A new collection launch is exciting, nerve-wracking, and always worth the effort. Take a look behind-the-scenes as I walk you through the steps that led to our Autumn launch

 

The Planning Stages

 

Every collection launch is the result of months of planning. There’s a lot of moving parts to coordinate and a tight schedule to ensure we achieve the perfect balance of build-up and big bang when launch day finally rolls around.

 

We also need to pay special attention to all the different touchpoints that help us connect with our community, no matter whether they land on our website, receive our emails in their inboxes, or scroll our feeds on social media. As we get closer to launch, we work with our team to make sure we have a consistent message ready for every channel, each with the same look and feel to signal that we’ve transitioned into a new season.

 

Planning might not be the most creative part of the process but working on the details of the launch is often one of my favourite steps as it builds my anticipation and excitement for when our new pieces can be shared with the world! 

 

The Samples

 

While we’re planning the collection launch, we also need to review our samples. This is our opportunity to check every new item landing on our website before it appears in our photoshoots and, most importantly, gets sent out to our customers.

 

We take time to carefully check every piece to ensure it delivers the quality and style that The Suffolk Nest is known for. This is also when we can decide how each piece should be packaged so that it can travel through the post safely and how many units we should order so that we don’t risk selling out straightaway.

 

The Shoots

 

Scouting locations for our new collection photoshoots is often when everything starts to come together. It’s when I can start planning the creative direction of the shoot as well as assessing how each piece should be styled, how they work together, and how they impact the overall space.

 

Over the years, I’ve found there are certain setups that I return to again and again: the kitchen, the entrance hall, and fireplaces all serve as ideal backdrops, bringing our collections to life in ways that our customers can hopefully replicate in their own homes.

 

Our locations change depending on the theme of the collection, but we always strive to find a home with lived-in charm and a timeless aesthetic. I prefer shooting in homes rather than studios as it feels more natural and helps our customers imagine what our faux flowers, vases, and homeware would look like in their own spaces.

 

The Colours

 

With the production design for our Autumn Collection, I knew I wanted to take inspiration from the autumnal colour palette. This season has so many beautiful, rich shades that contrast wonderfully with our more neutral tones and delicate faux florals. Mulberry, ochre, chocolate, and crimson were selected as our four key colours this season, lending a luxurious yet warm and welcoming aesthetic to our imagery.

 

The Moodboard

 

Putting together a moodboard is arguably the most important step when planning our collection photoshoots. It provides endless inspiration and helps me define exactly how I want our collection to look and the feels I want our stills and videos to evoke.

 

For autumn, I was spoilt for choice, but found that I was drawn to images with a vintage vibe, classic autumnal tones, pumpkins, fallen leaves, and scenes of rural living. I love the contrast between images that call to mind crisp, cold autumn mornings outdoors and those that depict the inviting, rustic appeal of indoor spaces adorned with candles, velvet ribbons, and antique brass.

 

The Details 

 

The final step is taking care of all the details. Not only does this involve another quality check of our new designs – especially those in our debut homeware collection – but it also allows me to make those last-minute changes that make all the difference.

 

You might not think the size of a candlestick spike or the finish on a decorative bell would be that impactful, but it’s often these small details that take a piece from ordinary to extraordinary. And function is important too; a stunning candlestick won’t become a beloved part of your dining room setup if the candles always fall out!