I started a glitter business in my parent’s basement with £150 – now I make 6 figures & Molly-Mae & Kris Jenner are fans
WE all need a bit of sparkle in our lives – and model and artist Lillie Bernie has it in spades after turning her basement business into a six- figure venture.
Even Molly-Mae Hague and Kris Jenner are fans of Lillie’s brainwave idea which involves adding glittery shimmers to photographs to make them pop.
On the surface, it’s such a simple concept yet Lillie’s work has caught the eye of the rich and famous and hangs on their walls around the world – pretty impressive for a girl who started from scratch.
She had just £150 in her pocket from modelling when she launched The Glitter Store during the pandemic and Lillie, 30, created the handmade pieces from her parents’ basement.
Speaking to Fabulous, she says: “I had this concept, which was like glitter girls — magical, sparkly girls who could do anything they wanted to do.
“I got models, covered them in diamond dust paint, got a photographer to shoot it, and when the photos were ready, I added paint on top of them and added this diamond effect.
“Then my best friend saw it and asked if I could do that for her wedding photos.”
The best feeling
Adding glitter to the wedding photos proved to be such a success, Lillie began to contemplate turning the idea into a fully-fledged business.
Lillie says: “I feel really lucky because it was all such a natural progression.
“It was more like, ‘I have an idea, and I want to see if it works’ rather than ‘I want a business.’”
However, it wasn’t all plain-sailing for the determined artist.
She explains: “The idea came before the business. I honestly had no money when I started.
“I just invested in creating a website, which, to be honest, I made myself.
“The website wasn’t very good, but it was easy to do.
“Then I made a few prints for some influencers, and frames, and boxes. So it was very cheap for me to start.”
Cleverly, Lillie used famous people to promote her work.
She adds: “When I had the idea, I thought, ‘How am I going to get this to as many people’s eyes as possible as quickly as possible?’
“I was quite lucky because I thought of this idea during Covid, so everyone was on their phones, on TikTok, and Instagram.
“I messaged about five influencers who I thought would be a good fit and sent it to them.
“That day, when one of them posted, I had like 20 orders.”
When she saw the requests flying in Lillie says it was “the best feeling ever”, and says it still is.
I can’t believe I’m now four years down the line, and people are still buying my product.
Lillie Bernie
The feeling never gets old. It’s the best
During her first month of selling she made £1,000, a huge turning point in her success story.
She explains: “That was the first time I really had my own money that I could do what I wanted with.
“I was able to live off it within the first year.”
‘It’s the best’
Three years ago, Lillie had enough money to move the business out of her parents’ basement and into a studio.
“I stayed at home for a year to make sure the business was viable. I’m now in studio number four [in Acton, London],” she explains.
“I can’t believe I’m now four years down the line, and people are still buying my product.
“The feeling never gets old. It’s the best.”
Now, the business is worth six figures and she hires an assistant to help with packaging and orders – and she is training others with the view to expand.
Even when I’m not working, I’ll be scrolling, looking at people who would like the Glitter Store, thinking about how I can approach people and how to evolve the business.
Lillie Bernie
Lillie describes sales as “seasonal”, with the busiest months being Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Black Friday, and Christmas – although wedding gifts are very popular too.
She adds: “I’ve done thousands of prints now, so it really depends on the month. But every month, compared to the year before, it’s growing, so I’m happy.
“My best-selling product is the A4 personalised glitter print.
“It’s a nice size because you can put it on a desk or wall. The price for that starts at £100.”
A-listers love
One of the most exciting parts of The Glitter Store business is that Lillie has seen a number of celebrities display her work in their homes.
She reveals: “I’ve worked with Lipsy for the launch of Amanda Holden’s line, which was amazing.
“Sophia Ritchie has my prints, which was so cool because someone bought it for her as a wedding gift, and then she posted it on Instagram. That was the best day ever.
“Molly-Mae has one too. I saw it in the back of her Instagram posts.
“Maura from Love Island bought it for her as a gift.
“I’m like a spy; I can spot my prints on Instagram when someone has them in the background.”
Recently she was hired for a US-based launch party by mother-daughter duo Kathy and Nicky Hilton as they celebrated their upstage rug range with Ruggable.
During the event she created glitter photos for guests, who included Paris Hilton and Kris Jenner.
She says: “I did an event with the Hiltons, which was incredible.
“I made prints for them all, and seeing their reactions was amazing. I honestly couldn’t believe it.
“Being able to have an idea in your head and then see it in reality, especially with someone like the Hiltons, who represent everything the Glitter Store stands for—glitz and making something really special—was an incredible day.”
How to start your own business
Dragon's Den star Theo Paphitis revealed his tips for budding entrepreneurs:
- One of the biggest barriers aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners face is a lack of confidence. You must believe in your idea — even more than that, be the one boring your friends to death about it.
- Never be afraid to make decisions. Once you have an idea, it’s the confidence to make decisions that is crucial to starting and maintaining a business.
- If you don’t take calculated risks, you’re standing still. If a decision turns out to be wrong, identify it quickly and deal with it if you can. Failing that, find someone else who can.
- It’s OK not to get it right the first time. My experience of making bad decisions is what helped develop my confidence, making me who I am today.
- Never underestimate the power of social media, and remember the internet has levelled the playing field for small businesses.
- Don’t forget to dream. A machine can’t do that!
Hard work never stops
Lillie isn’t afraid to push her work closer to home and says being persistent is key.
She cold calls and reaches out to event planners – and has developed a thick skin in the process.
“Persistence is key,” she says, referring to how she continues to push her business forward.
“You’ll be ignored a billion times; that’s just part of owning a business and getting people to know your name.”
And while switching off isn’t always easy given that she often works every day of the week, Lillie is inspiring and insists hard work is key.
She says: “You’re always thinking about how you’re going to get your product in front of more people and reach more people.
“Even when I’m not working, I’ll be scrolling, looking at people who would like the Glitter Store, thinking about how I can approach people and how to evolve the business.
“It never stops but it’s worth it.”