The Deskie: Meet Hanushka Toni, Founder & CEO of Sellier

Hanushka Toni is the CEO of Sellier, the UK’s leading curated luxury resale platform. The city lawyer turned founder doesn’t do conventional workspaces—her office is wherever she needs to be, whether that’s the shop floor in Knightsbridge, her home, or even the plane.

She shares her go-to tech, productivity hacks, and the daily rituals that keep her focused (spoiler: Earl Grey tea and a fresh blow-dry are non-negotiable). From dictation over typing to Spotify-fuelled work sessions, here’s how she blends efficiency with style in her ever-evolving workspace…

 

Most of my day is spent…

Between our Knightsbridge and Belgravia locations. I love being on the shop floor, talking to customers and being involved in the day-to-day of our operations. As a CEO, I believe you can’t be too removed from the frontline of your business. For us, it’s where we understand our customers. It’s also where you see first-hand which products are performing well and where we need to adapt.

I also live nearby, which means if I need to really focus on something—whether it’s strategic planning or simply clearing my inbox—I’ll work from home. My workspace is less about a fixed desk and more about being where I’m needed most at any given moment.

The essentials I always have on my desk are…

A strong cup of Earl Grey tea, always. Some chocolate—nothing fancy, just Cadbury’s Chocolate Buttons or Chocolate Fingers. My laptop, of course—I can’t remember the last time I used pen and paper.  

Sellier is…

At its core, an e-commerce business, which means I can work from anywhere. I thrive in environments where there’s a lot happening around me. Even when I was in law school, I never studied in the library—I hate silence. I work best in spaces with movement, conversation, and music.

That said, ask any CEO, and they’ll tell you the best place to get work done is on a plane. No distractions, no notifications pinging every two seconds. I hate flying, but I love what I do – so it’s quite convenient to be able to do something I love in an environment I don’t want to be in.

I am at my most productive when…

I feel good in myself. It’s not the big things that anchor me into my routine, but rather the small daily habits that make all the difference. I work out almost every morning—going to the gym sets me up for the day. I always have a fresh blow-dry and a mani-pedi because I feel more put together when I look after myself. Skincare is another non-negotiable, and little rituals like gua-sha or regular facials help me feel my best.

Beyond self-care, my productivity is also fuelled by my relationships—I talk to my closest friends and family every day. When I’ve worked out, done my skincare, and checked in with everyone, it becomes so much easier to settle into work and focus. When you feel good physically and mentally, you approach everything with more energy and clarity.

Caffeine….

I love a beverage—tea, coffee, matcha, you name it.

As for managing tasks….

I don’t overcomplicate things. I tend to work on multiple things at once, only leaving my seat when I’ve completed a batch of tasks. Then, I move on to the next. It’s a little chaotic, but it works.

Personal mementos that hold special significance…

I tend to compartmentalise work and personal life, so I don’t keep personal mementos in my workspace. However, my phone screensaver is a picture of my family, which is probably the only sentimental thing in my work environment.

My  workspace has evolved over time…

I’ve become better at working anywhere and everywhere. This isn’t always a good thing—it means there’s no clear separation between work and life. But as a CEO, especially one who likes being hands-on with daily operations, it’s a necessity.

My tech set up is….

My Apple MacBook and WhatsApp are my essentials. I don’t like Slack—it just feels like another inbox I have to keep track of. For collaborative work, Google Docs and Google Sheets are game-changers. Before these, we were practically living in the dark ages. Being able to collaborate in real-time without endless email chains is a game-changer.

My tips for fostering creativity and focus…

I’m not nearly planned out enough to curate a formal workspace, but I know I work best when there’s comfort and something visually stimulating around me—whether it’s an interesting interior or a great view. I get in the zone when there’s visual interest, and that’s probably why I always end up working on holiday. There’s something about a gorgeous view that just makes me reach for my laptop.

When it comes to comfort vs professionalism…

Comfort always wins, but aesthetics matter. I’m very visual, so I prioritize having a workspace that looks great while still feeling comfortable.

The gadgets I can’t live without are…

My Dennis Gross LED Face Mask – I swear by it. I use it everyday, and swear I see the difference

An instant boiling water tap – Tea or coffee in seconds.

The app I use daily is…

Spotify is my go-to. I have an eclectic taste in music, and love discovering new artists. Personally, I find that there are few things more motivating than aggressive heavy metal.

The tech tip that has significantly improved my workflow is…

Dictate instead of typing. I dictate everything. It means I can send long messages in seconds as opposed to minutes and allows me to action a lot of things quickly.

The Modems’ Byte-Sized Questions:

💻 iOS or Android? iOS

🎧 Earbuds or over-ear headphones? Earbuds

📱 Text or voice notes? VN

📸 Phone selfie or proper digi camera? iPhone

💡 Dark mode or light mode? Light mode

💄 Filters or no filter? Love a filter for atmosphere

💳 Apple Pay or designer wallet? Apple Pay

📺 Netflix marathon or TikTok scroll? TikTok—it knows me better than I know myself

📖 E-book or audiobook? Audiobook

🎶 Spotify playlists or YouTube deep dives? Spotify

🖥️ Desktop setup or laptop on-the-go? Laptop