10 Questions with Hannah Jackson, Founder, Little Ant

After surviving cancer and not knowing where life was heading, it was time for me to do something that I loved. Little Ant was born!

The pandemic brought us a lot of things. It brought us insecurity, fear, isolation, panic and a lot of stress. But it also brought us innovation, new ideas and it forced many of us to take action on our big ideas.

This was the case for Hannah Jackson who re-imagined her sustainable gifts & home decor business, Little Ant at the start of the lockdown in 2020.

She started her career importing furniture and working in the events industry in Australia. She always had a passion for floristry, homeware and interiors. But it wasn’t until returning to her home base in the UK and being diagnosed with breast cancer, plus the news of a global lockdown, that Hannah finally felt the internal push she needed to make some bold moves to grow her dream business and support the community.

Little Ant had been in the background for some time but as the pandemic hit and work started to slow down, I was able to stop procrastinating and focus on the brand.

Please enjoy 10 Questions with Hannah Jackson, Founder of Little Ant.

1. What is your business about?

Little Ant is a store of dried flowers and natural products. Inspired by nature and passionate about sustainability, Little Ant offers a fair + ethical gifting collection. Our forever wild letterbox gifts are the heart of L-A. We have created these to offer customers a product that is not only reasonable in price but is sustainable too.

2. What motivated you to start your business?

The dreaded lockdown! I work in the event furniture hire business which has sadly been hit quite badly during the pandemic. I have always had a passion for floristry, homewares and interiors and kickstarted my journey importing furniture and working in the events industry in Australia. Little Ant had been in the background for some time but as the pandemic hit and work started to slow down, I was able to stop procrastinating and focus on the brand.

3. What’s the biggest thing you struggle with as a founder?

Time! There just isn’t enough hours in the day!

4. What is the best thing that’s happened in your venture so far?

Discovering new talents, getting creative and learning more about sustainability. I have spent many hours researching suppliers that can offer sustainable and ethical products. My aim is to supply products that are recyclable and good to the planet.

5. What advice would you give to another person wanting to start their own company?

Do something you are passionate about! I love working in events but having started Little Ant and discovering new skills and getting creative pushes me every day to keep going. I never ever thought I would be working with dried flowers but love exploring these gorgeous natural products and turning something dead into something beautiful that can be used again and again is so satisfying.

6. How does your culture/background influence your work?

I always knew I wanted to start my own business but was never entirely sure what it is that I wanted to do. I lived and worked in Australia as a buyer for an events company. After seven amazing years, I decided to head home and continued my journey in events.

In 2017 (9 months after I returned from Australia) I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Not something you expect at 32 but I was incredibly lucky, I had caught it early. After my operation and treatment, I decided it was time to do something for myself. Little Ant was born!

My position in the events industry was getting more and more demanding and L-A was put in the background. It was the pandemic that really pushed me to get L-A up and running again.

Having survived cancer and not knowing where life was heading, I thought it was time to do something different and something I love.

7. How do you unwind and relax after a busy day?

Cuppa tea and chocolate and then sleep. I love sleep! I’m a morning person so love an early night!

8. What’s your favourite self-care hack?

Working out and keeping fit. After completing my treatment for cancer, I decided it was time to get fit. I discovered the gym. Life-changing, I’m a bit of an addict now! I began my fitness journey in the gym and was then introduced to hand-standing. Something that is just so much fun and a forever challenge.

9. Cardio, yoga or strength training?

That’s a tough one! I would probably say strength training and yoga with a tiny bit of cardio on the side.

10. How do you want people to remember you?

Forever wild, a little bit different, positive, happy and a lover of all things beautiful.

 

Images via Hannah Jackson/Little Ant