1- Hello Patrick, can you please tell us a bit about you?
Hello, I’m Patrick I’m 23 years old and the co-founder of London based jewellery brand Opes Robur.
2- What do you aim to achieve with your brand?
Opes Robur was a way for us to design and sell the products that we wanted to be seen in, and knew that other people would want to be seen in too. The aim was to make bold and unique pieces, that make people look twice.
3- Where do you think you are making an impact?
Being an independent brand gives us the freedom to keep the brand real and fresh, which I think is what stands us out amongst our competition. We take pride in our content, working closely with a variety of online personalities.
4- Can you tell us about how to launched your business “Opes Robur”?
Certainly. It’s an odd story. It was founded by myself and Jake Allen. I replied to an advert Jake had put up online. Jake was involved in music and was looking for someone to help him out. We got along really well and not long after, we started talking about what a great idea it would be to start our own brand and make our own products. We decided on a name, designed our first product, the signature screw cuff, and now have expanded to an entire range of cuffs, rings, and earrings.
5- What were some of the biggest challenges you encountered while working to launch it?
Organisation is key, and with Jake in Brighton, and myself in London, the distance was a bit of a challenge when we first started. There is also a lot of planning required when you first start, and you really don’t know how well or bad things are going to go. We drew up projections when we started, and I'll tell you now that things didn’t go as smoothly as we had planned, but that's the way it is.
6- What makes Opes Robur unique?
The circumstances in which we started make us unique, knowing that everything you see has been done by Jake and myself. The influences we draw from, the environment we have created Opes Robur from, we don’t think there is another brand out there like us.
7- What can you tell young entrepreneurs who are pursuing their dreams?
Being able to motivate yourself and have people around you working towards the same goal is vital. No-one is going to be there to tell you what has to be done everyday, and the work is never ending. But I promise you that one day, you will look back from where you started and where you are today, and its a very proud and satisfying feeling being able to see all the progress you made.
8- Do you have any exciting upcoming projects?
We have just launched our latest collection, Miniature Marvels, following on from one of our most popular collections, Everyday Wonders. It’s a selection of pieces designed to showcase the fascination in the everyday world.
9- Your last word or final thoughts?
“The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. The greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it.”