Jo Malone MBE, founder & creative director of Jo Loves, has been confirmed to join the already impressive line-up of speakers at the complimentary May Design Series conference taking place 17-19 May at ExCeL London.

Taking centre stage at 12:30 pm on Tuesday 19^th May, the inspirational business woman will share her story of making it from life in council housing to establishing a multi-million pound company and reveal the successes, failures, challenges (both personal and commercial), and motivation behind her achievements. Perfectly complementing the May Design Series 2015 conference theme of ‘The Business of Design’, Jo’s session is free to attend for registered visitors – guarantee your place now to access all three days of the conference and seminars and see the full programme and speakers here.

Jo Malone is the founder of the high-end fragrance and cosmetics range that bears her name. She has also presented BBC’s High Street Dreams, helping entrepreneurial individuals develop their own products for the mass market. And starting this month, she is the Evening Standard’s new business agony aunt, solving problems for companies big and small in a column published every Monday.

Leaving school at 14 to care for her sick mother, Jo started work on a beauty counter. She began mixing scents in her kitchen and giving them away as tokens of appreciation. This eventually gave rise to a complete range of luxury fragrances, bath oils, skin care and scented candles. Today Jo Malone products can be found in upmarket department stores from Saks to Selfridges – and in homes, hotels and spas around the world. Jo grew it into global luxury brand, staying on for seven years as creative director after selling her stake to Estee Lauder.

Jo left the original brand in 2006, but soon started asking herself if she could do it again. With a head full of ideas and natural entrepreneurial flair, the result was a new range called Jo LOVES. The collection includes eight fragrances and two innovative layered scented candles.

Editors Notes

About May Design Series

May Design Series brings together five distinct districts: furniture, lighting, DX, kbb and décor into one commercially focused event taking place from the 17-19 May at the ExCeL London. May Design Series is dedicated to retail, interior design, architectural and property communities and is perfectly positioned at the finale of the international show cycle to present shop-ready collections. May Design Series showcases new products, the latest trends and provides unrivalled networking opportunities. 

About UBM EMEA Built Environment

May Design Series is organised by UBM (UK) Limited. As a business area of UBM, UBM EMEA Built Environment serves the interiors, construction and commercial property communities and has a proven track record of delivering high-quality exhibitions, products and services for its customers. Leading brands include Decorex International, Ecobuild, kbb Birmingham, Barbour ABI, Building and Building Design.

UBM EMEA connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote their brands and expand their markets. Through premier brands such as MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show and many others, UBM EMEA exhibitions, conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20 industry sectors.