Fabulous Female Founder, Nina Dunbar Johnson, tells us how she rose to the challenge to start up WIZARD..
Nina, tell me a little about yourself? What were you doing before Wizard PR?
Website: www.wizardpublicity.com @wizardpublicity
I am a mother of three children, Owner and Managing Director of Wizard, a PR and Marketing consultancy specialising in beauty, lifestyle and wellbeing. Before Wizard, I travelled the world, travel being a passion of mine but all my working life has been in PR – working in different agencies to find my niche.
Describe your life in three words.
Exciting, challenging and NEVER boring!
When and how did you decide to start up Wizard PR?
I set up Wizard in 1995. It all began while I was sailing on a yacht in the Caribbean that was owned by a very close friend of mine. At the time I was working for another PR agency and he betted me that I would never dare set up on my own. Well, as I work to reverse psychology this was a red rag to a bull. As soon as I landed back in the UK, I started to work out how I was going to set up my own agency and prove him wrong.
Who came up with the name?
Wizard was named after my friend’s yacht that I was sailing on in Antigua
What do you love about the PR world?
I love building brands and working with people
Influencers – Love them? Hate them?
Love them!
What makes Wizard unique?
Passion and integrity and above all doing whatever it takes to make our client’s brands truly successful. We stop at nothing.
A restaurant or chef that inspires you
Ducasse Sur Seine in Paris
Best beauty product, best skincare product
Nudestix Nudies (@nudestix), KVD Vegan Beauty Tattoo Liner (@kvdveganbeautfy) and Algenist Blue C Peel (@algenist)
An object you would never part with
My Mustang
I am bored of any food that I make and just want someone else’s food.. what was the last meal that truly impressed you?
I am lucky that my husband is a fabulous cook and all his meals truly impress me! But… The most fabulous and memorable meal I had was at the Fordwich Arms (https://www.fordwicharms.co.uk/), near Canterbury.
Body oil or body cream?
Soleil Toujours Body Oil (https://www.soleiltoujours.com)
Biggest annoyance during lockdown and what has kept you sane?
Not being able to travel – it is killing me!!!! Travelling to work every day has kept me sane.
The biggest influence in your life
My friend in the Caribbean! He has taught me that you can do anything if you work out how and to never give up.
An unforgettable place you’ve travelled to in the past year
Costa Rica
If you could fly tomorrow, where would you go?
To Castello di Reschio in Italy, - I would rent one of their houses.
Pet hate
Face Masks!!!!!!
Your favourite website
NET-A-PORTER (https://www.net-a-porter.com/gb/en/)
Where would you like to go next?
Caribbean – Guadeloupe to relive Death in Paradise – without the death!
A recent “find”
STAUD - Fab designer from LA
The last music I downloaded
Allie Farben
The books on my bedside table
I don’t have time to read!
In my fridge you’ll always find
Cheese and Wine
The beauty staple I’m never without
Filorga Radiant Lift Cream (@filorga_uk) and Dear Dahlia lipsticks! (@deardahlia_beauty)
Favourite Hotel
Luxury hotel Borgo Santo Pietro in Tuscany