Samantha Wills Interview

Samantha Wills Interview

Question: When you originally began your designing career how did you stay motivated and passionate?

Samantha Wills: My job is not a job at all, it is a hobby I earn I am lucky enough to earn my living from! I never loose site of the fact that I love what I do, and while some days things may get tough, there is nothing else I would rather be doing!


Question: What has been your biggest challenge, so far?

Samantha Wills: I say there is a time in (fashion) business when a 'label becomes a brand' to me, this is the biggest challenge. It is when the demand outweighs your infrastructure, and at that stage, financially it is very hard to put a bigger infrastructure in place, so you feel a little bit between a rock and a hard place. If you can get past this turning point in any small business, I believe you have fought one of the toughest battles.


Question: Who was your business role model?

Samantha Wills: My parents have always had their own business. Their work ethic definitely set the precedent for my career and has been a key success factor, especially in the early days when you were required to put in 20 hour days.


Question: What advice do you have for other women who want to begin their own business?

Samantha Wills: It may sound cliché, but don't give up. If you enjoy what you do and work hard you can achieve anything. Make a list of thing that you want to achieve in your life and then work backwards by incorporating your business to help you achieve them. While having your own business is very hard work, it brings with it an amount of freedom that allows you to have a balanced life - there is no such thing as the ultimate work life balance, but having your own business can allow you to have a lot more freedom in melding the two.


Question: Can you talk about why you believe it is important to participate in initiatives to help women who are thinking of starting their own business?

Samantha Wills: Success shouldn't be a secret. I have a very strong opinion of banishing the tall poppy syndrome that plagues this industry. For us, sharing our journey hopefully gives women an insight into what is possible. Everyone starts somewhere and if you forget where you have come from, I think you should really take a look at your values.


Question: What tips do you have for women writing a business plan?

Samantha Wills: Be realistic and don't do it on your own. If you have the luxury of advice from wise friends and family on hand, don't be afraid to use it. Or seek professional advice. It may be an additional cost but worth it when it comes to the future of your business. Once you have the 'traditional' structure in place (cash flow, growth projection etc etc) be sure to include personal goals also. I think by adding these in and putting a yardstick on WHY you set out to start your own business in the first place is more powerful and motivating then any spreadsheet!


Question: What originally inspired you to become a designer?

Samantha Wills: I love doing creative things. I was initially inspired to start my own label because I didn't want to conform to someone else's idea of what design should be. I wanted to sky to be my creative limit & if I wanted to design something that traditionally should not go together, I wanted to freedom to not have to justify it to someone. I look at this view now and think 'Wow, what a Gen Y attitude!', I think of it as very arrogant now! But at the end of the day, I got to where I am because of it and if I had to make that decision now as a 29 year old vs the 21 year old I was when I made it, I don't know if I would be brave enough to do it!


Question: Where do you draw inspiration from for your collections?

Samantha Wills: Each collection comes with different inspirations. But for my latest trans- seasonal collection, A Decadent Solstice, the Manhattan solstice I witnessed during an evening walk in Central Park was a sight that sparked my creative direction for the range. I am very fortunate to travel a lot with my career and see some amazing things, I draw inspiration from anything and everything, it could be an art deco hotel I stay in, a market stall table or a film I see.... Inspiration can strike at any time, and I like not having one direct source for it.


Question: How does it feel to see women, worldwide, wearing your accessories?

Samantha Wills: It is quite surreal sometimes but ultimately I'm humbled. It will never be lost on me and it is the ultimate compliment.


Interview by Brooke Hunter

Samantha Wills Jewellery & Handbag - www.girl.com.au/comp-samantha-wills.htm