IWD – Q&A with Laura Bartlett, House of Coco
March 7th 2023
Meet Laura Bartlett, House of Coco Founder and Director. Discover an insider’s guide to travel and life.
To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8th March, we’ll be shining a spotlight on some of our own members making a difference in the creative, digital and tech industries. THIS FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS LAURA BARTLETT, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR of HOUSE OF COCO MAGAZINE, an insider’s guide to travel and life.
What or who inspired you to start ‘House of Coco’ magazine?
I knew from the age of 15 that I would have my own company, it was just something that I knew deep down was going to be my destiny. House of Coco was actually created when I was bankrupt, I had a failed company under my belt and a passion for travel so I decided that I would create a travel magazine! Initially, my plan was to create a platform that would allow me and my team to travel the world whilst inspiring other people to go out and do the same. Since then, we have scaled the entire globe, worked with some of the biggest brands and we continue to truly live our best lives all over the world.
What projects are you currently working on?
Right now, we are working on the #CocoBookClub which is going to be a community of travel obsessed book lovers. We will be sharing the best reads for your next adventure. Collectively, me and the team are called #TeamCoco. This hashtag has been used thousands of times all over the globe and our followers always ask how they can be a part of #TeamCoco. So we are launching a private group for our readers, this will give them access to me and the team, exclusive travel opportunities and a safe space to discuss topics like the best places to visit as a solo female traveller, for example. Basically, everything we are working on right now is all about community, community and community.
What is your ultimate career goal?
Last year I actually declined offers to sell the company as the timing just wasn’t right. However, my ultimate goal is to grow House of Coco to an eight figure valuation and then take my exit. It has been an incredible nine years but I know that I am nearing the end of my journey with this business. The landscape has changed so much since I first became an entrepreneur 11 years ago. In the future, I want to focus on my personal brand and also move in to TV presenting (I am in talks with some major networks)! Ultimately, my goal is to just be happy, make my family proud and wake up every day and spend my days as I choose, all of which I can say I have achieved. Anything else is just a bonus.
What is your proudest achievement to date?
My proudest moment is taking my parents and brother to the Lake District in a Rolls Royce for the weekend to celebrate my parents wedding anniversary. I also surprised them with new diamond wedding rings and we created the most amazing memories that will last a lifetime. All of my proudest moments have my family in them, from sending my parents to Jamaica, seeing my dad drive through his childhood neighbourhood in a Rolls Royce, dining in some of the finest restaurants with them. All of these moments will be cherished even more since we sadly lost my dad 18 months ago. For me, working for myself has and will always be about creating magical moments with the people I love, that will forever be what makes me proud.
Take a look at House of Coco on Instagram @house_of_coco @laurabartlett0
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