WHEN Kayleigh Graham was rejected from university, it felt like the world as she knew it had come to an end.
Kayleigh spoke exclusively to Fabulous Digital for our #BOSSINGIT series devoted to ordinary women who have founded extraordinary businesses.“I’ve never imagined starting up my own business,” Kayleigh said. “I was never an outgoing person or that confident.” By 2014, Kayleigh had worked her way up through the ranks at Selfridges and Burberry and worked on beauty campaigns with Kate Moss, Cara Delevigne, and Jourdan Dunn.Credit: Kayleigh Graham
“People wanted something that would not only work well but were Instagrammable. Tools that they would want to share. Especially now that people want that vanity table set up and putting their products out on display.”The packaging is now a lot sleeker and metallicWith £5,000 saved, Kaleigh designed a detangling brush that can be used on wet hair – but unlike lots of other products on the market at the time, it had a long handle to make it easier to use.
To this day, the £9.85 detangling brush is still Kayleigh’s most successful and popular product thanks to its sleek design and gentle, sturdy bristles.Although she had £5,000 to launch Lily England, Kayleigh managed to get the business up and running with £1,000 – and set the website up herself using a free template from the kitchen table.
Kayleigh also recognised how influencers could help grow her small business and sent samples out to influencers such as Gabriella Lindley and Hannah Maggs.