Calypso Rose

Shared by Ed Make Your Mark team

Twenty-six year old Calypso Rose launched Clippykit in 2003. Her first design was a bag that holds and displays photos and mementos. The range now includes 30 different products, sold in designer department stores and receiving celebrity attention.

Calypso initially borrowed £2,500 to start selling her bags on a stall on Portobello Road in London. She quickly developed the range to include more products and Clippykit is now sold in 65 department stores including Harrods, Selfridges, House of Fraser and John Lewis, plus 300 small independent retailers. Last year she sold more than 200,000 bags, and her celebrity customers included as Helena Bonham Carter, Tara Palmer Tomkinson and Jools Oliver.

Calypso’s enterprising activities were first recognised when she won the Creative category of the Enterprising Young Brits awards in 2005. Calypso now employs two other members of staff and her company boasts an annual turnover of over £500,000. She is currently working hard on launching Clippykit in the US which she expects to happen in 2008, along with the launch of her new range of designs. Calypso is predicted that by this time her turnover will have doubled to £1 million.

Calypso gives us her top tips for Make Your Mark with a Tenner

Links

http://www.clippykitlondon.co.uk/