HARRIET! THANKS FOR YOUR TIME! PLEASE, GIVE US YOUR STORY!
Hi! I’m Harriet Moon-Jenkinson, Co-Founder of Not Your Standard (https://www.notyourstandardagency.com), a local boutique full-service marketing and public relations agency. I grew up in Cayman, but went to the UK for boarding school, university and work in London, and have been back on-island full time for 8 years.
For me, being a kid in Cayman is synonymous with that smell and sense of intense heat when you get off the plane after a long-haul flight. I have so many fond memories of endless summer days as a teenager here. Coming back from a long-term at school and meeting up with childhood friends that you may have not seen or spoken to in months, but it was like you'd never left each other. Carefree days at the beach, mid-week boat trips up to Rum Point or jet skiing across the North Sound – I'll never forget that sense of freedom and pure joy of long summer days (and very late nights!) in Cayman.
THIS ISLAND HAS CHANGED SO MUCH IN THE LAST WHILE, hasn’t it? WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CHANGE YOU'VE SEEN SINCE BEING A KID?
Development, even over the last 8 years. While I love the connectivity and conveniences of Cayman’s infrastructure, I would’ve loved to experience the island my parents and in-laws moved to in the late 70s/early 80s.
IF WE COULD ALL GO BACK, AMIRIGHT? SO WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN PARADISE?
You can’t beat the lifestyle here, having lived in London (and worked and lived at either ends of the city) the commute from West to East would take up to an hour each way. Here, you're never in the car much longer than 15 minutes door-to-door. The consistently great weather means there’s no excuse not to get outside for an early morning workout or an after work sundowner. The sun is always shining, it’s hard not to be happy in Cayman!
SO YOU RUN A MARKETING AND PR COMPANY, THAT’S COOL! TELL US WHAT INSPIRED YOU to lead in THIS CAREER PATH?
For the last two years, my business partner, Michelle Wight and I have been working with a tight-knit group of local and regional clients who like to do things a bit differently, using our marketing experience and passion to really help them to drive sales, experiences and brand affinity through creating truly great brands, that have real visions and real stories, as well as innovative campaigns that utilise some of the newer marketing tactics – like experiential and influencer marketing – to captivate audiences.
I always hoped to work in a creative industry. I trained as a journalist at London College of Fashion and had planned to work for a magazine, but fell over to the 'dark side' of public relations working for a couple of boutique fashion PR agencies before moving in-house to a high-end fashion boutique in the trendy parts of East London. When I moved back home to Cayman, I worked in the PR team of Dart Real Estate, and then in financial services Marketing & Communications, where I met Michelle, and we built out the global marketing function for a well-known financial services provider
WORK NEVER ENDS DOES IT? TELL US WHERE YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR DAYS OFF TO RELAX AND ENJOY YOURSELF!
Hmm, days off? The fun never stops as a small business owner! When I’m not behind my computer, on a client shoot or prepping for an event, I love simply getting lost in a book in the sun – we’ve just moved back to South Sound, where I grew up, and we now have a pool and overlook the sound, which makes doing this really easy! I’m a real bookworm from childhood and, more recently, I’d really let reading slide in favour of the inevitable millennial bad habits, like too much screen time. My new year’s ‘resolution’ this year was to read a book a month – and so far, so good.
YOUR INSTAGRAM PROVES YOUR LOVE for style! GIVE US YOUR ISLAND SECRETS, WHERE DO YOU SHOP? NAME 3 PLACES AND GO!
For surprisingly good second hand, Carey’s Karma Closet (https://www.facebook.com/CareysKarmaCloset/) – I’m always amazed by the high fashion finds I dig up in there that are often in pristine condition. The Mercantile (https://www.facebook.com/themercantileky/) at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort for boutique swimwear brands like Made by Dawn and Solid & Striped, and handmade jewellery from UK designer Cabinet Jewellery (https://cabinetjewellery.com). And the local thrift stores for absolute gems for dress up parties (there’s always a dress up party in Cayman!) and Hesha for the accessories.
WHAT ABOUT A LITTLE PAMPERING? TELL THE READERS YOUR TOP PLACES TO TREAT YOURSELF?
No.11 Spa (https://no11spa.com) for the experience and the best facials on island – the Bespoke Four Corners Facial is out of this world and their Yin & Yang Facial is centred around facial reflexology, and will help cure ailments before they’ve even come to a head. For a day of true indulgence, the La Prairie Spa (http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/caribbean/grand-cayman/spa) at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
A SPA DAY MUST INCLUDE COCKTAILS AND LUNCH! WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE YOUR GIRLFRIENDS FOR LUNCH AND FAB COCKTAILS?
Bacaro (https://www.bacaro.ky) for lazy late afternoon tapas and great cocktails. Tillie’s (https://www.tillies.ky) is the new place in town, with a good vibe and an interesting menu. Rackam’s (http://www.rackams.com) for dive bar prices and strong drinks plus their food is surprisingly good, too.
LOCALS (and tourists) LOVE LOCAL DISHES. WHERE DO YOU SEND YOUR VISITORS FOR THAT LOCAL DISH THEY CAN'T LEAVE [CAYMAN] WITHOUT HAVING?
The Grape Tree Café in Bodden Town for Fish Fry, on the way up to Rum Point for a Bioluminescent Kayak Tour with Cayman Kayaks (http://www.caymankayaks.com/our-tours/bioluminescent-kayak-tour).
