Two Mancunian siblings have been creating unique floral arrangements from their Chadderton studio that have brightened up social media during the pandemic.
Brother and sister Ben and Millie Turner launched Amelia Rose Floral Couture in 2018 and have amassed over 20,000 loyal followers across their online platforms ever since – assembling elegant, beautiful bouquets.
Suitable for weddings, celebrations, events, or just to show someone you’re thinking of them, these floral arrangements have proven a smash hit with people right across the UK.
“We believe we target a new audience with floristry”, says Ben.
“We put a spin on our work that separates us from the average high street florists.”
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Proving particularly popular is their Every Girl’s Dream range; a luxurious arrangement that has become their most sought-after product.
“Every time we post one on our page, we get so many men messaging us saying they need to order one, simply to shut their other half up!” Ben says.
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Millie’s love of floristry began at age 15 when she started a part-time job in a local flower shop. After finishing school and sixth form, she decided to pursue this passion full-time.
Two years ago, Millie decided to use her experience creating floral art to launch her own Instagram-based business, Amelia Rose Floral Couture.
The brand started gaining some traction during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting Millie’s brother to step in and assist with the influx of social media messages.
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Ben, who had recently started his first accountancy job after finishing university, offered to help Millie with the day-to-day running of the business in March of this year, just as the first lockdown was announced.
“There has always been the skill from Millie when she started on her own in 2018, she just didn’t have the business acumen to take it to that next level”, says Ben, who believes that their combined skills have led to the brand’s success.
Amelia Rose Floral Couture has gone from strength to strength since, now employing an additional four members to meet the demand for floral creations and even being featured on a billboard on Oldham Road.
The duo also moved from their garden workshop into a new, purpose-built studio home on Broadway Business Park in Chadderton.
“We’re in a fortunate position as we’ve actually come out of the two lockdowns probably better off”, says Ben, who recognises the demand for ‘miss you’ tokens and unique gifts as shopping centres have faced closures.
Amelia Rose Floral Couture has also started broadening its horizons which the launch of the artificial range for nationwide shipping, bringing Greater Manchester’s favourite, stylish flowers across the country.
Chanel fashion show in Manchester brought a staggering £8m boost to the city
Daisy Jackson
The total value of the massive Chanel fashion show in Manchester has been revealed, along with that the amount it cost in public money.
Early analysis of the global event, which saw Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter shut down and turned into a runway, suggests it generated a whopping £8m impact for the local economy.
And it’s estimated that the value it’s had for the city overall through national and international media coverage will be worth at least £100m.
Chanel’s Metiers d’Art fashion show was held earlier this month and had the city in a flurry of excitement, with celebrities spotted including Hugh Grant, Tilda Swinton and Kristen Stewart.
They, along with names like Aitch, Bugzy Malone and Alexa Chung, were seen leaving fancy hotels and partying at venues like Salford Lad’s Club and Victoria Baths.
And now Marketing Manchester has valued the direct impact of the 600 Chanel guests and staff for the show to be worth £8m in direct income.
That includes staying in hotels for three to four days, spending in the local economy while they were here, and other expenditure like venue hire.
Kristen Stewart front row at Chanel’s show in Manchester. Credit: SuppliedRoad closures in the Northern Quarter for the Chanel fashion show
The Chanel show in Manchester is expected to attract even more investment, jobs and opportunities for Mancs too.
A main criticism of the show was how much it was costing the city to shut down one of its busiest streets for the week – the answer is nothing at all.
The council has confirmed that Chanel met all the associated costs, including cleaning, road closures, and recompensing the businesses affected by the event, with no cost to Manchester’s public purse.
In addition to that, 50 fashion students from Manchester Metropolitan University were invited to work backstage at the Chanel show, dressing models and supporting rehearsals.
Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig said: “The Chanel event is one of the highlights in the global fashion calendar and the choice of Manchester as the host city received international acclaim.
“But for us it was never about the glitz and glamour – events such as this help cement Manchester’s reputation on a global stage and come with both direct benefits, through the money spent within our economy while they are here but also indirect benefits by showcasing the city and helping to capture investment, jobs, visitors and attention, all of which open up opportunities for Manchester residents and communities.”
Victoria Braddock, Managing Director of Marketing Manchester, said: “The scale of the impact of the Chanel Métiers d’art show in Manchester will be felt for years to come.
“The global media coverage of the event has put a spotlight on Manchester and its rich heritage in textiles and home of iconic music, which will drive conversations about the city and bring new visitors.
“The £8m economic impact is a welcome boost across accommodation, restaurants, and attractions, and demonstrates the importance of global events in the city.”
Sephora to open megastore at Manchester’s Trafford Centre next spring
Daisy Jackson
Beauty fans rejoice – Sephora has finally announced plans to open a store in Manchester, and soon.
The world-famous retailer, which stops luxury skincare and makeup brands as well as cult items, has secured a spot in the Trafford Centre.
This will be the third UK store for Sephora, which currently has two shops down in London.
And after a fair bit of teasing and plenty of rumours, they’ve confirmed that their next megastore will be right here in Greater Manchester.
The brand have shared an image of hoardings inside the Trafford Centre, plastered in Sephora’s black and white branding.
The signs read: “Manchester, you called it. Our first Northern store in 2024.”
Sephora says it will ‘redefine the beauty landscape in the North with an extraordinary product range that caters to the diverse needs of beauty enthusiasts’.
Cult brands stocked at Sephora include Huda Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, The Ordinary, Glossier and Makeup by Mario.
Sephora wrote on Instagram: “You heard correctly — Sephora is coming to the TRAFFORD CENTRE, MANCHESTER.
“Get your shopping baskets ready as we’re on our way up north! More to be revealed soon, see you in 2024…”
The Trafford Centre shared: “You asked, we listened! The wait is over….your @sephorauk opens late Spring 2024.”
Sarah Boyd, managing director of Sephora UK, said: “We are extremely excited to bring Sephora to Manchester, one of the most vibrant cities for beauty in the UK.
“Expanding our presence beyond London is something that consumers have been screaming out for, and we are listening hard to them when deciding where to go next.
“The Trafford Centre, known for its iconic atmosphere and diverse retail offering, is the perfect location for our third store.”
Russell Loveland, managing director at Pradera Lateral – Trafford Centre’s Asset Managers, said: “This iconic beauty giant already has a cult following, and our own social media has been blowing up with enquiries from excited customers eager for Sephora to open.
“We are very proud Sephora chose the Trafford Centre for its next location, which will be its first store in the North of England, and know it will be a fantastic success and a great addition to our strong international brand lineup.”
One person commented on Sephora’s Instagram post: “This is the best news I’ve heard all year!”
Another said: “OMG ITS HAPPENING, STAY CALM”
And someone wrote on Trafford Centre’s post: “Omg omg can’t wait.”