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Lynne Franks

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Lynne Franks
Picture of Lynne Franks
Born (1948-04-16) 16 April 1948 (age 76)
London
NationalityBritish
Known forStarted Lynne Franks PR,
Campaigner on Women's Issues,
Founder of SEED
ChildrenJosh Howie,
Jess Catto

Lynne Franks (born 16 April 1948) founded one of the UK’s best-known public relations consultancies in the early 1970s and is currently an advocate, communications strategist, writer and spokeswoman on women’s issues, sustainability[1] and consumer lifestyles.

Early life

Franks was born and raised in North London in 1948. The daughter of a Jewish butcher, Franks attended Minchenden Grammar School in Southgate,[2] leaving at the age of 16. She completed a shorthand typing course at Pitman's College and was a regular dancer on the popular music TV programme Ready Steady Go![3] Franks initially worked in various secretarial jobs before taking up a journalistic role at Petticoat, working under Eve Pollard and alongside Janet Street-Porter.[4] Whilst assigned to write for and edit the Freemans in-house publications, she met Paul Howie, an Australian fashion buyer and designer, whom she subsequently married.[5]

Lynne Franks PR

Following a brief stint as a PR assistant, and at the encouragement of the fashion designer Katharine Hamnett, Franks started her own PR agency at the age of 21, with her first clients including Hamnett's own fashion business, Tuttabankem,[6] and Wendy Dagworthy.[7] Working initially from her own kitchen table, Franks's success soon had the new agency moving into increasing larger premises in the Covent Garden area of London.[8]

In the summer of 1974, she supported her husband in setting up Howie, a menswear store on Fulham Road.[9] Although the store was initially successful, its location, right next to the football ground of Chelsea F.C. made it difficult to attract the more fashion-conscious shoppers on most Saturday afternoons.[10] In 1976, the business, now renamed Mrs Howie, was moved to the Covent Garden area of London, becoming one of the first fashion stores and designer studios in that area.[11][12] With the shop featuring designs from many of London's new and established fashion designers, and with Franks herself in the perfect position to secure plenty of favourable media and press coverage,[13][14] the boutique was a successful part of London's booming fashion industry.[15]

In 1979, Franks's PR agency was commissioned by the Murjani Corporation to launch Gloria Vanderbilt jeans, one of the first designer jeans to be launched in the UK. Franks used this relationship in 1984 to help persuade Murjani to sponsor a large fashion tent outside the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington, as a venue for British fashion designers to display their talents.[16] This helped to turn the then fledgling London Fashion Week into the centralised and prestigious event it remains to this day.[17][18]

Over the next few years, Lynne Franks PR established itself as one of the leading fashion PR firms in the UK,[7][19] working with many high street brands including Harvey Nichols, Tommy Hilfiger, Brylcreem, Raleigh Bicycles and Swatch.[20] Her agency also represented many of the biggest names in the fashion industry including Katharine Hamnett, Jasper Conran, and Jean-Paul Gaultier; figures from the world of entertainment such as Annie Lennox, Lenny Henry and Ruby Wax,[2][21] and even worked briefly with the Labour Party in 1986, helping to promote Neil Kinnock ahead of the 1987 general election.[22]

Lynne Franks PR was also involved with a number of charities and NGOs. In 1985, Franks helped to initiate Fashion Cares,[23] a fundraising series of events which have since gone on to raise more than $10 million for HIV/Aids[24] In the same year, she helped in the promotion of Live Aid[25] and worked with Bob Geldof and Harvey Goldsmith to create Fashion Aid[26] which raised $300,000 in aid of victims of famine in Africa.[27] The gala fashion show event held in November at the Royal Albert Hall featured some of the world's best-known fashion designers including Armani and Yves Saint Laurent, with designs presented by top models including Grace Jones, Michael Caine, Freddie Mercury and Boy George.

Franks's agency worked with Amnesty International, helping to promote their fund-raising Human Rights Now! world tour, and with John Elkington to promote 'Green Consumer Week' in 1988.[2][28] Franks herself attended the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp in 1984.[29]

By the end of the 1980s, Franks had built a reputation as a colourful and flamboyant personality, and was well known for her adventurous fashion sense, regularly embracing spiritual and new age trends and frequently associating with high-profile celebrities, designers and figures across the fashion and entertainment industries.[30] The character Edina Monsoon in the UK sitcom Absolutely Fabulous (created by Jennifer Saunders, a long-time friend and frequent associate of Franks) was intended to be a satirised version of Franks during this period.[7][31][32][33] Franks pointed out: "Jennifer has said it's not me, and I accept it's a composite character. But I assume she took certain aspects. After all, how many Buddhist PRs are there with two children and a secretary and office like that?"[34] Although Franks may have been initially upset at the parody,[35] she quickly used the publicity to her advantage, renaming the Absolut Vodka party she was organising, as the 'Absolut-ly Fabulous' party and having Jennifer Saunders as the guest of honour to turn on the Christmas tree lights.[36]

Advocate for women's empowerment

In October 1993, Franks made headline news in the national press when she announced that she was stepping down as chairman of Lynne Franks PR[37][38][39] and would concentrate on broadcasting and campaigning on Women's Empowerment and Sustainable living.[40] In July 1995, Franks chaired a consortium including former Jazz FM director Katy Turner and TV executive Linda Agran,[41] that launched Viva! 963, Britain's first radio station for women, with Franks herself hosting a twice-weekly interview show entitled 'Frankly Speaking'.[42]

In order to boost awareness of the upcoming Fourth UN World Conference on Women, which Franks was to attend, she created 'What Women Want' – a two-day festival of seminars, workshops and music at the Royal Festival Hall in London.[43] Held over the bank holiday weekend in August 1995, the event attracted almost 10,000 visitors, with The Big Issue devoting an entire edition to the event and the surrounding issues.[44] The highlight of the festival was a concert on the final night hosted by the comedian Jo Brand, and featuring performances from Sinéad O'Connor, The Pretenders, Sarah Jane Morris and Zap Mama.[45][46]

In 1997, Franks published her autobiography, Absolutely Now!: A Futurist's Journey to Her Inner Truth. Especially well received in the US[47] and making the Los Angeles Times best-seller list,[48] the book chronicles Franks' emotional and spiritual journey since leaving the world of PR, interspersing her spiritual experiences at locations such as the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland, the Esalen Institute in California and the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University in Rajasthan, India, with her ideas on feminism, environmental issues and ethical business practices.

Following the book's publication, Franks moved to California, and formed 'GlobalFusion', a cause-related marketing agency, working to promote environmentally-friendly fashion and cosmetic brands[49] and helping to launch The Big Issue in Los Angeles.[50] She also worked with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation on promoting micro-finance initiatives through their 'Knitting Together Nations' project, helping women refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina[51] and with Bibi Russell on her 'Fashion for Development' program in Bangladesh.[52][53]

SEED

Whilst in California, Franks developed the idea of SEED, an acronym for Sustainable Enterprise and Empowerment Dynamics, as a model for using principles of femininity, sustainability and social responsibility in business. In 2000, Franks published The SEED Handbook: The Feminine Way to Create Business,[54] a guidebook for female entrepreneurs, detailing a values-based approach to creating and running sustainable businesses. Franks launched the book at the Bloomingdales store in New York, which devoted an entire window display to it,[55] and it has since gone on to sell more than 50,000 copies in the UK and US alone.[21]

Franks has since published two more books. In 2004, she published Grow: The Modern Woman's Handbook,[56] a guidebook aimed at helping women to get in touch with their feminine power. This was followed in 2007 by Bloom: A Woman's Journal for Inspired Living,[57] an accompaniment to a set of Affirmation Cards released previously.[58]

In collaboration with Tribal Education, Franks developed the SEED Women into Enterprise Programme, a blended learning course for self-employment. Aimed particularly at women from marginalised and disadvantaged communities around the UK,[59] the programme has been delivered through local government agencies, training companies and charities – including Croydon Enterprise, A4e and The Prince's Trust[60] – as well as to inmates at Eastwood Park[61] and Styal prisons.[62]

The SEED project has continued to grow with workshops and training events held around the UK,[63][64] online resources and exclusive, week long retreats held regularly by Franks at her own home in Deià, Majorca.[65] Local SEED Circles have started up in many areas to provide members with opportunities to network with like-minded business owners in the community,[66] whilst accredited SEED Coaches provide mentoring to new businesswomen starting out.[67] In 2009, she launched the SEED Community Site, a social networking website to connect women entrepreneurs around the world.[68]

Strategic advisor

As well as continuing to develop the SEED projects, Franks has worked as a communications consultant for a number of multinational corporations in recent years, working on their female employee development programmes, and advising on market positioning strategies – particularly for female consumers. She was a member of the Advisory Board for McDonald's in the UK, helping to initiate their Women's Leadership Development Programme,[69] with other recent partnerships including Danone, Cisco and Starbucks.[70]

She currently advises HSBC on their UK and Pan-European campaigns to engage with businesswomen and female entrepreneurs, helping to put on networking events around the UK and in Europe.[71] She has also worked closely with Regus to create and develop the B.Hive network of women's business clubs,[72][73] launching the flagship Covent Garden location in September 2010,[74] followed by further B.Hive centres in Bristol and Manchester in spring 2011.[75]

V-Day campaign

Franks is currently the chair of V-Day UK, a charity created by Eve Ensler, that campaigns to end the violence against women and girls around the world. In March 2009 she organised a 'Women of Influence Lunch' at the House of Lords, to draw attention to the campaign. The lunch was hosted by Baroness Valerie Amos and featured Sarah Brown as the guest speaker, with attendees including Glenys Kinnock, Oona King and Sandi Toksvig.[76]

In June 2009, she organised a breakfast at the House of Commons to host the Congolese Senator and activist, Eve Bazaiba. Attended by Eric Joyce MP (chair of the all-party parliamentary group for the Great Lakes Region of Africa,) Baroness Trish Morris and Sam Roddick amongst many others, the event promoted action plans such as fundraising and advocacy strategies to actively address the issues.[77]

The following November, Franks organised 'The Great Congo Demonstration' at the Royal Albert Hall on the 100th year anniversary of the then Archbishop of Canterbury's call for an end to the violence in the Congo.[78] Supported by the current Archbishop,[79] and other religious leaders, politicians, activists and celebrities, and accompanied by group letters to the press,[80] the demonstration called for an end to the systemic sexual violence against women in the region. The event helped to boost the profile of the campaign, receiving significant press coverage[81] and was mentioned favourably during a debate in the House of Lords.[82]

Public appearances

Franks has featured regularly in the broadcast and print media in recent years. She is a regular contributor to topical and current affairs programmes with appearances on shows such as This Week,[83] Radio 4's Woman's Hour and Loose Women, where she appeared along with Britt Ekland.[84] She was also a guest on Newsnight in June 2010, discussing the expected cuts to public expenditure in the forthcoming UK budget with reference to Thatcher's economic policies in the 1980s.[85]

She has also made various other television appearances. In November 2007, Franks was a contestant on the seventh series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, and contributed to the third series of Grumpy Old Women in the same year.[86] She was a member of the 'Bizchicks' team of entrepreneurs who competed on the Eggheads quiz show in November 2008, alongside teammates including the former dragon, Rachel Elnaugh, Laura Tenison and Emma Harrison, in order to raise money for The Nema Foundation,[87] a charity running projects to relieve child poverty in Mozambique.[88]

In February 2009 she guested on the sixth series of the Channel 4 Programme, Come Dine with Me, with fellow diners Michelle Gayle, Chris Ellison and Raef Bjayou,[89] and also appeared alongside guests including Ken Livingstone, Carol Decker and Toby Young on the BBC Two show, The Supersizers Eat..., the following June.[90]

Franks has made regular and varied public speaking engagements, including at Oxford University in 2007 for International Women's Day,[91] and at Glastonbury Festival in the same year.[92] She delivered the 23rd HSBC Bank keynote lecture at Brunel University in November 2008,[93] was on the judging panel for several enterprise award bodies including the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards[94] and even performed a stand-up comedy routine at ITV's London Studios for International Women's Day 2009.[95] She also continues to write a monthly column for 'Natural Health Magazine'.[96]

In July 2011, Franks was awarded an honorary doctorate from Middlesex University in recognition of her career achievements in business and the media.[97]

Notes

  1. ^ Editorial. "Climate Change: Ten things that the government can do...", The Independent, UK, 3 December 2005, p.4. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  2. ^ a b c The International Who's Who (2004), p. 561, Europa Publications, UK. ISBN 1-85743-217-7
  3. ^ Sale, Johnathan. "Passed/Failed: Lynne Franks", The Independent on Sunday, UK, 1 May 1997. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  4. ^ Retrieved on 24 May 2010.
  5. ^ Franks (1997) p.7.
  6. ^ Retrieved on 27 May 2010.
  7. ^ a b c O'Byrne (2009) p.124.
  8. ^ Franks (1997) p.16.
  9. ^ Fraser (1981) p.202.
  10. ^ Franks, Lynne (2005). The SEED Handbook (Revised Edition), p. 95. Hay House Inc, UK. ISBN 1-4019-0642-7
  11. ^ http://cgjournal.co.uk/?p=109
  12. ^ O'Byrne (2009), p.45.
  13. ^ Roberts, Michael. "The Working Man's LOOK!", The Sunday Times, UK, 6 October 1974 p.38.
  14. ^ Menkes, Suzy. "Flowering Fashion", Evening Standard, London, 18 November 1976 p.7.
  15. ^ Lutyens, Dominic (2009). 70s Style and Design, Thames & Hudson, London. ISBN 0-500-51483-6
  16. ^ O'Byrne (2009) p.127.
  17. ^ Alexander, Hilary. "London Fashion Week celebrates its 25th anniversary", The Daily Telegraph, UK, 15 February 2009
  18. ^ Brown, Annie. "The Frock & Rolly Years; London Fashion Week celebrates quarter of a century of cutting-edge style, stars and controversy", Daily Record, 18 February 2009, p.30. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  19. ^ Cook, Emma, "Life without Lynne Franks", The Independent, UK, 15 September 1997
  20. ^ Turner, Janice. "Sweetie, Darling, You're a Goddess", The Times, London (UK), 6 March 2004, p. 12.
  21. ^ a b Dahle, Cheryl. "How to Make your Mark", Fast Company Magazine, (US), 30 November 2000 (Issue 41)
  22. ^ Tyler, Rodney. Campaign!: the selling of the Prime Minister, Grafton, 1987, p.65. ISBN 0-246-13257-4
  23. ^ "Osocio.org: Two Decades of Drama, Daring and Dreams", 20 April 2006. Retrieved 26 May 2010
  24. ^ ."http://www.fashioncares.com". Retrieved 26 May 2010
  25. ^ Harris, Martyn. "Odd Man out: But darling, who are these people?" The Daily Telegraph, 5 December 1992, p.13.
  26. ^ O'Byrne (2009) p.138.
  27. ^ http://www.live8live.com. Retrieved 26 May 2010
  28. ^ Retrieved on 29 May 2010
  29. ^ Landesman, Cosmo. You've come a long way, baby, The Sunday Times, London 27 June 2010, p.13. (Style section). Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  30. ^ Mower, Sarah. "Catwalk Capital", The Observer, 30 August 2009, p.14.
  31. ^ Come Dine With Me, 2010
  32. ^ Martin, Katherine (2001). Women of Spirit: Stories of Courage from the Women Who Lived Them, p.35, New World Library. ISBN 1-57731-149-3
  33. ^ Tonkin, Cindy (2002). Consulting mastery: the ability myth : when being good is not enough, p. 43, Aragon Gray Pty Ltd. ISBN 978-1-875889-37-2
  34. ^ Lawrence, Janie. "Life's Ab Fab Now, Says the Real Edina – Profile of Lynne Franks", Daily Mirror, London 29 June 1995, p. 31.
  35. ^ Bowditch, Gillian. "My mad, mad Ab Fab life", The Sunday Times, London, 3 August 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2008
  36. ^ Moir, Jan. "Busy, Busy Queen Bee", The Guardian, 2 December 1992, p. A8.
  37. ^ Editorial. "PR Doyenne Steps Down in Boardroom Shuffle", The Times, London, 1 October 1993, p. 3.
  38. ^ Leask, Annie. "Absolutely Fabulous PR Lynne Steps Down", Daily Express, London, 30 September 1993, Front Page.
  39. ^ Low, Valentine. "Lynne Franks Quits as the Queen of PR", Evening Standard, London, 30 September 1993, p. 3.
  40. ^ Editorial. "PR Queen Goes", The Independent, London, 1 October 1993, p.7.
  41. ^ Mitchell, Caroline (2000). Women and Radio: Airing Differences, p.106, Routledge. ISBN 0-415-22071-8
  42. ^ Davidson, Andrew. "That Woman", The Independent, London, 24 June 1995. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  43. ^ Cooper, Tim. "Sex, Nuns and Rock at Lynne's Festival", The Evening Standard, London, 25 August 1995, p.21.
  44. ^ The Big Issue, Edition No. 144, 21–27 August 1995
  45. ^ Milton, Catherine. "UN World Conference on Women", The Times, London, 23 August 1995, p.1.
  46. ^ Cornwell, Jane. "Festival: What Women Want", The Independent, London, 29 August 1995, p.12.
  47. ^ Donnally, Trish. "Absolutely Enlightened", San Francisco Chronicle, California, 23 July 1998. Retrieved 2 June 2010
  48. ^ Whittell, Giles. "Futurism, Darling, is Absolutely the Next Big Thing", The Times, London, 22 August 1998, p.9.
  49. ^ Murphy, Claire. "CSR: Urging Ethical Work", PR Week, UK, 19 April 2002
  50. ^ Anderton, Frances. "Inside Story: LA Story", The Guardian, London, 8 July 1998, p.T8.
  51. ^ Dani News Magazine
  52. ^ Tsering, Lisa. "Bibi's US Victory", India-West, California, Nov 1998. Retrieved from http://www.bangladeshshowbiz.com/bibi/us_fray.html on 2 June 2010
  53. ^ de Courtay, Romy. "AbGab", Los Angeles Times, California, 2 August 1998
  54. ^ Franks, Lynne (2000). The SEED Handbook: The Feminine Way to Create Business. Jeremy P. Tarcher, UK. ISBN 1-58542-015-8
  55. ^ Byrne, Ciar. "Lynne Franks: Working Woman", The Independent, London, 23 May 2005, p.4.
  56. ^ Franks, Lynne (2004). Grow: The Modern Woman's Handbook – How to Connect with Self, Lovers, and Others, Hay House, UK. ISBN 1-4019-0226-X
  57. ^ Franks, Lynne (2007). Bloom: A Woman's Journal for Inspired Living, Chronicle Books, UK. ISBN 0-8118-5755-7
  58. ^ Franks, Lynne (2005). Plant the Seeds and Pick the Blooms, Chronicle Books, UK. ISBN 0-8118-4686-5
  59. ^ Tribal Learning and Skills Catalogue 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  60. ^ Women's Leadership Group Report, Edition 3, The Prince's Trust. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  61. ^ Offender Learning Services Newsletter. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  62. ^ Report from The Prince's Trust. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  63. ^ North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce Report. Retrieved 16 June 2010
  64. ^ Retrieved on 21 June 2010.
  65. ^ Bloom Women's Creative Leadership Retreat details. Retrieved 21 June 2010
  66. ^ Business Link Government Website, Business Link. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  67. ^ International Women's Month Magazine, March 2009 Edition. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  68. ^ SEED Community Website. Retrieved 24 June 2010
  69. ^ Church, Dawson (2007). Einstein's Business: Engaging Soul, Imagination, and Excellence in the Workplace, p.68, Elite Books, US. ISBN 1-60070-015-2
  70. ^ Mayhew, Lucy. "Food Truths: Lynne Franks", Daily Mail, London, 28 March 2005, p.46.
  71. ^ Owen, Vicki. "HSBC launches women in business website and networking event", Financial Mail Women's Forum, 9 March 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  72. ^ Spicer, Kate. "It's good to share", The Sunday Times, London, 4 July 2010, p.12. (Style Magazine). Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  73. ^ Higgins, Ria. "Relative values: Me and my absolutely fabulous mother", The Sunday Times Magazine, London, 8 August 2010, p.8.
  74. ^ Smithers, Rebecca. "Women entrepreneurs embrace networking", The Guardian, London, 25 September 2010, p.1 (Work Supplement). Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  75. ^ Anglesey, Natalie. "Lynne Franks is still fabulous at 64", Manchester Evening News, Manchester, 31 May 2011, p.9. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  76. ^ Letters Section. "Tacking sexual terrorism in Congo", The Times, London, 2 April 2009, p.31. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  77. ^ V-Day Website News Updates. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  78. ^ Original letter dated 18 August 1909. Available online at The Times Online Archive. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  79. ^ Retrieved on 18 June 2010.
  80. ^ Letters Section. Justice for Congo – 100 years on, The Guardian, London, 19 November 2009, p.35. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  81. ^ Howden, Daniel. Spirit of the past inspires Congo Campaign, The Independent, London, 19 November 2009, p.26. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  82. ^ Lords Hansard text 4 Mar 2010. Retrieved on 20 June 2010.
  83. ^ BBC programme listings, BBC. Episode aired on 26 January 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  84. ^ IMDB programme information, Internet Movie Database. Episode aired on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  85. ^ BBC Newsnight website listings, BBC. Episode broadcast on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  86. ^ BBC programme listings, BBC. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  87. ^ http://www.nemafoundation.org
  88. ^ Rachel Elanugh's personal blog. Episode aired on 10 November 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  89. ^ Channel 4 Website Programme Listings. Episode first aired on 22 February 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  90. ^ BBC programme listings, BBC. Episode first aired on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  91. ^ University of Oxford's Department of International Development. Retrieved 27 June 2010
  92. ^ Green Futures Festivals. Retrieved 28 June 2010
  93. ^ Retrieved on 25 June 2010
  94. ^ Retrieved on 3 July 2010.
  95. ^ Comedy Central website listings, Comedy Central (UK), 10 February 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  96. ^ http://www.naturalhealthmagazine.co.uk/ Retrieved 1 July 2010
  97. ^ Middlesex University Website

References

  • O'Byrne, Robert (2009). Style City: How London Became a Fashion Capital, Frances Lincoln Ltd, UK. ISBN 0-7112-2895-7
  • Europa Publications (2004). The International Who's Who 2004, Routledge, UK. ISBN 1-85743-217-7
  • Fraser, Kennedy (1981). The fashionable mind: reflections on fashion, 1970–1981, Knopf, USA. ISBN 0-394-51775-X
  • Franks, Lynne (1997). Absolutely Now!: A Futurist's Journey to Her Inner Truth, Woodstock, Overlook Press. ISBN 0-87951-859-6

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