goods produced in this country. We may never reach the heights of last century in terms of manufacturing in this country, but what we do still produce is of premium quality.
Conscious of the environment, it concerns me that as consumers we’ve grown accustomed to discarding possessions, clothes, gadgets, mobiles and the like without giving it a second thought.We all need to think more carefully about what we buy, how much we buy and then finally, how we dispose of it. One could argue that a ‘luxury’ item costs more than a cheaper alternative, but being better made and lasting considerably longer, there’s greater value in the luxury item. And…we all need a little bit of luxury in our lives right now!
SC: Who does the site speak to?
Deborah Meaden: We’ve been trading for less than a month and interestingly we’ve seen sales coming from people with UK addresses, but also a similar level of orders from Italy, US, Australia.
It’s hard to say as we’ve only just launched but our customers have an appreciation of quality, they tend to shy away from disposal fashion that comes and goes seasonally and instead have a taste for tradition and timeless quality.
People attracted to The Merchant Fox fully appreciate the provenance of the pieces on The Merchant Fox, something that’s been made by a fourth generation weaver for instance.
SC: London/NYC/Paris/Dubai?
Deborah Meaden: Each of them has different appeal: London for the hustle, bustle and theatre. Paris for boutique shopping, Cligancourt market. New York for lunch with great friends.
SC: What is next for you?
Deborah Meaden: Next? Who knows, long-term planning is good but so is being able to react and respond to situations as they occur.
I’m currently invested in 19 businesses and support a number of not for profit projects, as well as always on the look out for new opportunities, so watch this space.
SC: What is next for you?
Deborah Meaden: Next? Who knows, long-term planning is good but so is being able to react and respond to situations as they occur.
I’m currently invested in 19 businesses and support a number of not for profit projects, as well as always on the look out for new opportunities, so watch this space.
SC: What is coming up next for the brand?
Deborah Meaden: The Merchant Fox will continue to seek out British-made luxury goods, introducing elements of Fox Brothers cloth into the design wherever possible.
Since launch in October the collection of British-made luxury goods has grown to include a ladies silk scarf, silk lined slippers, two ladies handbags, a cap in collaboration with famous hat maker Christys’ and a classic holdall for a gentleman.
Well that is not bad at all. StyleCartel likes to bring our readers stories like these with Female entrepreneurs making their marks doing what they love. We are material girls living in a digital world doing what we love too. Thank you Deborah Meaden for allowing us to interview you.