Taking part in Parliament’s first fashion show

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Renée Wallen

It’s neither the Style Council nor the Fashion Police – but our involvement in fashion has finally been brought to the government’s attention.

On Tuesday evening, in his capacity as Trustee Treasurer for Graduate Fashion Week (GFW), Mark spent an enjoyable evening in the luxurious setting of the Houses of Parliament. Politicians mixed with some of the most influential people in the fashion industry at the first ever fashion show to be held there.

The keynote speakers included Damian Collins MP – who, together with The UK Fashion & Textile Association, had invited GFW to showcase the rising stars of 2013; the Daily Telegraph’s award-winning fashion editor, Hilary Alexander; Fiona Lambert, brand director for George at Asda; and John Miln, CEO at UK Fashion & Textile Association. You can read more about this here.

Talks were followed by a catwalk show with the winning designs from GFW 2013 and the George G21 collections. So you can expect to see us dressed in weird and wonderful creations next time you call in to see us about your tax return! (Keep an eye on our Pinterest fashion page…)

Nordens is one of the sponsors for GFW, along with more prominent names in the fashion industry, such as Karen Millen, L’Oreal and Mulberry. Our strategic business advice helps young designers to find commercial success – we also offer this advice to any business wishing to become more profitable. Ask us how: mitch@nordens.co.uk or tweet us: @NordensAccounts.

Graduate recruitment – staying in the job zone

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Renée Wallen

We sponsored the Job Zone at Graduate Fashion Week this year. Thousands of young hopefuls with an eye on a career in fashion stopped by for advice on CVs, interview techniques and the best routes for job searching.

Nordens Chartered Accountants and Strategic Business Advisers

Mark and Mitch in the Graduate Fashion Week Job Zone

We help businesses to succeed – and part of running a successful venture is the ability to recruit the right staff. That may mean they have certain qualifications, industry experience, life skills or you simply have a gut feeling that they will fit in and be great! Good quality training and regular reviews help to mould a cohesive team that will work ‘for’ your business, not simply ‘in it.’

Owners of small businesses are sometimes reluctant to trust someone else with their carefully built venture, but growing your business usually goes hand-in-hand with the confidence to delegate. The cost of employing somebody needs to be weighed against with the benefits of freeing up your own time to secure more clients and develop your business into the thriving concern you want it to be.

Whether you work alone or employ 100 people, we’re happy to assist with recruitment advice – whether that’s reviewing the financial advantages of taking on a new person or introducing you to someone who can take the headache out of the employment process. As part of our strategic business planning, we work with a trusted network of professionals that provide specific advice – including recruitment. If this is something you’d like to chat about, call us today on 0208 530 0720.

Mark’s in the news again

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Renée Wallen

…and not for the football league this time! Mark was quoted in the Daily Telegraph last week in an article about the tax man beginning a programme of unannounced visits to companies. He is often quoted in the press, being an accountant that knows a lot of stuff about accountancy, fashion, the music industry and life in general.

Don’t worry – if we’re helping you handle your finances correctly the tax man won’t be bothering you. Those targeted will include people who have received a penalty for dishonestly evading VAT and people who become deliberately insolvent to dodge paying tax.

HMRC are also planning to visit people at home to sort out tax queries. You might not fancy chatting to HMRC in your kitchen, so we’re happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. You can visit us, Skype or call 0208 530 0720. We’re looking forward to speaking to you soon!

Getting creative with super shiny accounts advice

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Renée Wallen

Mark recently gave a talk to a bunch of ‘Creative Spacers’ at Ideas Tap. This fabulous organisation supports a thriving community of 85,000 talented people through opportunities, funding and arts jobs.

Mark’s expertise working with such gifted artists means he could help them nail their business and tax strategies without the boring focus on accountancy they may have expected. His audience comprised graphic designers and workers in theatre and video production, and they loved that his music background includes owning a record label, and that he works closely with fashion designers.

In an open round table session, the team fired financial questions on accountancy, tax and financial elements of governance. Mark was able to bounce his knowledge around the table so that everyone took away valuable info on how to improve their business strategy and understand their tax situation. The lively discussion was sparked by the group’s enthusiasm and the morning was fun and completely productive for everyone.

If you’re creative and would like some ideas on how to get your business booming, call Mark or Mitch today on 0208 530 0720.

Now! That’s what we call celebrity status!

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Renée Wallen

Mitch is featured in this week’s Now magazine.

Well, not exactly featured, but photographed with Katie Piper, the mag’s inspirational ‘life guru’ – and his guest at London Fashion Week. He took her to see the eclectic Louise Gray collection, which Katie loved.

He’s getting around – last week he was snapped whipping Gracie Opulanza off her feet. (And naughty of you if you didn’t read to the end that sentence!!) Sam was there to keep an eye on things. Gracie runs an on-line fashion magazine, so no doubt we’ll be seeing a few of our accountants in that in time to come (hopefully in something Prada and flowery).

Katie Piper quotes in Now: “What you think of me is none of my business.” This anonymous affirmation is true for individuals, but it’s different for companies. What you think of our business IS our business. You can read testimonials from our happy clients – and please do tell us what you think of us. Good (hopefully) – or anything you’d like to see us change. Call Chris and say nice things – it’ll make our day!

Shystie, rap and bubbles at London Fashion Week

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Renée Wallen

London Fashion Week is one of the highlights of our year. Watching all those men parading around in chiffon and lace with pink frizzy hair – and that’s just the accountants from our Woodford office! (Soho is much more refined, darling!) We saw some amazing autumn lines on the catwalk this year – clothes that you’ll see variations of, hitting the stores this September.

Champagne flowed as Shystie performed for Nasir Mazhar at the Tate Modern, surrounded by dancers modelling a flamboyant mix of colour and texture. Meadham Kirchhoff’s French Maid style dresses got the thumbs up from Mitch – also the leg out… He managed to bag a front row seat due to his painful leg injury. Luckily none of the models tripped over his crutches.

He’s feeling really sorry for himself as he can’t play football for a while with his nasty snapped Cruciate Ligament (not tendon!!). But he’s managing to cheer himself up, as you can see in this photo with the lovely Katie Piper, his guest at Louise Gray’s fantastic show.

We provide accountancy and business support for many of the designers exhibiting at London Fashion Week. We’ve nurtured them from young, seedling companies to the successful fashion labels enjoying world-wide fame now. If you’d like to know more about our services for fashion, design and the wider creative field, call Mark or Mitch on 0208 530 0720.

Tax and accounting workshops for start-up businesses

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Renée Wallen

Here’s Mark with a bunch of up-and-coming fashion designers, giving one of his lectures at the Centre for Fashion Enterprise in London. Some huge names in the fashion world started here, and one of the reasons they’ve made a success from their undeniable talents is that we’ve guided them through the minefield of business start-up do’s and don’ts with lectures, workshops and one-to-one support.

In this pic, Mark was talking about tax and accountancy issues that any small business faces – that’s why everyone is sitting very still and listening carefully: they’re learning strategies to run their businesses professionally and profitably. fashion lecture on tax and accountanct

Fashion designers don’t need to be experts in credit control, book keeping and VAT – we’re happy to help them with all of that. But they do need to cost their designs properly and understand the business factors involved in creating a healthy profit margin.

If you would like advice or a reminder on tax and accounting strategies to make sure your business stays healthy, call Joe on 020 8530 0720.

Accounting, tax and growth strategies for fashion designers… and everybody else!

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Renée Wallen

Happy new year to you all!! We hope you had a lovely break. Now, like us accountants here in South Woodford, you’re probably busy back at your desks – or composing music, building bridges, laying turf, making laws or designing next year’s fashions – whatever it is you do for a living!

If you are one of those fashion designers, you’ll be interested to know that Mark is giving a seminar tomorrow on accounts and tax planning to participants on the Centre for Fashion Enterprise’s ‘Market Entry’ Scheme. This programme gives emerging designer labels the knowledge and tools to develop their business infrastructure. Mark will advise them on all the relevant aspects of accounting, tax and growth strategies to make sure their creative talents can develop into a successful, thriving business.

If you would like a 2013 refresher on developing your own tax or growth strategies, call Mark or Mitch today on 020 8530 0720.

Early start for Graduate Fashion Week

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Renée Wallen

Next year’s Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) will take place from 2-5 June at Earl’s Court in London. Mark is GFW’s treasurer, so he’s very important in shaping the style and colours of future clothing.

Well, maybe not exactly – it’s not likely we’ll be wearing clothes that Mark had a hand in designing… but the success of the graduates after they leave university is partly down to him.

Mark and the rest of the team

Mark chatting up the models at GFW2012.
(They didn’t have much to say…)

work with young designers to help them establish their businesses. They use their natural talent to create gorgeous fashions, while we help them to understand profit margins, tax planning, bookkeeping, VAT payments and everything else a start-up business needs to know.

Mark’s looking forward to helping make GFW2013 an even bigger and brighter success than this year. And we’re looking forward to seeing the fab fashions that emerge. Watch this space…

Click here to find out more about the help we offer to fashion designers.

Turn your creative talent into cash

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Renée Wallen

The East London Small Business Centre organises a regular loan panel where industry experts help small businesses to raise finance. We’ve mentioned this before, as it’s a huge issue for anyone hoping to expand. Last week, Mark was a member of the panel specialising in applicants from the creative industry. The loans are funded by the Arts Council and help designers, photographers, artists, musicians and anyone else who’s turned their creative talents into a profitable living – or wants to !!

If you’re in a creative industry and struggling to find the cash you need to make your business more successful, talk to Mark. Of course you can chat to him whatever line of business you’re in – we help all businesses to grow – any industry, any size. And up until the end of November we’re offering a strategic planning session worth £1500, so why not take advantage of that and learn how to outrun your competitors?! Call Mark or Mitch today to book a session.

Tag Archives: fashion