'We have big plans': Mettle & Bloom founder on brand's mission to empower women
Founder of Mettle & Bloom, Sallyann Concannon. Picture: Breda Graham.
The founder of jewellery brand Mettle & Bloom has spoken about the growth of her company, from what was an idea while helping her parents with their online shop during covid, to selling her products at Brown Thomas in Cork and running her own pop-up.
Founded in 2022 by former primary school teacher Sallyann Concannon, Mettle & Bloom is known for its story-led designs that encourage people to nurture their mettle to reach their bloom.
The jewellery brand, which is best known for its ‘My Sun, Moon & Stars’ and ‘New Horizons’ necklaces, among other inspiring pieces, recently launched in Brown Thomas’ jewellery department and can also be found in the independent Mettle & Bloom pop-up store at Corbett Court in Galway city.
Proud and overwhelmed with the growth of her small Irish business, Concannon described her recent launch into Brown Thomas Cork as “a big deal” for her personally.
Speaking to the she said: “When I say that it is a big deal for me personally, it really is not an understatement. I am so, so proud, so overwhelmed to be here launching Mettle & Bloom in-store in Brown Thomas in Cork. So much went into this day and making this happen
“It was on my bucket list from the get-go. I said, back when we started in 2022, I wanted to see Mettle & Bloom in Brown Thomas, and I was not prepared to stop at anything to make it happen. For years, throughout college, I worked at Brown Thomas in Galway, so I think that’s why it was instilled in me in the back of my mind that I just really wanted to get that full circle moment, and today is that day.”
Concannon also spoke of her love for Cork and how she would travel from Galway to Cork to set up at Marina Market.
“Cork has always been a huge part of our story,” she said.
“Launching in Brown Thomas Cork is a milestone we’re incredibly proud of.”
Speaking about her journey with Mettle & Bloom so far, she said: “I started Mettle & Bloom back in 2022, so not really all that long ago, all things considered. I was actually a primary school teacher beforehand and then went rogue and started my own business.
“Back during the covid days, I was trying to help my parents out. They own a ladies' clothes shop called Garments in Galway city, and during lockdown, they, of course, had to close and so I built them a website.
“This website was just a plaster and temporary fix, but then when I went back to teaching, I was thinking about it, and I really enjoyed business and the whole aspect of growing it, and to look at different ways to get the word out there, and so I decided to take the leap of fate and go for it myself.”
She said that the idea for Mettle & Bloom was something always in the back of her mind, but that she eventually just made the decision to back herself and take the leap of faith.
“I had the idea of Mettle & Bloom in the back of my mind for so long, and it was just about going for it and trusting in myself and backing myself,” she said.
“It’s funny, because that is literally everything that Mettle & Bloom stand for.
At Mettle & Bloom, we talk about how we should nurture our mettle to reach our bloom.
"So, to have mettle is to have strength, courage, drive and determination so we encourage you to support yourself, love yourself that little bit more and do things that make you feel empowered and better and just maybe it’s celebrating your wins, big or small, but there are so many things we can do to nurture our mettle to reach our bloom.
“Since starting the business in 2022, we have gone through so much. Some things have been a great success, and some other things have been great learning curves, but all in all, I’m really proud of the mistakes I’ve made as well, and how I’ve learned from them and adapted to building Mettle and Bloom into the brand it is today.”
Concannon’s plans stop at nothing when it comes to the future of her brand, saying she wants to see Mettle & Bloom become a household name.
“Not only in Ireland but beyond Ireland, and really tackle new markets,” she said.
“We are also doing our first-ever independent pop-up in Galway city, so that is something I was really aspiring to for a long time, and I really want to see the name Mettle & Bloom above a shop door, even if it is just for a short-term basis. I’m excited for that.
“I really want to see Mettle & Bloom in all Brown Thomas stores, not just here in Cork, but everywhere across the country. I think it’s also really important for a small business to set its sights on other markets and expand into other European destinations, as well as in the States, and so on.
"So we have big plans and big ideas for Mettle & Bloom. I think our new collections coming out are going to put us firmly on the map.”
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