Copyright ok
After almost two decades in business, entrepreneur Holly Tucker — whose nickname is ‘Hurricane Holly’, such is her rush to “do the next thing” — has become a real powerhouse in the retail industry, carrying the torch for others to follow in her footsteps. Yet despite her reputation as the queen of small businesses, the 48-year-old — who co-founded multimillion-pound online retailer Not On The High Street, and later built the company Holly & Co — says running an empire is not for the faint-hearted. "After 20 years, I’ve realised that if you’re looking for an easy life that’s not full of roller coasters, do not start your own business!” she tells OK! in an exclusive chat. “You have to realise that this isn’t a steady ship you’re joining; you’re joining a train going 4,000 miles an hour, with screws flying off each way!” She adds, smiling, “You don’t know what the next day will bring, but that’s also the joy, isn’t it? It’s anything from running out of cash, to hiring the wrong people, or trying to balance being a mum and running a business at the same time. Sometimes it can feel like we’re stacked up against it.” Holly has faced all of the above challenges, and admits, when it comes to family matters, it can definitely be tough to get the balance right. As a mum to 20-year-old son Harry, whom she shares with husband Frank, the businesswoman says she was keen to ensure the family unit came with her on the journey. “My son was three months old when we started Notonthehighstreet, and it’s very difficult for women to raise a family and raise a business at the same time. But I am very proud now — in hindsight and with my son turning 21 — that we did live a life less ordinary. “My son has seen me build two successful businesses — he now looks at women differently in terms of business. And maybe he looks at what’s possible for himself as well, because we don’t learn these things in school. So, I’m happy he’s learned them at home,” says Holly, whose brand is a marketplace for small business owners. “Women do get pressured trying to have it all do it all, which is basically impossible, Because things can be stacked against us, we feel like we’re up against it sometimes. But for me, I want to represent women and real business — we think about business being suits and ties, but I think it’s far more feminine than that. “I’m a huge fan of helping women start businesses and helping people take non-traditional routes; I didn’t go to business school or get a degree but I’ve done it.” Yet the trials and tribulations of getting her own business off the ground isn’t the only hurdle Holly has had to overcome. Much earlier than that, aged 23, Holly discovered she had an inoperable brain tumour. Countless hospital visits and tests followed, before she was finally given the all-clear. And though it was a difficult time, Holly reflects, with her glass-half-full nature, that some surprising positives came out of it. “It was a challenging period. I was young, and it felt as though everything happened all at once. But that’s life — a series of highs and lows that shape who we are. “Looking back now, I can see that those low moments were actually springboards; they pushed me forward. For me, that time became the catalyst for discovering my creativity — the spark that led to [my first business] Your Local Fair, to Not On The High Street, Holly & Co, and ultimately, to where I am today.’ Holly has done more than just create a name for herself — she was even awarded an MBE in 2013 for her services to small businesses. “Oh, that was amazing!” giggles Holly. “My business partner got one too, and hers came through the day before, so I thought I wasn’t getting one! But then it did happen and I got to meet the Queen.” Still feeling starstruck by the experience, Holly recalls, “ Buckingham Palace was amazing, and the Queen, she was almost angelic, you know? She made me feel really calm, it was like a holy experience. I felt incredible peace when I met her. “As a business owner, you never really look back at what you’ve done, you’re always looking to the future. So, when I was standing in Buckingham Palace waiting to meet the Queen , that’s the first time I thought, ‘Oh, I must have done something quite good’. How lucky am I to have had that experience, though. It’s hard to top.” Meeting royalty is difficult to beat, but one thing that comes close for Holly is getting her very own TV show, something she can now tick off the bucket list. Now on the small screen with her ITV series, Be Your Own Boss, Holly can be seen helping small businesses by offering expert advice and hands-on support. After so many years working furiously behind the scenes, how does it feel for Holly to be a star in front of the camera, this time round? “This is going to sound a bit corny, I don’t mean it to be,” she warns. “But I’m actually quite an insecure and private person, so for me the idea of fame doesn’t really interest me — it scares me, a bit. “But actually, I’m just a vessel for these small businesses, founders, entrepreneurs, incredible people — so what I’m doing for them is far more important than how I feel about it.” Looking back at the people she has helped on the show, Holly recalls, “I met a woman taking over her dad’s kitchen to set up her business out of; a single mum trying to pay rent while making her business work; a gentleman who lost the use of his arm and has now become a woodworker… I just think, ‘Wow’, these people are the backbone of this country. If I get to shine a light on them, then what I feel about this doesn’t matter.” While Holly is someone for budding business owners to look up to, she’s keen to point out that the road to success is never a linear one, and moments of serious self-doubt are normal. “I remember thinking, weekly, that my business was never going to work. We didn’t have any money; we couldn’t afford the heating. Between 10am and 2pm, the office would heat up, but any time outside of that we would all be wearing double coats. “But I always knew that these things take time. As long as you have a vision and you stick to the brand and what you’re building, then it’s like acorns setting roots in. At some point, those roots grow, the acorns grow and the oak tree starts. But it’s tough.” However, Holly says she’s hoping things will be a little less tough for the business owners appearing on her show, with her warm style of support. “I’ve always wanted to do a business show where it’s based on kindness, lifting people up and celebrating what they have,” she explains. “The whole thing is so authentic, which is exactly what I wanted. I met such a variation of different people with different life experiences and different ages. I was just in my happiest place.”
