What a year…or I should say, 16 months!
I was having so much ‘fun’ in my first year as an interior designer, I forgot to celebrate the first birthday of SA1 Interiors! And now it’s 16 months old already! Time has definitely flown by. So fast that I haven’t had the chance to sit and do a blog post, something which apparently is essential, oops! So here goes me and my rambles that I promised all them months ago…
Firstly, and most importantly, I am eternally grateful to all of my clients so far for putting their faith and trust into my ideas, and I am looking forward to some of them completing in the coming months, so I can share the before and after pictures with everyone on my website and social media (because everyone loves a before and after). It was a very daunting experience taking on projects for the first time, but they have all gone exceptionally well and I continue to love what I do one year in, so that is a success I would say.
So far, to name a few, I have said yes to some great interior design projects in and around Swansea and Wales, including:
Bar Heaven, Wind St, Swansea
A new cocktail/music venue in the heart of Swansea. A great place to start and end your night out. Through creative interior design ideas and with my marketing background, we’ve created key spaces for customers to take photos, a natural social media prompt helping the bar gain online exposure. I highly recommend their cocktails too!
Vitality Gym, Port Talbot
A great community based gym with fantastic factilites in Sandfields, Port Talbot. The gym had a stagnated membership base and some of the facilities weren’t being used. Now the membership has gone up after the revamp and members are taking photos for social media. A great way to get free publicity.
A beautiful coastal property in Pennard, Gower
Clients had moved into a contemporary designed property, a style they weren’t familiar with. They knew what they liked but didn’t know how to create the design in this new space. I’ve helped them from start to finish from consultation to installation, and we are about to get their new kitchen installed, which we can’t wait to see finished.
A promising Victorian terrace in Mumbles
Clients purchased a beautiful Victorian terraced property in the lovely Mumbles. A full renovation project from the outside in, all the way from ground to attic. Both of them working full time and the project taking more time than anticipated, they needed help with some of the decisions and ideas. The interior design package has taken some of the hassle out of the project, by making all the decisions ready for the trades people to work their magic, whilst the couple carried on with their busy working life.
An apartment in need of TLC in the Marina, Swansea
The owner of this dated property, which has been in the family for decades, lives abroad. The apartment needed a full renovation, including new kitchen and bathroom. We are over the half way mark with this newly renovated family holiday home by the sea, ready for the whole family to enjoy throughout the year.
There’s been a few more in between to keep me busy and challenged, which is why I started this in the first place…and what a challenge it has been! So whilst I finish off some projects and await the photos, I thought I would share some things I’ve learned along the way in my first year being self employed as an interior designer. I never thought I could achieve this much in a year so I thought why not sure some of the highs and lows involved in taking a leap into running your own small business:
1. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable leads to great things. Do it scared.
2. Saying ‘yes’ more really does pay off.
3. Social media is a scary place when you have to open yourself up to be judged, but here’s hoping it will help me grow my business to the next level.
4. Networking is not a dirty word, it’s essential. I have met so many great people in the networking groups I’m part of.
5. So many people are willing to help with by sharing their wisdom of being self employed, more than I imagined. I have learned a lot from other people I have met along the way so far. There’s always someone willing to offer guidance and support and sometimes you don’t even have to ask.
6. If you can’t do something, outsource it, or get a good coach or mentor. I can recommend one I am using now for marketing and sales, he’s helped me get started with this blog. So get in touch if you need any contact details.
7. Every day is a chance to learn something new, LinkedIn being one of them which I didn’t expect. Every day is a school day.
8. Personal branding isn’t so scary if you find the right person to help you. I’m about to do the most daunting thing of all, which is have my picture taken by a professional, but I’m actually excited about it! Watch this space.
9. Find a good photographer to take photos of your work because your iPhone just won’t cut it.
10. There aren’t enough hours in the day when you are one person being the whole company, but if you choose a job you love, you will never work another day in your life. Unless it’s doing accounts, then obviously find a good accountant and possibly even a book keeper, because nobody wants to go to prison for not paying tax.
That’s all for now, let me know if you would like me to write about anything in particular, hints, tips, good places to shop or answering any of your interiors related questions!
Shelley x
SA1 Interiors…more than creative ideas.