Experiences

Two trained and qualified designers set up a unique brand of organic and environmentally-conscious products as a Limited Liability Partnership. They produce principally organic, printed T-shirts, sets of badges and home interior products designed and made by the partners in accordance with their uncompromising, ethical and environmental values which drives them as individuals as well as the business.

As well as developing their core design, printing and manufacturing skills they have also undertaken a range of self development and business training workshops (business planning, book keeping, marketing, sales skills, website development) through South East Enterprise to bring their skills to a level to enable them to start their own business.

The partners’ core skills are on the design side and the key lesson they leant was the need to develop a robust business plan and test viability before moving headlong into production mode, which was a very time consuming process. In addition, they have discovered the importance of maintaining accurate and up to date management information to enable them to manage their business from a financial aspect. They now maintain their own books and financial returns.

The current delivery channel, which originally was used as a testing ground for their variety of products, is via a stall at Spitalfields market operated on a Friday and Sunday. Sales have grown rapidly over a very short period of time in spite of a conscious decision to limit their marketing strategy to ensure there were sufficient products to meet expected demand.

Plans are now being drawn up, with the ongoing support of South East Enterprise, to expand and outsource or sub contract the manufacturing side of the business and increase the product range to cope with the anticipated increase in demand. The increased demand will be a direct result of lessons learnt through the test trading period, the development of a more formal and focused marketing strategy and a change to an electronic delivery channel, via a new website currently in construction.