What do you currently do?
I am a Director at Noted in Style; an award-winning creator and supplier of premium customised and branded products for the corporate, events and marketing sectors.
As Creative Director my time is spent overseeing the design and marketing side of the business, experimenting with production processes and researching and designing new products.
In addition to the creative aspect of the company, I work alongside the other Director on business growth and development.
What is your inspiration in business?
My inspiration is the pursuit of creativity and excellence in all that we do. Having worked in several design agencies, and having run my own before founding Noted in Style, I understand how our customers operate, their restricted timeframes, frustrations with suppliers and the need for more than just an e-commerce ‘point and click’ solution. This knowledge combined with a passion to exceed expectations is what drives me.
Having customers praise you on how well the products have been received and how easy the order and design process was is great, not just for me but the entire team, as it’s a real team effort.
Who do you admire?
Throughout my life there have been many people that I admire. A few of them have stood out above the others; for example a tutor at St. Johns College who taught me very early on in life to believe in your ideas and always give it your all. He was somebody who would not let anything stand in his way, even if it meant going against the established grain. Another is a previous boss from a design agency I worked at, who repeatedly demonstrated how to, and the value of, exceeding customer expectations.
In more recent years Sir Richard Branson is someone I have come to admire, not just for what he has achieved himself, but because he continues to innovate and inspire others. I’m a big advocate of those who achieve great success giving back to help create the next generation of creative entrepreneurs.
Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?
I’m not sure there is. With hindsight it’s easy to analyse flaws, but part of growing a successful business is learning by your mistakes. You need to experience these to be able to keep pushing forward and improving. I’ve made many in my time, but I make sure I learn from them.
What defines your way of doing business?
I listen to our customer and try to exceed their expectations. I am, by my own admission, quite particular about how things should be done and have exacting high standards. My ethos has been a fundamental part of Noted in Style’s approach to business. Not just meeting but exceeding ‘the standard’ is what we’re about.
What advice would you give to someone starting out?
Firstly, make sure you understand your market and your customers, as your ideas may excite you, but fall short of what your potential customers actually want.
Secondly, don’t be afraid to ask for help, as you do not know everything and cannot do everything yourself. A successful business is always a product of a team effort in the end. Equally though, don’t always feel compelled to slavishly follow advice professionals may offer you. Sometimes your gut instinct is a better route to follow.
Finally, if you fail, pick yourself up and move on. Believe in yourself.
