In 2018, I decided to give up a 30-year career in entertainment PR and try something new. Fast forward, and belle&co is now an award-winning retailer..

At the end of 2017, I had just finished a contract at the BBC. I was feeling uninspired and thought maybe it was time to find a new challenge. While my wife, Marisa, was initially concerned, she was incredibly supportive. However, finding a job that suited my experience proved challenging, especially for someone in their mid-50s. That’s when I decided to turn my hobby into a business, and the idea for belle&co was born.

To make ends meet, I took on a variety of odd jobs while developing belle&co initially as an online business. In 2019, the opportunity to open a shop came along. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic in 2020, the shop not only survived but thrived. and I found myself building a business I love, rather than planning for retirement.

belle&co now has a UK-wide and international client base, including some well-known names, and in 2022, won the Best Local Home Decor Retailer category in the Brighton Evening Argus Love Local Retail Awards.

Concern for the environment was a key inspiration behind starting the business. Choosing vintage and second-hand items is a simple yet powerful way to help protect our planet. By giving pre-loved furniture and décor a new life, we reduce waste, conserve resources, and cut down on the environmental impact of mass production. Every second-hand purchase helps keep items out of landfills and reduces the demand for new materials, making it a sustainable choice for a greener future. Let’s shop consciously and embrace the charm and character of vintage—it’s good for the earth and uniquely stylish, too!

Yad Luthra, founder of belle&co