Andrea (left) and Mollie (right)
Welcome to our monthly series Meet the Team, where we spotlight the extraordinary people that make Bayley & Sage so special. This month we have a special double feature on Andrea and Mollie, our stellar marketing duo. Read the full interview with them below.
1. How long have you been working at Bayley & Sage and what different roles have you held within the company? What is your role now?
We’ve been working together since February, when Mollie, our Digital Marketing Manager started at Bayley & Sage. Andrea started 3 years ago as a shift leader in Old York Road, and is now our Events Coordinator.
2. What’s your favourite thing about working at Bayley & Sage?
Andrea: Firstly, I love all of the delicious food! But mainly, I appreciate how much Bayley & Sage values growth and development from within. I’ve been promoted twice in my three years at the company so far!
Mollie: For me, I’m incredibly proud to work at a company with people from all over the world. I love meeting and speaking with colleagues from different cultures and backgrounds. Last I checked, we have over 30 different nationalities represented within Bayley & Sage. Everyone has such an interesting story! Writing these ‘Meet the Team’ features is one of my favourite parts of the job.
3. Who has inspired you the most throughout your career?
Andrea: I most look up to my mum. She taught me the importance of independence and having a career that you’re passionate about.
Mollie: My mom has of course been a huge inspiration for me personally. But in terms of career-minded mentors, mine was a woman called Jenna. She gave me my first job in fashion, at a small boutique in the Third Ward of Milwaukee. This experience helped lead me to study fashion and marketing at university and chartered the course for my future.
4. Have you always worked in this industry? If not, what other types of roles have you held?
Andrea: I’ve worked in the food industry previously, holding roles within Itsu, before coming to Bayley & Sage. I also studied business, management and media at university back in Spain.
Mollie: I previously worked in fashion and interiors, holding roles in both buying and marketing, before transitioning into fine foods with Bayley & Sage. Although I still get to work with interiors thanks to our lovely homewares shop, Abode! I studied fashion merchandising and marketing at university in Minneapolis and got my masters in London in philosophy.
5. What’s the best advice you could give someone who’s just starting out in their career?
Andrea: My advice is to try everything and say yes to every opportunity. Sometimes what you think you want to do when you’re younger in reality isn’t the right fit, and you need to put yourself out there and have different life experiences in order to learn what you love the most.
Mollie: My advice would be to, if possible, move to a new city or country when you’re young to meet new people and experience different ways of living and working. I grew up in Milwaukee, WI and have been lucky enough to move to Vancouver, New York City and now London. While these big changes felt scary, that fear of the unknown is where I was really forced to grow and learn exactly what it is that I want for myself.
6. What are some of the accomplishments you’re most proud of?
Andrea: I’m most proud of moving to London and making a life for myself here. I only planned to stay in the UK for 6 months, and I’ve now been here for 6 years.
Mollie: I’m most proud of the blog that I started as a hobby nearly a decade ago now, that I eventually turned into a full-blown business through many years of hard work and perseverance. I’m now back to blogging as just a hobby, but it remains one of my greatest achievements.
7. What are you most looking forward to this year, both personally and professionally?
Andrea: Personally, I’m most looking forward to new adventures and travel! Professionally, I’m looking forward to meeting new suppliers and creating exciting new experiences for our customers and our team members in 2024.
Mollie: Personally, I’m looking forward to all of the Taylor Swift concerts I have tickets to in 2024 (four, to be exact). Big Swiftie over here! Professionally, I’m excited to continue to grow our social media presence and for all of the fun things Jennie, Andrea and myself are planning for Bayley & Sage in 2024.
8. If you could only eat one thing from Bayley & Sage for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Andrea: Definitely our new Bayley & Sage smoked salmon, I love to have it for dinner with lemon and cracked black pepper.
Mollie: It would have to be our truffle brie, it’s my cheeseboard staple. Even before I started working for B&S, I would always have to stop in for the truffle brie if I happened to be passing a shop!
9. How do you spend your time when you’re not at Bayley & Sage?
Andrea: I love to travel so anytime I’m on annual leave, I’m most likely traveling somewhere new. I also enjoy spending time with my friends and family.
Mollie: On the weekends you will most likely find me checking out a new art exhibition (most recently have loved the Chanel exhibit at the V&A and the Impressionists on Paper exhibit at the Royal Academy), touring stately homes, scouring antique markets and car boot sales for hidden gems, going to reformer pilates and cuddling with my cat, Darcy.
10. What’s one interesting fact that we might not know about you?
Andrea: In my free time, I make candles for The Chelsea Candle Company. I also enjoys taking pottery classes and have been going for over four years now.
Mollie: I’m really interested in interior design, I even started a separate Instagram handle sharing my favourite interior design inspo. My knowledge of the interior design world is incredibly niche, but I love talking about it with like-minded people so give a shout if you too devour the World of Interiors every month. I also love finding new renter-friendly DIY updates that I can do in my little London flat and usually have at least one home project on the go.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our ‘Meet the Team’ series this year, and we look forward to continuing them in 2024! Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year.