I'm finally back at my desk and settling into the new year and after taking a little time looking back over last years planner before it goes in the bin, I've realised how far my little business has come in a year. Since I've enjoyed reading other people's posts about their achievements I thought I'd share mine too.
2014 saw me; giving up my part time job, licensing my first card designs, doing my first trade fair, hiring a professional photographer, joining Not On The High Street, working on my first book, celebrating the Business's second birthday and having my products sold in Etsy house!
After a busy January working like a mental person to get new products ready I exhibited at my first trade fair in February (Spring Fair!!) and shared a few valuable tips about my experience of it.
This was a huge learning curve for me and I learnt so very much, not only from chatting to buyers, but also other exhibitors, and even attending some of the seminars.
Just before the Spring Fair I picked up my first international stockist in Switzerland after being featured in Country Living magazine which was amazing, and I'm still waiting for a good excuse to go and visit!
February also saw me begin an awesome partnership with the super talented Holly Booth Photography. Based in Derby I had spent a lot of time enjoying the work Holly had been doing with other creatives, and I won't lie...I really hate taking product photo's. I can't get the lighting, there is no nice space in my house I can use, things fall over, look messy and I get fed up. So I knew I had to bite the bullet and I'm so glad I did.
Holly has done all my photo's since and I've never looked back.
Design by Louise Wright
Photo by Holly Booth Photography
In March market season kicked off again and I spent my weekends in Leeds, Loughborough, Beeley and Leek selling my work to the public, which kept generating a fantastic response (Thank you so much everyone!!)
I also traveled to Sheffield one very rainy day and gave a presentation on myself and my work to an art group there, which I was very nervous about, but they had tea and biscuits and they got so involved and interested in my work that I soon settled down and it went really well.
Phew!
April saw me exhibiting at BCTF in Harrogate, then along with lots of lovely wholesale orders, the commission work started coming in and things got rather busy!
My stand at BCTF
The summer and autumn blur together in a wonderful work filled haze, I spent my weekends selling at markets, the weeks illustrating, and the realisation that I was being able to support myself through the business was truly brilliant. - I still feel like it might of just been a lucky break and it might come to end at any point!
July - A Glimpse of my stand at the Fabulous Places Summer Market.
In November I'm really pleased to say that my products were selected for the fantastic Etsy House Shop that opened for one weekend only in Covent Garden. The shop got so busy people were queuing outside to go in!
In between markets and Christmas orders I handed in my first black and white illustrations for a fiction book in December which I'm really pleased with and I will show you more when I can.
I would like to say a massive thanks to everyone who has supported my business over this last few years, it's never been easy but I so love being able to do this, and you all make it possible <3
2014 thanks you were a blast and I hope 2015 can compare!!