Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nichola Griffiths, owner of Elimee Designs, located in Hinckley, United Kingdom.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Hi everyone, my business is called Elimee Designs. I design and sell crochet patterns that aim to help you grasp that hygge feeling (both mentally and physically). In addition, I write a crochet blog, record a crochet video blog and offer video-based crochet tutorials. My customers appreciate the value of handmade items and enjoy crocheting projects that are both beautiful and functional. In particular, I have a love of colourwork, so many of my patterns feature an element of this.
Tell us about yourself
I am a mum to three wee girlies who crochet to de-stress from my day job. I was inspired to start crocheting when my grandmother gifted me some gorgeous blankets for my eldest daughter when she was born. When I expressed an interest in learning how to make blankets like these myself, she turned up with a hook, yarn, and a beginner's book and said, "off you go." Since then, my love for crocheting has only grown. I most commonly crochet items to gift to others, and this is how I ended up starting a crochet business. I offered to crochet a gift ('anything') for my best friend when she announced her pregnancy. I couldn't find a pattern that quite matched what she was after, so I decided to have a go at "making it up." The blanket turned out well, and I wondered whether anyone else would like to make one too. The rest is history, lol.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I think that my biggest accomplishment has been growing my business around my existing work and family commitments. I wouldn't want either to suffer in order for my business to succeed, but I do want my business to continue to grow and thrive. I think that feeling passionate about what I do and stubbornly determined has helped a great deal in getting me where I am today.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Finding the time to get everything done! As a small business owner, you somehow need to become an expert at everything - I can't just sit and crochet all day. I need to think about marketing, video editing, accounting, photography, and many other things besides. Not being an expert in these areas means that tasks probably take me much longer to complete, but they still need to get done.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get yourself organised - if you don't keep on top of your tasks, it is easy to start feeling overwhelmed.
- Gratefully accept help - if you have a friend, partner, or colleague who is offering to help you out (and is competent to do so), say YES! There are no medals for doing everything yourself.
- Don't kill your passion - with all of the other tasks that need completing, it can be difficult to find the time to enjoy all of the fun bits. If you allow yourself to be consumed by stress and administrative worries, you'll kill that creative spark and lose interest in your business. Allow yourself some protected time to immerse yourself in the aspects that ignite your passion and fill you with joy.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.elimeedesigns.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElimeeDesigns
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elimee_designs/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElimeeDesigns
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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