…it has the creative power to bring joy and vitality into a world full of bland organisations and chain stores. Let’s come together as a community of individuals to share ideas, experience and passion to shape the culture we live in. One person’s success is not another person’s failure; shift comparison and feel inspired. Forget the numbers and follow your purpose.
Welcome to Indie Roller!
Indie Roller Guiding Principles
What does it mean to be an Indie Roller? I've created a set of guiding principles, are you ready to take the pledge?
- Trust & follow your instincts.
- Dream big, start small; believe in baby steps.
- Do the work to ignite your passion.
- Be curious and try stuff.
- Ask for help and help others.
- Making mistakes is part of the process.
- Shift perfectionism & push the button.
- Reject hustle culture; work at your own pace.
- Do your thing & let go of comparison.
- Keep going. Perseverance is everything.
If these words give you the feels please come and join us in the Indie Roller Membership.
Your people are waiting for you!
Meet our founder: Leona Thrift-ola
Indie Roller is guided by me, Indie Biz champion, Leona Thrift-ola. Here's what I've been up to over the past 17 years...
2003
Started making jewellery to sell at Portobello Market & launched my first Indie Biz Lady Luck Rules OK.
2004
Launched my first e-commerce website and manufactured an enamel pin & jewellery collection. Held a talk about my work for the first time at the Fashion & Textile Museum.
2005
Opened bricks and mortar Superette, employed staff, attended trade shows around Europe & built a 240 strong stockist list.
2006
Focused on the manufacturing of products and started using social media for the first time with a profile on Myspace.
2007
Started attending craft fairs & shopping events including the BUST Craftacular in London, Renegade Craft Fair in New York & The Clothes Show Live.
2008
Launched personalised collection, built a workshop to create products in-house and ran events with the service at Tate Britain, the V&A and the Barbican.
2009
Started a Pop-Up Tea Shoppe side hustle after visiting New York and becoming obsessed with cupcakes.
2010
Closed Lady Luck Rules OK & Superette. Toured the UK hosting Indie Biz talks & workshops.
2011
Turned my lifelong passion for vintage into an Indie Biz and launched Thrift-ola.
2012
Started using Instagram for business and freelanced for Wayne Hemingway working on the Vintage Festival.
2013
Worked as the Marketing Manager for Rokit Vintage whilst I plotted my next Indie Biz move.
2014
Launched a subscription box business called Lucky Dip Club from the corner of my living room.
2015
Lucky Dip Club becomes a 6-figure business in it's second year. I moved into a studio & employed staff.
2016
Started a family and left London after 21 years. My business plan for investors is put on the back burner.
2017
Struggled with running Lucky Dip Club and being a Mum; launched The Rollercoaster of Running an Indie Business support group in response.
2018
Invested in myself for the first time with a business coach and a therapist. Launched Make It Happen subscription group and closed Lucky Dip Club at the end of the year.
2019
My first year as a service-based business offering masterminds, one-to-one sessions and running the subscription group. Launched Indie Roller website and wrote a book: The Indie Roller Handbook.
2020
I run the Indie Roller 2020 Membership, Digital Bootcamps and Festive Showcase in a challenging year.
2021
The Indie Roller Membership becomes a community driven space to hone strategy and skills and increase visibility and sell online. I launch my coaching practise.
I'm honoured to support and stand for an independent creative way of life. Each day I'm honing my craft and figuring out how I can best serve my members and community.