By the age of 21, Chupi Sweetman had been a cookbook writer and landed her dream job as a fashion designer for Topshop – but she still had bigger dreams. She’s now best known for her eponymous and massively successful jewellery company, and – as you’ll hear in this conversation – is every bit as sparkling and enchanting as the things she creates.
Things we talk about in this episode:
- Chupi’s journey so far, and how she was inspired by her mum
- Being homeschooled in Ireland
- Her early years in business, writing a cookbook as a teenager and being scouted for Topshop at 21
- Working alongside her husband
- Why you should focus your dream on what you are really good at
- Why you should employ people who are better at their job than you are
- How social media has helped Chupi’s business grow
- Winning awards including Irish Tatler Women of the Year Award, and why it can be more powerful to lose
- The obstacles and prejudices Chupi has faced as a female creative entrepreneur
- Why creative businesses should be taken seriously
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Chupi’s online jewellery (trust me, you want to click!)
- Chupi’s Instagram @chupi
- What To Eat When You Can’t Eat Anything*, the cookbook Chupi wrote in her teens
- Niki Groom’s Instagram @miss_magpie_spy and Hashtag Authentic Podcast
- The Magdalene Laundries
- Chupi’s Woman of the Year Award – Irish Tatler
- Hipstamatic
- The Guardian’s Past Notes column
- From Bee With Love’s Instagram @frombeewithlove (formally Bookish Bronte)
- My book, Hashtag Authentic*
- My blog and website meandorla.co.uk
* denotes affiliate links
