Whenever we are looking for a handbag, we immediately think of “Made in Italy” as somehow, this represents craftsmanship, quality materials, unique design. What if I told you that you can have the same high quality handbags which are free of animal-based materials, Made in Italy, and they are under the spotlights everywhere and become the celebrities’ favourite? Eva Longoria, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence, just to name a few.
Thanks to Jill Milan who dropped by and accept our interview! Let’s see how she builds her business, a real meaningful business with a cause.
Hi Jill, tell us about yourself and your business!
Jill Milan is a fashion company offering luxury handbags made in Italy. What sets us apart is that all our products are free of animal-based materials yet maintain a high level of luxury quality. We have the only cruelty-free handbag line to consistently be carried on red carpets by some of Hollywood’s top celebrities.
My own background is primarily in marketing, with consumer product companies and technology ventures. But I have always had an affinity for fashion and creativity, and Jill Milan gives me a way to bring that to my professional pursuits.
What motivated you to start your own business?
Like many stories of how businesses are inspired, ours starts with trying to fill a personal unmet need. I have been vegan for a long time, and I have also been involved in a number of animal welfare causes. I love horses – I was a competitive equestrian for many years – and one cause that is important to me is stopping horse slaughter. For ethical reasons I do not wear clothing made from animal-based materials.
But I could never seem to find luxury-quality handbags that were suitable for work and evening but which were cruelty free. One day it just came to me that a lot of people would move toward a cruelty-free wardrobe as long as they didn’t need to compromise on quality. I decided to start Jill Milan to offer that.
Before that, what did you do?
I served as vice president of marketing for a number of technology companies, most recently for a venture-backed Internet company in the digital media space. Before that I operated my own consulting firm, which I enjoyed because it gave me exposure to so many early-stage companies with very interesting technologies and products.
How long have you been in your own business?
We founded Jill Milan in 2010, but we operated in stealth mode for more than a year. In 2011 we launched the company publicly with our first collection, timing the announcement with our participation as a sponsor of The Genesis Awards, which are awarded for news and entertainment works that raise public awareness of animal issues.
What have you found to be your most effective way in finding the new clients?
Everything starts with understanding what the consumer looks for and how we can give it to them. In the case of our handbags we think about what we consider “the Jill Milan woman.” She is fashionable and professional, and she understands that “luxury” does not simply mean “expensive.” For her, luxury means a level of quality in the design, the materials and craftsmanship that results in a handbag that suits her life today and will last for a long time.
So how do we reach this woman? We use online techniques including social media, and we also market through events likely to be of interest to her.
What is a day in the life of you like?
Busy. It really depends on the time of the year. I could be shooting products or working on a marketing campaign. I might be in Italy working on a new collection.
Your celebrity portfolio looks awesome. How do these profiles contribute to your business?
Our handmade clutches have been really popular with celebrities. I would say that our customer would not carry a Jill Milan bag just because they saw Anne Hathaway or Jennifer Lawrence, for instance, carry it. But for a new brand, it helps to create awareness and build credibility, and in our case it shows that you don’t need to use animal products to create a beautiful bag.
What are the biggest struggles you have so far?
Time is a big struggle. It takes over 6 months to develop a new collection and involves a lot of juggling of priorities.
How did you handle the challenges that you encounter?
I just try to prioritize as much as possible. It’s important to separate the urgent, mission-critical tasks from those that can be deferred.
How do you keep yourself motivated during the difficult times?
It is important to remain committed to why we are in business – to offer great-quality luxury fashion accessories and to be successful in doing that so we can help animals. I keep moving forward and try to focus on our successes. You always have setbacks but you cannot dwell on them.
What is your upcoming marketing plan?
We have some exciting ideas we want to pursue. We are looking at some partnership opportunities that would enable us to get into some other product segments in the fashion world. We are also exploring how to expand into new geographic markets.
How do you see the “work-life” balance?
Unfortunately life is not very balanced at the moment. Long hours every day, working weekends and always thinking about the company just goes with the territory with starting a company. I try to make time for exercise and make sure I eat right.
How to get in touch with you?
Email: jill.fraser@jillmilan.com
Website: www.JillMilan.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JillMilanHandbags
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jill_Milan
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/pub/jill-fraser/59/757/a19
Photo source: Jill Milan
Thanks Jill again for the interview. Italian craftsmanship and the highest quality Italian fabric combine to bring Jill Milan from initial concept to finished luxury, consistent with the tradition of Made in Italy. What are you waiting for? Click into her website and you will be thrilled…..just like me…..
