Jacqueline Nelson
Founder, Blanche Rose
Jacqueline Nelson founded Blanche Rose to provide the market with a brand that sourced high quality bed linen, towels, nightwear and candles that are aesthetically pleasing and perfectly complement the home. After developing close relationships with suppliers in the industry through her previous experience, Jacqueline was able to source the greatest quality and designs to bring to the Australian market. The Blanche Rose bedlinen and towels are made in Portugal, and the nightwear and candles are made in Australia.
Blanche Rose comes as a new beginning for Jacqueline after being instrumental in the growth of her iconic family brand, Household Linens, spanning over 15 years. After receiving feedback from clients about how they couldn’t find the same quality on the market as that of HouseHold Linens, Jacqueline identified a need in the market for highend bed linen, combined with knowledge of the industry and strong customer service. In 2019, Jacqueline started the process of establishing the business, attending a business mastery course, purchasing a URL, engaging suppliers, and she says, ‘the rest is history.’
At this stage the brand has no retail showroom but offers personal consultations both over the phone and in person as well as an online purchasing platform. Clients have described the service as ‘white glove’ where Blanche Rose personally visits clients to discuss their needs and then provide what they need to perfect the design of their home.
The name, Blanche Rose, came from Jacqueline’s love of white roses, and she enjoys both giving and receiving them. Although not directly translated to white rose, Jacqueline associates Blanche Rose with new beginnings. The name was a perfect t for the brand. With a strong background and experience in teaching, nance and retail, Jacqueline’s lover of fashion and interiors paired with her experience helped her get to where she is today. She thoroughly enjoys all facets of the business, developing strong relationships with clients and suppliers, enriching her creative flair through the production process and the operational aspects that provide an avenue for growth and development.
Starting out working in finance, Jacqueline studied part time for eleven years, commencing a Business Diploma and then moving to complete a Bachelor of Business in Marketing. Initially after finishing school, she studied to become a kindergarten teacher and then taught for two years before moving into share broking. She had stints at the ANZ Bank and Citibank, which saw her transfer from Auckland to Sydney in 2000. After four months, she resigned from the role and took a few months off before moving on to HouseHold Linens. The business started with a store in Mosman, followed by Woollahra, Melbourne and Brisbane. Household Linens was an established brand having been in operation for nearly 50 years when it closed two years ago. There were eight retail stores in Australia and New Zealand, with a strong brand presence and diverse product range that spanned from classics to seasonal trends. On the other hand, Blanche Rose is in its infancy and growth phase, an exciting road ahead for Jacqueline.
Looking to the future, Jacqueline hopes to continue doing what she’s doing, particularly the bespoke side of Blanche Rose which assists clients, interior designers, luxury lodges and super yachts furnish their bedrooms and bathrooms with beautiful pieces. She is focusing month on month building Blanche Rose, developing new ranges and growing brand awareness to reach a broader portfolio of clients, with aspirations of global recognition.
In her spare time, Jacqueline enjoys going on walks around Centennial Park, which she does most days, as well as spending time at the beach or enjoy a good glass of wine with friends. Her days are quite flexible but always start with a walk and meditation followed by a day of client appointments.
Jacqueline perceives that fear of failure, lack of support, lack of good role models and time pressures from existing life are barriers to women progressing their career growth or entrepreneurial aspirations. Reflecting on her own inspirational figures, Jacqueline says she is very fortunate to have grown up so close with her mother, Avis, who is incredibly entrepreneurial and ran Household Linens for a large part of Jacqueline’s life. She was able to watch and learn from a very young age, taking over as Chief Executive Officer in 2005 when her mum, in turn, supported her. Jacqueline also sources inspiration from a multitude of quotes, which she says are ‘such a good way to set you up for the day’. Her Instagram account, @_blancherose_ posts regular inspirational and motivational quotes.
Want to and out more about Jacqueline and Blanche Rose?
Instagram: @_blancherose_
Website: https://www.blancherose.com/