Janet Milner - Walker

A TRIBUTE TO DOLLY PARTON 🤍
'Thank you, Dolly, for the music, the stories, the laughter and the example. It is hard to imagine a world without seeing you on stage, doing what you did best, performing in those five-inch heels, surrounded by rhinestones, looking glamorous and making us smile.'

Sad to say goodbye, even though we never had the privilege of meeting, to one of the greatest legends of our time, Dolly Parton.

Dolly left an extraordinary mark on the world, not simply because of everything she achieved, but because of who she remained while achieving it. From humble beginnings in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, she became one of the most successful songwriters, performers and businesswomen of her generation.

She wrote thousands of songs.
Sold more than 100 million records.
Won 10 Grammy Awards.
Built businesses, created Dollywood and developed an extraordinary career spanning seven decades.

But for me, her legacy goes far beyond the accolades. She took her work seriously, but never seemed to take herself too seriously. Perhaps most beautifully, she used her success to give back.

Her Imagination Library, inspired by her father who could not read or write, has given millions of books to children around the world. Her philanthropy has supported education, healthcare, disaster relief and medical research. There is something incredibly beautiful about that.

Dolly showed us that you can be wildly ambitious and successful while remaining kind. You can evolve without losing yourself. You can take your work seriously without taking yourself too seriously. And you can come from humble beginnings without ever being ashamed of your roots.

Her legacy will be so much more than the songs she left us. It will be the joy, generosity, courage and possibility she gave to so many people.

And for showing generations that you can dream big, build something extraordinary, remain completely yourself and take everyone with you along the way.

'Rest peacefully, Dolly. ✨'

Beauty is becoming harder to differentiate and that's a good thing.

The beauty industry doesn't need more brands. It needs more brands with a reason to exist.

We've never had more choice.

More skincare.
More supplements.
More fragrance.
More colour.
More niche brands.
More launches every week.

And yet I think this creates an interesting opportunity. Because when everything is available, clarity becomes a competitive advantage.

The brands that stand out aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest range or the loudest marketing.

They're the ones where you immediately understand:
✨ Who they are.
✨ Who they're for.
✨ Why they matter.
✨ And why you should choose them.

That's what I look for when I'm working with a brand. Not simply “What can we launch?”

But “Why should this brand exist and why will people care?” That's where strong brands begin.

What makes a beauty brand genuinely stand out to you?

BUILDING BETTER BEAUTY BUSINESSES
There comes a point in business when working harder stops being the answer.

The next question becomes: How do I create more value without simply creating more work?

That's when I start thinking about leverage.
✨Better systems
✨Stronger partnerships
✨Intellectual property
✨A clear proposition
✨Repeatable processes
✨The right people around you
✨And building relationships that create opportunities beyond a single project

I've become much more interested in quality and leverage than simply adding more to the business.

Because sustainable growth shouldn't require you to constantly increase the number of hours you work.

The goal isn't to do everything. It's to build something that creates value. That's a very different way of thinking about growth.

What could you leverage more effectively in your business?

BUILDING BETTER BEAUTY BUSINESSES
One of the biggest shifts I've made in my own business is understanding that growth isn't always about doing more.

It's about making better decisions about where to focus.
✨Which opportunities are genuinely worth pursuing?
✨Which clients are the right fit?
✨Where can I create the most value?
✨What deserves investment?
✨And what can I confidently say no to?

As a business grows, the ability to prioritise becomes just as important as the ability to execute.

I've seen businesses become distracted by too many opportunities, too many products and too many markets simply because they could pursue them.

But just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Strategic growth is about knowing where to put your energy and where not to.

That's something I think about every day in my own business and when advising the brands and leadership teams I work with.

What are you choosing to prioritise in your business right now?

HARVEY NICHOLS + FRASERS GROUP
The news that Frasers Group has acquired Harvey Nichols caught my attention - not just because of what it means for British luxury retail, but because Harvey Nichols was an important part of my own career.

Earlier in my career, I worked in Dubai for Al Tayer Group as Head of Buying & Merchandising for Harvey Nichols.

I remember sourcing brands for Harvey Nichols at Mall of the Emirates and being part of an exciting period in Dubai's luxury retail development.

It was a very progressive move at the time bringing luxury beauty into a department store environment and creating a destination where consumers could discover new brands alongside established luxury names.

And that's what I've always found interesting about Harvey Nichols. It was never simply about selling products. It was about discovery, experience, newness and desirability.

But luxury retail has changed enormously.
Consumers discover brands through social media.
Digital has transformed how people shop.
Luxury distribution has evolved.
And physical retail has to give consumers a reason to walk through the doors.

So the big question for me is: What does Harvey Nichols need to become for the next generation of luxury consumers?

I don't think the answer is simply more commercial.

I think it's more relevant.
More inspiring.
More experiential.
More connected to how consumers discover and engage with brands today.

And, importantly, still distinctive enough to feel like Harvey Nichols. I'm fascinated to see what Frasers Group does next.

If you were running Harvey Nichols, what would you change — and what would you absolutely protect?

BUILDING BETTER BEAUTY BUSINESSES
This week's insight: Sometimes the right opportunity at the wrong time is still the wrong opportunity.

After more than 20 years working in beauty, I've learned that timing matters enormously.

A product can be brilliant, but launched too early.
A market can be attractive, but the business may not be ready.
A retailer can be perfect, but the brand may need more time to build demand.

I've seen businesses chase opportunities simply because they were available. But opportunity and readiness aren't always the same thing.

Sometimes the best advice you can give a founder isn't: "Go for it."
It's: "Not yet. Let's get you ready first."

Knowing when to move is important.
Knowing when to wait can be just as valuable.

BUILDING BETTER BEAUTY BUSINESSES
This week's insight: A great beauty brand isn't necessarily a commercially attractive one.

I've seen beautiful brands with fantastic products struggle to grow.
And I've seen relatively simple propositions become incredibly successful businesses.
Why?

Because commercial attractiveness comes from more than the product.
It comes from the combination of:
✨ A clear customer
✨ A compelling proposition
✨ Strong margins
✨ Repeat purchase potential
✨ A scalable route to market
✨ A brand people want to engage with
✨ A business model that makes sense

This is why I always encourage founders to look at their brand through a commercial lens.

Would your business still be attractive if someone looked beyond the product and examined the numbers, the customer and the growth opportunity?

That's where good strategy starts.