Agency marks fifth birthday with licensees, brand owners and teamsters.
There was no jelly, but there was plenty of ice-cream (and cocktails, chit chat and joyful celebration) at The Point.1888’s fifth birthday party.
Leading licensees, brand owners, overseas partners, local dignitaries and the press joined The Point.1888 teamsters and founder Will Stewart to mark the independent licensing agency’s milestone at an evening event held in the historic main hall of Bishop Hill ACL, home of the innovative agency.
Adding context to the celebrations, Will paid tribute to his great great grandfather, who started a business in 1888, backing a hunch on a potential business opportunity that few others had spotted.
“My great great grandad had a business making clogs [Miller & Sons], but spotted how in the factory opposite, they were tearing up hessian sacks to create makeshift aprons to protect their suits. My great great grandad wasted no time and made the approach saying he could make something specifically for the purpose – trailblazing on the protective clothing market. He was ground-breaking for his day and I would like he would be proud of what we have achieved with The Point 1888 and how we run the business,” said Will (pictured below at the celebrations).
In a heartfelt presentation at the celebratory event, Will (formerly of TLC and John Lewis) took attendees back to the moment when on holiday with his wife in April 2014, he looked out to sea and, moved by the poignancy of a beautiful tree somehow growing out of the water, he pledged: “I am going to do something different.”
Will then summarised the first five years of The Point 1888 and the pivotal moments of the business’ half decade which has saw it start out with a initiative with Oliver Bonas and Innocent to raise funds for Age Concern, seen it collaborate with Leon on a John Lewis range, launch Yvonne Ellen into licensing and embrace the mega opportunity of L.O.L.
Presentations were made to some of The Point 1888’s ‘Superheroes’ of people and businesses who have been part of the company’s journey.
Distilling the remit of the business into six key points, Will cited:
- Life (& happiness) = time not money
- Faith in people will get you through
- Run your own race.
- Embrace your butterflies.
- Give focus to achievements.
- Be kind: love is the answer.
Right from the off, The Point 1888 has donated at least 11% of its profits every year to charitable causes. In 2019, it is donating 14.5% of profits to charity.
Want to read more news like this? Simply sign up to our daily digest by clicking here. You can also follow @LicensingSource on Twitter.
