How Jamie Grew Divine Savages into a Standout Interiors Brand – Without Burning Out

The struggle

When Jamie joined Retail by Design, Divine Savages was already a brand with buzz. Launched as a passion project with his husband Tom, the brand had grown steadily over seven years, fuelled by creativity, strong PR, and a loyal Instagram following. But behind the scenes, things were less streamlined.

Due to the rapid sales growth, Jamie was stuck reacting rather than leading. Despite healthy revenue, there was a need to delve into the stock management to make it feel clearer and simpler.

“We’d grown, but we didn’t have the systems in place to manage it. It felt bitty — stock was all over the place, and it made me procrastinate because it was overwhelming.”

The business

Divine Savages

Wallpaper, fabrics and bold home accessories

Bath

The client

Jamie

Key result

Strategic sales growth, stock under control, trade deals secured

Timeframe

6 months inside Retail by Design

Service used

Retail by Design

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The why

Jamie knew he didn’t want to keep winging it.

What stood out was the balance of strategic depth and practical support — from sales forecasting and stock planning to navigating key decisions around wholesale partners and pricing.

“I come from a TV background, not business — I needed guidance on how to actually run things properly. Retail by Design felt like the right place to learn how to do that.”

The work

In Retail by Design, we tackled the root issues — not just the symptoms.

Here's what we worked on

Sales Forecasting

Built out a month-by-month revenue plan to create focus and shape for the year.

Stock Strategy

Introduced structured stock planning to identify slow movers, clear excess through seasonal sales, and reduce overwhelm.

Support Systems

Reviewed VA workflows, digital marketing partners, and team roles to reduce Jamie’s day-to-day bottlenecks.

Decision Confidence

Created space for Jamie to lead rather than react, especially during busy sales periods like BFCM.

The results

Jamie went from overwhelmed to in control.

Cleared significant old stock through planned sales campaigns (including a strong BFCM)

Developed structured sales proposals and seasonal launches for 2025

Set clearer margin targets for trade deals and wholesale

“The warehouse doesn’t feel like a mystery anymore — I know what’s there and what needs to move.”

Confidence to delegate and lead more boldly

Strategic clarity around business direction (without getting lost in the admin)

Renewed excitement around collaborations and growth

The review

“I needed insight and expertise on how to actually run the business — things like forecasting, stock, knowing what’s going on. Retail by Design gave me that. It’s helped me move from winging it to running it. ”