LONDON CREATIVE: Nicola Nolan
We got talking to Nicola, Director of Black Book Communications to talk about how Black Book Communications came about and why networking is so important!
TELL US HOW YOU GOT INTO BEAUTY PR?
After university, I moved out to New York and while I was working out there, I met the MD of a luxury consumer PR agency in London. She told me that when I moved back to the UK, I needed to come and work for her and so I did…. I worked on the beauty team there and just thought I’d landed the best job in the world. Beauty is something I’ve always loved and I couldn’t believe I’d found a job doing something I loved, and got paid to do it. From the agency, I moved in house, to Neal’s Yard Remedies, and stayed there for 5 very happy years. Moving into organic beauty was a different pace to the global beauty brands I’d been used to at the agency, but I loved it, and quickly became a convert to natural and organic beauty.
2. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT RUNNING BLACK BOOK COMMUNICATIONS?
I love the freedom it gives me to work on projects that I love, and I feel so grateful that I get to work with small brands who I can really guide and help to grow. Black Book was a massive step for me; moving from a board director role at a global brand, to a small start-up that no-one had heard of was terrifying, and exciting, all in one. My first client was the Soil Association, an organisation I’d worked with whilst I was at Neal’s Yard Remedies and I was delighted to head up their Organic Beauty Week Campaign. Now in its third year, I still love working with them and growing the event year on year.
3. WHAT FUTURE PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE AGENCY?
That’s a big question for a small consultancy. Black Book was designed to be a different kind of consultancy – the kind that cuts out the white noise and just delivers cut through results for clients, so I don’t think world domination is for us. I think small and perfectly formed is the dream. That said, I think I’d like to build my client list and work on some global projects, and of course, I hope that I’ll continue with my clients who have been with me from the beginning and who make Black Book what it is.
4. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE HOPING FOR A CAREER IN BEAUTY PR?
Network, network and then network some more. There’s a reason they say ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ so make sure you’re putting yourself out there and make the effort to get to know your contacts on a personal level. Beauty is a massive space so try and get as much experience in the different sectors too and then find what you really love and work on getting really good at that.
5. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT WORKING?
My young Cocker Spaniel, Brodie, fills a lot of my free time. I love our long walks in the London parks which get me out of the office and help me clear my head. At the weekend, I love to catch up with friends and check out new and exciting restaurants and pop ups and every few weeks I’ll head home to Scotland to see my parents who live on the west coast. I don’t think I will ever tire of those sea views!
6. FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IN LONDON?
Ahh, such a difficult one to answer as there’s just so many great places. If I’m staying local, I love Turtle Bay in Brixton for some great cocktails and Caribbean food. If I’m out with friends, Goat on the Fulham Road makes for a perfect evening out with the girls and if I’m in town, I think I’d say Homeslice because pizza and prosecco have to be a perfect combination, right.
Website: www.blackbookcommunications.co.uk
Twitter: @blackbookcomms
Portrait by Nyla Sammons
