Tributes have been paid to entrepreneur Marcie Incarico.
The board director of Mix Interiors died on Sunday surrounded by her family after battling cancer.
Incarico set up Out There Events in 2001 and met former Mix Media and Mixology (now Mix Awards) owner, Henry Pugh in 2007, helping him to launch sister event Mixology North in Manchester.
She subsequently took over the running of both Mixology events, in London and Manchester, transforming them into the largest commercial interior design awards in the UK.
When Pugh passed away, Incarico took ownership of the wider business in 2013, which included both the industry-leading awards programme and Mix Interiors – the print and digital title for commercial interior design.
Across almost a decade, she steered the business’s growth, building the team, strengthening its market position and introducing new elements into the portfolio.
In 2022 she stepped back from her managing director role, as the company transitioned to an EOT structure – remaining a board member, while handing day-to-day operations to Leon March.
Today her husband Martin Mongan wrote: “My beautiful wife, and Luigi and Bella’s incredible mum, lost her battle with cancer on Sunday.
“She leaves us with broken hearts but with lives enriched by her presence. She was my inspiration for 34 years and I know she had the same impact on many others.
“Her hard work, determination and meticulous attention to detail ensured she built in Mix Interiors, a very successful business she was immensely proud of.
“But it’s the human impact that Marcie had on others that she also should have been proud of, but quite often struggled to recognise.
“With her straight forward approach, generally littered with expletives and masses of humour, she could captivate a room within seconds of arriving.
“She leaves a huge hole in our lives but we are all better for having known the phenomenon that was the beautiful and awe-inspiring Marcella Incarico.”
Friends and colleagues have paid their tributes to Incarico.
Franky Rousell, founder and CEO of JOLIE, said: “A gorgeous, kind soul with a fabulous sense of humour who always shone in the room and made it her mission to champion other business owners. Sad to lose a friend and an inspiration in our industry, she will be sorely missed.”
Harry McKinley, managing editor of Mix Interiors, said: “Marcie was truly a towering figure in the commercial interior design industry — known for her no-nonsense approach, her wit and, above all, for how much she cared about her work and the people who make this sector what it is. She will be missed.”
Leon March, managing director of Mix Interiors, wrote: “Marcie was a brilliant and funny woman. Indeed a force in the industry, and a friend. She was one of a kind. I will miss her very much.”
Tributes can be emailed to [email protected]