Reflecting on 2019 has been an odd one…
You get to the end of the year panicking and focusing on what you haven’t done and losing sleep over your aims for the following year and you generally forget to look back on what you did do, what you did achieve - no matter how big or small - (or at least I do!), so this is as much for me as it is for you (no offence 😂).
I had a little scroll through our Instagram and created a little run down of what we got up to over the year (not stressing if I didn’t document every single thing but focusing on the things that stood out to me, that mean something to me)…
January... We started the year in full force, we were busy at Wren & Rye HQ working out how I was going to make what we now call BowDangles happen!
February... The first physical BowDangle was born… I was able to hold the first BowDangle prototype! It wasn’t all that refined, it wasn’t stand-out in terms of colour, but it was something to start with, to show that it was possible!
March... I attended my first Crufts with the bestie Hannah.
I also had the cutest photoshoot with the babe that is Pickle at the Dirty Disco HQ for our “Woofing Wild” collection (read more about it here). This was a huge collection for Wren & Rye. It has proved to be so popular that it is still part of our offering today!
We ended the month with one of our metallic bow ties being shown off on Lorraine - the #dogsquad were there representing @londondogweek and “talking” about the positive impact pooches can have on our #mentalhealth. We think Bert ended the show in complete style 😂! Photo: @itv @lorraine @lorrainekellysmith.
It was so insanely surreal!April... Was an exciting month… Wren & Rye were featured in VOGUE. This was something that had always been on my bucket list whilst in uni, but after graduating and working in retail, I dismissed it, it wasn’t feasible, it would never happen… Well shut up 2012 me, what do you know! 😳
We also launched our BowDangles online!
May... We headed to France for a much-needed break.
I attended the fabulous Mary Portas “#worklikeawoman" at the @the_lowry! It was such an inspirational evening “ with Megan (Curated Makers) and Beks (Tullibee).And I created a selection of scrunchies for an old friend’s fabulous venture Tessa of Tessa Clemson Yoga Studio - this lady is seriously smashing it and her Yoga studio is absolutely gorgeous!
June... We did our first Brand Rep search and found the sweetest pooches!
We started a crazy summer of markets, festivals and fairs!
July... Curated Makers had their first Paperchase #madelocalpopup of the year and we were seriously honoured to be a part of it!
We attended the Sit & Stay event at and met the wonderful Rob from B and V Trading.
August... Our BowDangles were featured in The Cheshire Magazine.
September... I attended ALL the events and ALL the trade shows around the country - OK not quite, but it felt like it! Getting all the inspiration and doing all the research… About to embark on round two this Jan/Feb… Wish me luck!
October... Wren & Rye was featured in Cheshire Life and our BowDangles featured in the debut issue of Beautifully British!
November... Harriet from Spacemasks featured us on her stories - our YEAR was made! We had a sell-out Christmas Collection before December had even hit and exceeded all our expectations.
December... - CHRISTMAS! Curated Makers x Paperchase #madelocalpopup and the year was finished off perfectly… The Wren & Rye BowDangles were shortlisted for Gift of the Year!Let's see what 2020 holds, I hope you all stick around and continue on this amazing journey with me!
Ash - Wren & Rye