Name: Graphix Direct
Area: Greater Manchester
Website: http://www.graphix-direct.co.uk/
I am a graphic designer specialising in educational displays and design. In July 2012 I took voluntary severance from the school I was working at. This gave me enough cash to pay myself a small salary and fund my business for the following 12 months.
I've worked as a graphic designer for 25 years, initially in retail, then at an agency and for the past 19 years in the education sector.
In order to keep down costs I design and maintain my own website. I also use social media to raise my business profile; this is free of charge so one would be foolish not to use it as a platform to raise awareness.
From working in a school, I have a good working knowledge of how schools work, how to help teachers save time and how to create impact and purposeful displays on budget. This has helped me in my specialism. This is so important when you are trying to establish a new client base; you have to know your subject and be able to provide clients with new ideas and products.
Something new I have had to learn is chasing up unpaid bills. I have never done this before and was nervous at first, but you soon get used to it and most people pay up once you have phoned to remind them!
So, I would say that funding has been the main factor in helping me to establish my business, along with hard work, networking and a willingness to adapt and learn new skills.
Wendy Webster is the founder of Graphix Direct
