Meet the Team: Laura, the Community Happiness Manager
Here’s a huge welcome to Laura! Whenever we introduce our Community Happiness Manager, people are always thrilled by the role’s name! It’s the perfect fit for Buttercrumble because we are the Happiness Atelier, serving our community. Laura truly brings joy, tenacity and enthusiasm to the studio. This renewed energy benefits us all — team and design partners alike!
Laura’s Experience
I am the new Community Happiness Manager here at Buttercrumble. Like Chloe and Abigail, I’m a Yorkshire girl too, and live with my husband and children in Leeds. Before embarking on my career I studied Printed Textiles at Leeds College of Art (now known as Leeds Arts University) following a passion for drawing, crafts, dancing and performing throughout my childhood. I’ve always been passionate about aesthetics and design, and it continues to be a huge part of my life.
I have 15 years’ experience in fashion and homeware retail, working in house for Next, Gap and Joules. I worked heavily in visual merchandising, styling, product, marketing and commercial, which has given me a deep understanding of the creative process and what great marketing can achieve. I love finding creative solutions to problems and bringing ideas to life. My role at Buttercrumble means I now have the opportunity to help a wide range of organisations boost their brand and add commercial value.
I’ve been with the Buttercrumble team for four months now and honestly, it’s been a delight! I joined shortly after Thyra, our Creative Champion, so the last few months have been great for the whole team to get to know each other and settle in. I feel we’re really finding our groove now, our individual qualities and strengths gel nicely together and we make one strong team. I’ve personally learnt so much from everyone already, I'm really grateful to them and the supportive culture that runs throughout Buttercrumble.
It’s safe to say I've pivoted my career and had many learnings along the way! It’s been a humbling experience to move into a different sector and face new challenges. That said, the experience I carry with me is serving me well and bringing a fresh perspective to the team. I’m hugely enjoying the variety in the role and feel bursting with energy and ideas. It’s been a joy to get to know our design partners and to hear more about their enterprises. I’ve now had projects where I've taken the partner on the whole design journey from initial conversations, through to concepts, development and delivery. I’ve loved supporting, guiding and nurturing the relationship through the whole process.
Above: Buttercrumble’s process diagram. It helps us take brands on a journey of inspiration and creativity!
One of the most enlightening areas I've found is the work we do in the public sector. Having worked in a commercial landscape for so long it’s been eye opening to see the opportunities for community projects and how we can make a positive, meaningful impact. I’m really going to enjoy building my network within this area and have already met so many inspiring people and uncovered lots of amazing initiatives in the area.
I’m looking forward to what the future holds and making a positive impact at Buttercrumble. Whether that’s nurturing existing partnerships, seeking out new opportunities and collaborations, or using my creativity to support the growth of the studio.
– Laura Hooton x
