BUSINESS + TECH
to be researched well enough to ensure you know your business inside out, but also flexible enough to accommodate every possible contingency. How are you going to market your product? How are you going to approach investors? How are you going to find investors to approach? Have you worked out where to source cost-effective supplies? Do you know whether you’ ll need staff soon? How many and in what capacity? Are you clued up on government compliance?
Even when you have an excellent plan, things might not go according to it and you’ ll need to have every possible variant of viable answer for each of these questions on the tip of your tongue, and for thousands of similar questions too.
EXPECTATION: I’ ll meet with investors and bowl them over with my dazzling charm. They’ ll believe unquestionably in my idea and become my closest business confidents, helping me to hit the big time.
REALITY: Relationships involving money are fragile to say the least, so although it’ s important to build a strong relationship with your investors, it needs to be based on trust and your ability to deliver what you’ ve promised as opposed to what great value you are down the pub on a Friday night. A faultless first pitch may well be enough to secure a round of funding, but those investors have put their money firmly where your mouth is and will have an ever-seeing eye on one thing: returns.
The bottom line is that it’ s misplaced romanticism that assumes becoming an entrepreneur makes you an overnight success- no matter how hard you work or how faultless your customer service is. 20 % of new businesses fail within the first year they open, 48 % during the first five years and 65 % during the first 10. Which is in no way intended to come across all doom and gloom, we’ re just weighing up every possible‘ reality’, and if you have your ducks in a row you’ ll probably swerve a fair few of them. Entrepreneurs should set those around them alight with the fire in their belly and financial freedom should be the secondary reason that they want to go it alone. The winning combination? Don’ t let money obscure your view, don’ t chase it from the wrong people, don’ t promise what you can’ t deliver, don’ t define your success by your bank balance, and work extremely hard. Even if you find yourself flailing, buckle up and face the challenges – remember that your business is an idea that’ s worth fighting for and no one ever said success came easy, but, if you’ ve got the grit and an iron will, entrepreneurship can offer rewards unlike any other career path. inDEPENDENT BUSINESSES
AS WE CELEBRATE THE EXCEPTIONAL CREATIVITY OF OUR VIBRANT COUNTY, WE TAKE A LOOK INTO THE JOURNEYS OF THE FLOURISHING SMALL BUSINESSES THAT INSPIRE ART THROUGH THEIR OWN CRAFTY VENTURES.
JACKDAW AND BEAR jackdawandbear. co. uk jackdawandbear
Jackdaw and Bear is the creative studio of husband and wife team, Al and Hayley, printmakers based within the North Downs in Kent. They use traditional printmaking techniques, focusing on the linocut process, to create beautiful natureinspired designs on original art prints, cards, gifts and most recently, homewares. Marrying their previous studies, illustration and wildlife conservation, and born out of the need for creativity during Covid lockdowns having always talked about starting their own business, Jackdaw and Bear was established from Al and Hayley’ s kitchen table in 2020.“ Our designs are mostly inspired by native flora and fauna with inspiration taken from local countryside and coastal walks, wildlife monitoring and the beauty of nature that catches our eye when out and about!” This coming year, they are looking to expand their homeware range and gain more independent wholesale stockists, plus a few more sketchbook designs are poised for carving.
THE CRAFT HAVEN thecrafthavencanterbury. com thecrafthavencanterbury
Wanting to add to the fun of pottery painting through hands-on workshops with a difference, Issy Magdalena created The Craft Haven, a wonderful Kentish small business that specialises in ceramics-based workshops for keen crafters of all skill levels.“ My workshops give people the chance to slow down, try something new and make a piece they’ re proud of.” After attending a ceramics course herself last year, part-time teaching assistant Issy completely fell in love with the art and wanted to combine a teaching element into it. Fast-forward to today and The Craft Haven, as well as hosting monthly Sip & Sculpt sessions at Fenwick in Canterbury, also runs mug-making workshops from its Blean studio. When asked what was in the pipe line for The Craft Haven, Issy shared some exciting plans:“ I’ d love to take my workshops to other venues to make them more accessible to everyone. Come along, have fun and make your new favourite clay masterpiece!”
JEWELS BY EVIE MAE jewelsbyeviemae. etsy. com jewelsbyeviemae
Inspired by the beauty of the South East coast, Jewels by Evie Mae is a one-woman business created by Evie Anderson that strives for sustainable practices in craft and fashion. Using recycled sterling silver and sea glass, Evie is passionate about carefully selecting materials and therefore handpicks the sea glass from beaches across Kent, making each piece one-of-a-kind. What began as a hobby has quickly flourished into a heartfelt small business, with Evie set to graduate this summer with a degree in jewellery and silversmithing, and showcasing her work on Etsy and at local markets across Kent. So what’ s next for Jewels by Evie Mae?“ I can’ t wait to return home to Ramsgate, the heart and soul of my business, where I’ ll continue to expand,” says Evie.“ I hope everyone can find something they love at Jewels by Evie Mae so they can keep a piece of the coast with them wherever they go!”
198 • www. insidekent. co. uk