“You naturally lose that confidence as you get older and it’s definitely ignited something in me.”
Sophie Newlands, proprietor of Shag Interior in Cannock, has recently secured the runner-up position on the widely watched reality competition series, Interior Design Masters.
The program showcases ten aspiring designers vying for the opportunity to secure a significant commercial contract.
Newlands, hailing from Stoke-on-Trent, described the experience as a “whirlwind,” noting the substantial growth in her expertise throughout the demanding process.
“To put myself out there in the way that I did, I’ve gained so much confidence,” she shared in an interview with BBC Radio Stoke. “And even just from the way I run my business, talk to my clients – everything has stepped up a level since that experience, so for me, it’s changed everything.”
“It’s not just made me a better designer; it’s made me a better business owner.”
Newlands impressively navigated the competition to reach the final, where she competed against fellow contestant Lia Gold. Their final challenge involved the comprehensive redesign and decoration of a holiday cottage located within the Longleat Safari Park grounds.
Reflecting on the moment she learned she had placed second, Newlands expressed a complex mix of emotions: “It was a real mix – because I genuinely was so thrilled for Lia. We got really close and developed a really good friendship, so I genuinely was so proud of her and so happy for her.
“But at the same time, there is that crushing disappointment. But I was also proud of myself.”
The interior designer, who aptly describes her aesthetic as “rock & roll maximalist,” recognized the profound effect the competition process was having on her business even before the series aired.
“From the moment we finished filming, my business really picked up, which is quite remarkable given it hadn’t even been broadcast yet,” she noted. “Which I believe is a direct result of that newfound confidence. I’ve simply been incredibly busy.”
She is now actively aligning her business’s stylistic direction with her personal design ethos and expresses considerable excitement for the future ahead.
Business Style Takeaway: The journey of Sophie Newlands highlights the potent combination of personal reinvention and business acumen cultivated through high-stakes creative challenges. For executives and brands, this underscores the value of investing in personal development and embracing bold creative expression as catalysts for professional growth and market resonance.
Original article : www.bbc.com