INTERVIEW WITH
CELIA SAWYER Celia Sawyer is a true inspiration as a woman, entrepreneur, and
overcoming some obstacles in her career. From time management
interior designer. Having the opportunity to inspire the world
issues with the project in the Caribbean with the project manager
with her architectural and interior design projects, CovetED
to the early days and the credit crunch. “In these times you can
Magazine had the wonderful opportunity to get an exclusive
become desperate and start to think of diversifying and changing
interview with the designer, getting a more intimate approach to
your level of clientele, however, I got through it, even though it
her own experience and inspirations.
was a leaner patch, and I am so glad I kept working with the same
She started years ago with a business in Photography, where she was
level of client, it is easy to make the wrong decisions when things
an agent for new up-and-coming photographers which she went
get tough, so I am grateful that I stuck with my gut feeling,” Celia
into because she was always interested in art and photography as a
explained. Her clients and audience are very important elements
young girl. Being very good at art at school and doing something
not only for Celia’s business but for her personally, not advertising
that was creative for a business was essential
in a commercial form, but generating
to her. Once she had saved up enough money,
business from being professional, and
Celia went on to buy a property in London which she ended up refurbishing and adding another floor. “It was my first design project
“IT IS PERSISTENCE FOR SURE, YOU JUST
giving the client more than they dreamed of, on a budget and on time. Currently working on a beach house and
and was very exciting” she added. Once
CANNOT GIVE UP AND
finished, people came to see it and then asked
NOTHING IS EASY
which proved to be a challenge because of
Celia to work on their projects, and from
OTHERWISE EVERYONE
the size of the island, and shipping becomes
then on she built up a clientele that just kept
ELSE WOULD BE DOING
a struggle. Celia has won countless awards,
growing and growing. “They seemed to love
IT IF IT WAS, BUT YOU
like Woman of the Year in 2013, Top 100
what I did! I founded my interiors company after this which has now been going for over 20 years.” Celia proudly said.
NEED TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND LISTEN
some luxury apartments in the Caribbean,
Most Influential British Entrepreneurs, and Top 250 Most Powerful Women Leaders, which she ensured was a persistent and
When asked about the thing she loved the
TO WISE PEOPLE
most about her work, Celia affirmed that she
AROUND YOU AND OF
loved the fact that she gets to travel so much
COURSE WORK
“It is persistence for sure, you just cannot
to places of different cultures and get to meet
VERY HARD.”
give up and nothing is easy otherwise
perseverance that allowed her to become so successful.
such interesting people, and feels fulfilled
everyone else would be doing it if it was, but
when a client loves her work and what she
you need to believe in yourself and listen to
created for them. Being a true inspiration not
wise people around you and of course work
only for young women but for every young people who dare to
very hard.” she said. Celia Sawyer Her clientele and client type os
dream a little higher, Celia added that it isn’t easy being a woman
high net worth clients, that look for great quality and efficiency.
in business and that is generally a man’s world, however, it didn’t
They do not mind spending money on great items and something
put her off. “You just have to use your feminine charms and learn
very unique. Her audience is found all over the world, allowing
how to deal with men, a bit like being a parent, learning to deal
Celia to work in very different environments. And by speaking of
with children!!!” Her work path has been very inspirational, but
audience, Celia has achieved somewhat of a TV personality status,
Celia has not achieved everything she wanted in life, “I have many
working in exciting collaborations with Channel 4, BBC1, Netflix,
dreams and once I achieve one, I create another one so that life is
and many more to come even from the USA, so CovetED will
never boring.”. She built such an influential name for herself by
definitely keep an eye out for more interesting collaborations.
