Queen Of The Black Market

Oct 12 2008 By Graeme Lennox

Roz Sets Up Fashion Empire So You Want To Be An Entrepreneur

FROM running paradise islands to working for glamorous hotel chains, Roz Colthart has never been afraid of jumping in at the deep end.

Now the entrepreneur faces her biggest test with online clothing firm, Black Essentials, which sells all-black designer clothes and accessories.

Roz, 35, of Blackhall, Edinburgh, said: "People keep saying grey or blue is the new black but little black dresses and black clothes make up half a woman's wardrobe."

Roz has already had the kind of career most of us dream of.

She managed Richard Branson's Caribbean island before before travelling the world to promote a luxury hotel group and even found time to make it to the final 16 in The Apprentice last year.

Roz had graduated from university with a degree in hotel management and was working at Disney, Orlando, when a job came up at Branson's Necker Island.

She said: "Necker was my idea of Utopia. Richard and I got on like a house on fire. He was always playing pranks on me and his favourite thing was to throw me in the sea."

After coming home 10 years ago Roz landed a job as a marketing executive for the Malmaison hotel chain. She quit to start Black Essentials.

She said: "I had applied for The Apprentice when I thought, 'why don't I go for it?' Everybody thought I was mad resigning from my job."

Roz encountered hurdles at her first fashion show.

She said: "I went to Paris with my cheque book to buy lots of stock. I had no idea the business worked six months in advance and buyers worked on a credit understanding. It was a massive learning curve."

But she is determined to succeed and has the backing of her old boss.

Branson said: "I'm delighted Roz has started an exciting new business. It has huge potential and with Roz at the helm it will be a winner."

Black Essentials aims to provide items that cannot be found on the high street and Roz sources most of her stock from Europe and the States.

She has been nominated as Grazia magazine Entrepreneur of the Year, wants to expand the brand into white clothing and have stores in every major city in the UK.

She said: "To succeed in business, follow your heart. I have an obsession with clothes so it doesn't feel like work."

Check out Roz's website at www.black-essentials.com