The Best Things in Life are Unexpected - The Surprise of Becoming Director of Media Relations at Across The Pond Exports

March 20, 2024

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Opinion Piece by Jenny Bathurst

Anytime I am told the best things in life are unexpected, I inwardly groan. It feels similar to when we are told that horrible life experiences are ‘learning opportunities’ or that traumatic situations are ‘character building’.

Although we might be able to recognise it in hindsight, at the time it just feels like a world-tipping, frightening event that couldn’t possibly have a good outcome.

My Journey from Trauma to Triumph

The rug was pulled out from under my feet during my Journalism degree at the University of Brighton when I suddenly became chronically ill. I had hard and fast plans to finish my degree and become a journalist, and that was that. But as we all learn at one time or another, plans rarely go, well, to plan, and I found myself realising that if I were to ‘keep calm and carry on’ I needed to learn to be adaptable.

jenny-bathurst-by-across-the-pond-exports — Jenny Bathurst

Then, one cold October evening, I decided to send a chance application to Lynda Lee Lathan, and as they say, the rest is history. Somebody who had never met me and had no firm evidence of my knowledge or personality saw the potential in me when I didn’t see the worth in myself, and it was then that I learnt of ACROSS THE POND EXPORTS.

Working for a design company was never something that I had envisioned for myself, yet this bold British start-up with a passion for British antique and vintage design and sustainability intrigued me entirely. It made me question everything I had previously assumed about business, and suddenly with the support of some fantastic employees and a cheering founder, I dove headfirst into the world of design, business and entrepreneurship. The United States is a deceivingly challenging market to break into without direct access as ACROSS THE POND EXPORTS has, and the opportunity to visit the United States to experience this market myself once I felt ready was extremely exciting.

Human Connection became the Key Element of my and the Company’s Success

As my training began, I quickly learnt that to work for a business means very rarely thinking inside the box. As grateful as I was and continue to be for my university training, seeing the real intricacies of how companies expand, and progress has been integral to my understanding of real-world business, as many preconceived conceptions I had been flipped entirely on their heads.

A huge asset that has been integral to my career has been a very simple technique: picking up the phone. In this day and age of emailing and direct messaging, it is so easy to hide behind a screen, but nearly every success that I have instigated in my role came from simply calling and creating connections before typing out an email.

One example of this was our appearances at two major British events in the summer calendar – the Game Fair and the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Two prestigious shows that felt rather daunting at first became exceedingly approachable after having discussions with the events’ respective decision makers, who took great interest in our ethos and products after conversing with them via telephone, resulting in them handpicking us from their many applicants.

This unexpected lesson might not be taught in schools or universities, but one that I picked up quickly after noticing a genuine disparity in how efficiently business relationships could be formed over the phone versus via email or social media messages.

My Transferable Skills are a valued Asset in my Work for Across the Pond Exports

Our latest venture into British-designed and produced vegan, soy wax candles embodies ACROSS THE POND EXPORTS’ values, reflecting our dedication to both environmental responsibility and British heritage.

the-british-candle-the-country-collection-by-across-the-pond-exports — The British Candle – The Country Collection

Collaborating with my colleagues who have become more like close friends with varied skill sets has been both enriching and rewarding, as we’ve poured our minds and our hearts into creating products that we are genuinely thrilled to be able to showcase to the public, as well as to our friends across the pond.

The ability to incorporate my journalistic knowledge into the media and marketing the sector of ACROSS THE POND EXPORTS has been entirely fulfilling, and the promulgating press releases, liaising with prestigious companies and outlets and crafting of social channels has been an eye-opening experience of the transferrable skills I learnt at university.

If you had told me two years ago that not only had I graduated from university but also that I am working for a design business start-up with new challenges and successes every day, I am not sure I would have believed you. Contrary to the beginning of this article I know, that perhaps the best things in life are unexpected.