Meet the Founder
About
Flo’s Circle is run by Portchester-based Helen Ruff.
Helen launched Flo’s Mag and Flo’s Circle networking events in 2024.
In 2025, Helen set up Flo’s Market, initially in Portchester, then growing to a second market at Royal Clarence Yard in Gosport (2026).
Helen is passionate about ‘real life’; physical magazines as opposed to online content, connecting in person rather than via screens, and shopping local at markets where you can meet the makers, touch the products and keep your money within the local economy.
Helen has a real ‘passion for place’ and loves offering platforms to champion local independent creatives. She believes in the old adage ‘find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life’.
Helen grew up in Greater London and has lived all along the south coast: Eastbourne, Brighton, Shoreham-by-Sea, Chichester and Southsea. She (and her young son Rupert) settled in Portchester in 2020.
The journey to Flo’s Circle
Helen started her career in the travel industry before moving into events. She started her own wedding business in 2009. When she started out she was particularly involved in the vintage scene; vintage china hire, prop styling and unique/alternative wedding fairs. She published her first wedding magazine in 2012 which continued bi-annually and ended up on the shelves in WH Smiths. Covid marked the end of her chapter in the wedding industry and offered a break to try other things (energy healing and rewarding work with the elderly), but it wasn’t long before she was back doing what she does best, championing inspiring creatives.
When she’s not working Helen loves spending time with her son; camping with friends and family and paddle boarding. She has enjoyed a sober lifestyle since 2020 and her favourite ways to spend time with friends are mini breaks, day trips, charity shopping, eating out, theatre and comedy. She loves walking, running and yoga.
