Happy 2nd Birthday Artstop!
Next week I’ll have been in business two years, which I think is a good time to stop and take stock of how far you’ve come; fortunately August is always pretty quiet so it is a good opportunity to really reflect on everything I’ve achieved.
Thinking back, I really have exceeded my expectations in terms of where I would expect to be after two years. I do think it’s important to look at your business and marketing plans at least once a year to assess whether you’re achieving your goals, contemplate what lessons you’ve learnt, and how your business objectives have changed. A business plan makes sure you have a goal to keep you heading in the right direction, and similarly, a marketing plan is really important to ensure you get and keep a desired type of client.
My business has changed considerably from how it set out; I envisaged a very broad range of projects and clients, but over the two years I’ve very much narrowed this down to concentrating mainly on public sector commissions. This was a bit daunting to start with, as working in the public realm has a huge amount of factors, the work is usually on a large scale, and there are tight restrictions on things such as health and safety, but it is very rewarding.
Doing public sector commissions really has shaped the business; when I started off I thought I would be making everything myself, however I quickly realised there was no way I could manage this as it is so much work and takes so long. Therefore I engaged a manufacturer to actually fabricate the designs, which means I have more time looking after the clients, getting a very specific brief from them, designing the work, and getting new clients. This works really well, and means I can undertake far more work than I would be able to if I made all the designs myself, and I still oversee every stage of the fabrication to ensure it is produced to a very high standard.
Looking forward, I want to concentrate on bigger architectural projects, such as the Eldon Square bus station commission, working closely with architects so my work is integral to a structure rather than being an add-on. I’m also looking at work abroad where I will be able to broaden my professional horizons and reputation. Hopefully in another two years Iwill be well on the way to achieving these goals.
