Alison Cork

Last updated

Alison Cork

MBE
Born
Alison Helen Lucy Cork

(1963-07-28) 28 July 1963 (age 60)
London, England
NationalityBritish
EducationClassics, Newnham College, Cambridge
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, writer, broadcaster
Years active1983–present
Website alisonathome.com

Alison Helen Lucy Cork MBE (born 28 July 1963) is an English interiors expert, entrepreneur, author, and TV presenter. She is the founder and CEO of online brand alisonathome.com and founder of Make It Your Business.

Contents

Publishing

In 1992, Cork co-founded mail order publishing company Carnell Ltd with entrepreneur publisher John P Gommes. The company was subsequently floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1994. It published titles such as How To Talk To Your Cat and Vinegar, Honey and Lemon, Nature's Medicine Chest. [1] The Government Auction Handbook sold 200,000 copies in the space of a few months. [2] Alison's 1994 book Profit Through The Post, was voted Book of the Month by Mensa. From 1995 onwards, Cork wrote five books including The Streetwise Guide To Renovating Your Home and Special Occasions. Published in 2000, it included various recipes and creative ideas.

Broadcasting

In 1996, ITV commissioned Cork's first network show, Home In The Country. From 1997 onwards, Cork has presented a number of TV series, including Countdown To Christmas and Domestic Magic (both for Channel Five). In 2005, Cork presented a 30-part series for ITV called Don't Move, Improve , which saw her travelling the country with fellow presenter Michael Holmes. [3] From 1997 onwards Cork has presented various home interest shows including Homes & Property, 60 Minute Makeover and Help I Hate MY House!. In 2012 she presented Secret Removers for Channel 4 and in 2015, Alison presented Cowboy Builders.

Since 2014, Alison has become a regular presence on Home Shopping Channel QVC featuring her interiors collections.

In 2020 she launched on HSN in the United States.

Journalism

Cork has also written weekly interiors column for the London Evening Standard since 2002. [4] Since 2005, she has also written a weekly column for The Daily Telegraph called Bargain Hunters, showing readers where to find the best deals and negotiating discounts on their behalf. [5] Cork writes homes and interiors columns and features for several national papers, including The Times , The Guardian, The Observer, and I. [6]

Online

In 2011 Cork launched two furniture collections for Made.com. In September 2012, Cork launched an online furniture and accessories business, Alison at Home. [7] In 2017, Alison launched several bathroom collections for online bathroom retailer Victorian Plumbing.

Charity

From 2013 to 2015, Cork was an ambassador for PRIME (The Prince's Initiative for Mature Enterprise).

In 2017, Cork founded The National Women's Enterprise Network, which incorporates Make It Your Business, a not-for-profit initiative to encourage women to set up their own business

In 2020, Cork became an Ambassador for the British Library Business & IP Centre network with the aim of helping them to establish a Business and IP Centre in every library in the UK by 2030, to support SMEs and to stimulate enterprise, particularly in the post Covid economy.

Politics

In 2018, Cork was appointed Conservative Champion for Women Entrepreneurs. She was longlisted but not shortlisted to be the Conservative in the 2020 London mayoral election.

Honours

In 2021 Cork received the Freedom of the City of London.

Cork was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to female entrepreneurship. [8]

Personal life

Cork met her husband Efi Zazo in 1996 after dialing the wrong phone number. They now reside in London's Belgravia with their two sons. The purchase of Cork's home was featured in the Telegraph under the headline "Belgravia or Bust", detailing her journey to find out and overhaul her dream home. [9]

Television credits

YearProgrammeChannel
1996The Christmas Show – writer/presenter – 6 part series Westcountry Television
1997–98Home In The Country – writer/presenter – 6 part series ITV
1999Home In The Country – writer/presenter – 6 part series Westcountry Television
2002Countdown To Christmas – writer/presenter – 12 part series Five
2004Domestic Magic – writer/presenter- 6 part seriesFive
2004–0960 Minute Makeover – guest designer – variousITV
2005–06Don't Move, Improve – co-presenter – 30 part seriesITV
2007–08Homes & Property – presenter – variousITV
2009–10Help! I Hate My House – writer/presenter - This Morning segment
2010–11Get The Look For Less – writer/presenter - This Morning segment [10] ITV
2012–13Secret Removers – co presenter – 6 part series Four
2014–presentCowboy Builders – designer/presenterChannel Four
2014–presentThe Alison at Home Collection - designer/presenter [11] QVC and HSN

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Dickinson</span> English antiques expert, television presenter and entrepreneur

David Dickinson is an English antiques dealer and television presenter. Between 2000 and 2004, Dickinson hosted the BBC One antiques show Bargain Hunt, where he was succeeded by Tim Wonnacott. Dickinson left the BBC in 2005, and since 2006 he has been hosting the ITV daytime show Dickinson's Real Deal. The show sees members of the public bringing antiques and collectables to sell to a dealer or take to the auction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinny Woodall</span> English fashion advisor and designer (born 1964)

Sarah-Jane Duncanson "Trinny" Woodall is a British beauty entrepreneur, businesswoman, fashion and makeover expert, television presenter and author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BBC Worldwide</span> 1979–2018 commercial subsidiary of the BBC

BBC Worldwide Ltd. was the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the BBC, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in January 1995. The company monetised BBC brands, selling BBC and other British programming for broadcast abroad with the aim of supplementing the income received by the BBC through the licence fee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butter chicken</span> Indian gravy chicken dish prepared with butter

Butter chicken, traditionally known as murgh makhani, is an Indian dish originating in Delhi. It is a type of curry made from chicken with a spiced tomato and butter (makhan) sauce. Its sauce is known for its rich texture. It is similar to chicken tikka masala, which uses a tomato paste.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diarmuid Gavin</span> Irish garden designer and television personality

Diarmuid Gavin is an Irish garden designer and television personality. He has presented gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show on nine occasions from 1995 to 2016, winning a number of medals, including gold in 2011. He has also authored or co-authored at least ten gardening-related books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Kabat-Zinn</span> American professor emeritus of medicine

Jon Kabat-Zinn is an American professor emeritus of medicine and the creator of the 'Stress Reduction Clinic' and the 'Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society' at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Kabat-Zinn was a student of Zen Buddhist teachers such as Philip Kapleau, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Seung Sahn, and a founding member of Cambridge Zen Center. His practice of hatha yoga, Vipassanā and appreciation of the teachings of Soto Zen and Advaita Vedanta led him to integrate their teachings with scientific findings. He teaches mindfulness, which he says can help people cope with stress, anxiety, pain, and illness. The stress reduction program created by Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), is offered by medical centers, hospitals, and health maintenance organizations, and is described in his book Full Catastrophe Living.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Social entrepreneurship</span> Approach to develop, fund and implement solutions to social or environmental issues

Social entrepreneurship is an approach by individuals, groups, start-up companies or entrepreneurs, in which they develop, fund and implement solutions to social, cultural, or environmental issues. This concept may be applied to a wide range of organizations, which vary in size, aims, and beliefs. For-profit entrepreneurs typically measure performance using business metrics like profit, revenues and increases in stock prices. Social entrepreneurs, however, are either non-profits, or they blend for-profit goals with generating a positive "return to society". Therefore, they use different metrics. Social entrepreneurship typically attempts to further broad social, cultural and environmental goals often associated with the voluntary sector in areas such as poverty alleviation, health care and community development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Koch</span> Author of books

Richard John Koch is a British management consultant, venture capital investor and author of books on management, marketing and lifestyle.

Timothy Wonnacott is an English chartered auctioneer, chartered surveyor, antiques expert, narrator, and a television presenter. He was previously a director of Sotheby's, one of the world's oldest auction houses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aliza Sherman</span>

Aliza Sherman, also known as Aliza Pilar Sherman, Aliza Sherman Risdahl, and Cybergrrl is a new media entrepreneur, author, blogger, women's issues activist, and international speaker. She is known for her expertise in online marketing and networking. Her primary focus includes addressing women's issues on the Internet, while empowering women to expand their role and involvement in progressive technology and the new media industry. In 1995, Sherman was named by Newsweek magazine as one of the "Top 50 People Who Matter Most on the Internet". She was one of only three women on the list. In 2009, she was named by Fast Company magazine as one of the "Most Influential Women in Technology", in the Blogger category. She is a native of Honolulu, Hawaii.

Sarah Lucinda Beeny is an English broadcaster and entrepreneur, best known for presenting Property Ladder (2001–2009), Britain's Best Home (2003), Streets Ahead (2005–2006), Property Snakes and Ladders (2009), How to Live Mortgage Free with Sarah Beeny (2017), Sarah Beeny's New Life in the Country (2020–present) and Sarah Beeny's New Country Lives (2023).

William Kay is a British financial and business journalist.

Entrepreneurship is the creation or extraction of economic value. With this definition, entrepreneurship is viewed as change, generally entailing risk beyond what is normally encountered in starting a business, which may include other values than simply economic ones.

Patrick Lawrence Chapman was an English food writer, broadcaster and author, best known for founding The Curry Club.

Hilary Lorraine Devey CBE was an English businesswoman and television personality best known for her role on the BBC Two programme Dragons' Den until she left to present the Channel 4 series The Intern.

Frances McNeil, also writing as Frances Brody, is an English novelist and playwright, and has written extensively for radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holly Tucker</span>

Holly Lee Tucker is a British entrepreneur, and UK Ambassador for Creative Small Businesses. Tucker is founder of Holly & Co, and founder of notonthehighstreet.

Victoria Nixon is a British author and company director. She was previously an international fashion model.

Judy Piatkus is a former British publisher, who founded her own company, Piatkus Books, in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Chambers (psychologist)</span> British psychologist and entrepreneur

Lee Chambers is a British businessman and radio host. Chambers has been interviewed by Vogue, The Guardian, and Newsweek, and is known for analyzing inclusion and wellbeing in the workplace. He was born in Bolton, United Kingdom, and is the founder of PhenomGames and Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing.

References

  1. http://journalisted.com/alison-cork
  2. "Government Auction News – Government Auction Handbook Rerelease 2011". Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  3. Alison Cork at IMDb
  4. Evening Standard – The Really Useful Column
  5. The Telegraph – Bargain Britain
  6. "read all about em". Alison Cork via various – via Journalisted . Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  7. "Buy page for The Wolsey Collection". Made.com . Archived from the original on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  8. "No. 63918". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2022. p. N18.
  9. The Telegraph, Alison Cork’s Bargain Belgravia
  10. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : ITV "Get The Look for Less" in Manchester. YouTube .
  11. http://www.qvcuk.com/CatalogSearch?langId=-2&storeId=10252&catalogId=10152&sc=SRCH&keyword=alison+cork