Case Study:
Farrow & Ball North America

Farrow & Ball was already a known paint brand amongst the luxury and design set, but had not captured enough market share in North America. The management team was not aligned and had underestimated the differences between an American consumer (and painter and designer) and the established UK fan base. 

Combining my experience in luxury jewelry and recent work at PANTONE, my expertise in color, luxury and design enabled me to transform the brand while preserving its colourful legacy.

Farrow and ball lewis miller dinner sept 2017

Farrow & Ball x Lewis Miller designer dinner, September 2017

Brand Strategy

Repositioning a beloved heritage brand is no small feat. You have to learn the nuances of the history and devise how to translate these values to a new audience. By identifying a unique position for the premium paint brand, and getting buy-in from HQ, I was able to change the way American designers, painters and consumers thought of the brand - proven by a significant increase in sales, distribution points and fans.

Erik Runner

I had the pleasure of working alongside Molly though the planning and roll out of Farrow & Ball's first Flagship Showroom. Her passion for creativity and innovation was evident throughout the process and contributed in no small way to the success of the project.

Molly has an infectiously giving spirit, values her connections, and is always available to help, advise, and mentor.

Farrow & Ball LA Showroom, photo by Laure Joliet

Farrow and ball LA flagship showroom exterior

Farrow & Ball LA Showroom, photo by Laure Joliet

Retail Innovation

During my time at Farrow & Ball, we had the opportunity to move locations in West Hollywood and used this as a test case for how to create a new retail experience for the global paint brand. I led a nimble, cross-functional, global team and hired boutique design agency Project Room to rethink what the brand experience could be while becoming more relevant in such a design community like LCDQ.

“Molly’s approach is marked by a perfect blend of creative energy and thoughtful ideation. She brings a refreshing perspective to every project, fostering an environment that encourages innovative thinking.”
— Olivia Utton, media partner

Global Brand, Localized

Another challenge with being in a new market of an established European brand is that things happen overseas that simply can’t be recreated here. Take the launch of the Natural History Museum Colour Palette - the London based museum, not NYC’s beloved institution on Central Park West.

In order to clarify the distinction between US & UK, while getting American customers excited about this, I knew we needed to activate the palette here with a trusted partner who was known for their love of history and excellence - like Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch of Roman & Williams.

As design visionaries and artists themselves, they expertly brought the inspiration of this collection - Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours- to life with a cabinet of curiosities in their iconic Soho retail space. Each item was lovingly sourced and painted to bring these colours to life.

Launching colo(u)rs is hard. Keeping a brand vision consistent globally is even harder. But by preserving the story and the integrity behind each moment, you not only build brand buzz - but create loyal customers in the process. To read more about their process and see the beautiful installation, check out Dezeen.