insideKENT Magazine Issue 20 - Sep/Oct 2013 | Page 26
BUSINESS
insideKENT TALKS TO
of Monks & Co Clothing
© Alex Tenters Photography www.alextentersphotography.co.uk
Amy Barker
At just 24 years old, Amy Barker is about to open the doors of her first business venture, Monks Clothing & Co – a menswear clothing store in her home town of West Malling. Aided by the government funded initiative, the Start Up Loan Company, Amy's dedication and passion is a source of inspiration for other young enthused entrepreneurs, and an achievement that should be celebrated.
© www.jamesleephotography.co.uk
What is your background prior to this venture? I started off as a freelance makeup artist working at men’s fashion week events, and even gaining a place in the final for Young Makeup Artist of the year. I loved being in such a hands-on role but wanted to experience something more structured, so I took a dive into the commercial world. I started off in sales before joining the marketing department, where I have been ever since. I love marketing, especially in retail, and at 23 I became the brand marketing manager, and it was then that I decided to take on the challenging and exciting process of setting up my own company. Tell us a bit about Monks & Co Clothing and the upcoming opening. Monks Clothing is a menswear store that is soon to open in West Malling, with selected lines currently available online. We will be offering a small collection of quintessential British menswear brands, catering for the fashion aware through a personal and peaceful service. Brands such as Pearly King Clothing and Religion are currently stocked, with more premium brands to come. Monks wants to make top menswear brands accessible whilst avoiding the hustle, bustle and time it takes to visit large shopping centres. To celebrate, we are currently planning a launch party which will collaborate with other local businesses. You can sign up to attend at www.monksclothing.co.uk/pages/email-sign-up. What inspired you to move into the fashion business? I have always loved the industry, but it’s so competitive. I left school at 17 and despite having the relevant experience, not one fashion house would interview me because I didn’t have a degree. It was actually the inspirational quote, “If an opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door,” that drove me to carve my own future in fashion with
Monks Clothing. I always wanted to work for myself, so instead of waiting around I decided to make it happen. Is entrepreneurship something you have always strived for? Yes. When I was little my friend’s brother used to give me all of his duplicate Pokémon cards so I could start my own collection, but instead I used to sell them in the playground at school. I have always been ambitious with natural entrepreneurial qualities, but I really struggled at school, which has driven me even more to try to be independent and dictate my own career. Where did you hear about the Start Up Loan Company? I first heard about them on the news and decided to look at their Facebook page. It was about six months before I actually made the first phone call. What steps did you take to secure the loan? Due to my experience as a brand marketing manager, I was quite comfortable creating strategies, plans and proposals to secure the loan. I created a business plan, marketing calendar and strategy and luckily, I got accepted into the scheme the first time round. Aside from the financial support, how much of a hand did the Start U ?[???\[?H]?H[? H ?] \? H?\?[?\???] ????\?[?\????\
?H\?H H[]?\?H \??\??? H??]X\?\?XH??Z[?? H?\?\?[???\[?K?H[H ?[[? ?Y?[\???X? ?]?[? ^H]?H[ Y ??]X? ]?[?\? ?[\ HH ?\ ? ???[??HYX\?????H]?H[ ???Y[?X]?Y ?]H?[?\?X?Y[?? ?? ?X[ H?ZY\?YH ?XZ?H H[???]???^H?\?[?\??]?[?Y?] ?? ????\?H ?]H[ ?XY H???]8?&\? \? ?X? ?\ ? ]?]?\?YH[?[??[ XX?H????????Y[??H[?^HX?\?[???]Y ?X?H ??[ [?H?]?H ? [?[??[? ?\ ?[?]\?? ??\?H???Y\?[?? H ??[YO?????]H]8?&\???\? ??\?H?\?\?\? [?H?\?? \??Z]?K\???\? [?x?&\?H ?X[ H \??[?]H[??[Y]?H[? ?] [?x?&\?H?[???H [??H ??[ ?^H\? ?X[ H? [?\?X\??] ?\?X\??? \?XYH \ H?[???\??\?[?\?? [? ??Y[???X? ?[??Y?\?\? ? ?X[ H ?\ ??\??\?K??\?H? [?H?H ? ?YH[??? ?????[??[? H?^ ?]?H YX\????H ??[Z?H ? ?YH[????[?[??[?H ?X[ \???[ ??\?[? ?[Z[\? ?[Y?H??][???H ?[? ??X??YHH??[? ?[???Y??] ????[? \???[\?Y ?? [??^ \?Y[??K??[??[?? HY?H?X?? ? ?X[ ?[Y?HY? ? ?Y] ?[ [X][ K ?H ??[Z?H ? ?YH[???[? ?? X?H] ???[?H???[?? ?][? H?^ ?]?H YX\??????[X??]H H][???[?????[???[??YR?S? ?XY\???[??[?Y?]???H L B????[?\???[?K??\? \HS??QR?S?[? H ??[?[????] H?X???] ??Z[H [?\?\???[? ?\???\? ?[?H]?Z[X?H?] ?Y[? \??\ [X?\?8?$?
??[X?\? ? L??????[?????[????Z?????????[??YZ?[?XY?^?[?K???Z???H ????[Y\?Y\???\ K???Z??