We're shining the light on some truly amazing and inspiring female founders who we think are truly Great Northern women.
For our very first female founder we're staying very close to home and our home town of wonderful Whitley Bay.
Lisa Mitchell
Lisa Mitchell founded Escape Boutique way back in 2004. A wonderfully curated collection of women’s clothing and footwear. It really brought something very special to Whitley Bay and continues to do so. The shop has a loyal following from the local community and is a must visit for visitors to the town on a shopping trip. Lisa has brought together a product range of well known and more lesser known labels. You can always feel the excitement as the seasons change and the new product ranges are unveiled and Lisa's window display's are always a joy.
Lisa brings such colour and vibrancy to the High Street.
Photo Credit: Evening Chronicle
Ebony Newton Design
Based along the beautiful Tyne Valley in Hadrian’s Wall Country, Ebony is a freelance graphic artist who has worked for some of the biggest names in the world of card publishing. You can find her work in many high street outlets and when you’ve sent a greetings card to family and friends there’s a very high probability it was one of Ebony’s designs.
We've worked with Ebony since the very beginning of For the Love of the North and she has created some truly stunning designs for us that absolutely capture the heart and soul of the region. And that’s something that runs through Ebony’s work, that huge sense of pride in the North and it makes you feel so happy and brightens up even the dullest of days.
Liza Johnson
Liza is founder of Discovering Durham CIC and CEO of the Tea Enthusiasts. Based in Durham City Centre, Discovering Durham is doing wonderful work that has created a real community amongst producers and creatives from in and around a twenty mile radius of the city in a beautiful space where their work can be sold. That community aspect is why Discovering Durham works so well and Liza has been instrumental in bringing all those creators together, offering invaluable mentoring to small business owners. Liza genuinely wants to help small businesses and for them to enjoy their journey.
In addition to the many reasons why Liza makes a great Northern Woman we always love her wonderful and bright hair colours.
Photo Credit: Newton News
Lauren Wedderburn
We’re heading to Jesmond next where a female founder is doing amazing work in being a force for good. Aptly named Something Good began in 2019 popping up at Tynemouth Market and moving to its permanent Jesmond home the following year.
Lauren was hugely influenced by how as we a world we had become such a disposable society where fast fashion ruled and plastic pollution was causing huge damage to bird and marine life. All of this was damaging our planet and future. Something Good is the antidote to this and in the shop you will find a beautifully curated selection of sustainable everyday goods for customers to refill for themselves as and when needed. Working with some of the most sustainable growers and creators out there, this is truly a business for good and Lauren’s passion and commitment to making a difference shines.
Do check out Something Good’s website for some great tips on how to be more sustainable.
Photo Credit: Evening Chronicle
Moz Murphy
And you really don'y have to go very far to find our next fabulous female founder. Just across the road from Lauren infact.
Moz has a genuine passion for cheese which came from a period working at that London institution Fortnum & Mason. After working for various other retailers Moz realised that Newcastle was distinctly lacking in independent cheese mongers. And so Moz took the plunge and opened Grate in October 2020 during the strangest of times.
To her absolute credit and hard work, Grate has not only become a Jesmond must-visit destination but people flock from all over the region. With a real emphasis on local and British produced cheeses and developing a close relationship with her suppliers Moz genuine cares about what she does and it clearly shows.
Photo Credit: Grate Newcastle
Lucy Hull
And lastly, there’s one hugely inspirational Northern woman that has to be included in the list and it’s a person I know very well indeed.........
Lucy Hull is the co-founder of For the Love of the North. A business that since it’s formation in 2017 has strived to shine the positive light on the North of England through the work of artists and creatives from around the region. A former Deputy Headteacher, Lucy has always been passionate about making a difference to the world and that was something that rang through her career in teaching. As a small business owner Lucy has worked tirelessly to make FTLOTN a business for good, a business that supports it’s community, a real living wage employer to people from that community, a business that places the emphasis on sustainability and eco friendliness, ensuring artists from the North of England are paid a decent price for paid commissions and encouraging the next generation of artists and creatives to follow their passion.
Lucy continues to encourage and inspire all those around her enthusiastically highlighting the huge fulfilment that running your own business provides and bringing colour to the world.
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