Comments on: Small Business – Taking the plunge

By: SYOBO Works

SYOBO Works — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 05:25:15 +0000

The key to my success upon taking the plunge in starting my own business was to keep my focus first to last upon my future and, subsequently, my current customers. From the very beginning I thought “Who do I want to serve?” then “What do they want most that I alone can do for them?”

This drove every effort. It cleared all clouds from the sky during those unavoidable rainy days. It helped me get help when I needed it.

It is the main reason why I’ve done what I’ve done. I track my success by how well I’m able to stay on this course.

By: Marisa

Marisa — Wed, 26 May 2010 10:00:58 +0000

I just started my own business, I’m selling men’s underwear via the Internet in an onlineshop on http://www.gentspants.eu ! It’s still a small shop but I love the idea of being self employed and able to realize your own ideas!
My tip: Be careful with your choice of business partners! I learned to hard way that it is naive to trust s supplier’s word without having a contract, the first one I chose to do business with kept me hanging on for over two month promising me to alreday be working on my desings and the just let me down because my ideas were “too complicated to realize” for him. That delay cost me a lot of time and money, luckily my current supplier is trustworthy and reliable and creates great goods! So don’t lose your hope even if there will be obstacles to overcome from time to time!

By: Chaitanya

Chaitanya — Wed, 26 May 2010 09:59:47 +0000

Im just starting my first proper buisness venture teaching mantra yoga. I have found the power of positivity to be soooooooooo useful. Knowing what you want then going about your day – before too long an opportunity will come knocking at your door/ your face. When you are pursuing your true dream the universe will support you. I keep meeting people who open their mouths when the y meet me and say “this is so fortuitous…my friend was just telling me…” You never know just how the universe is helping set it all up!!! Good luck following your dreams everyone!

By: Gareth Rees

Gareth Rees — Wed, 26 May 2010 09:56:29 +0000

I’d suggest only take the plunge once you know you have a core set of clients in place that you know will provide you with the income to “survive” while you build the business. I’ve been in instances where this wasn’t the case, and where is was and I’ll leave it to you to guess which was the more difficult situation to be in.

By: Rosie Rowe

Rosie Rowe — Wed, 26 May 2010 06:26:02 +0000

Stay passionate, define your goals and network, network, network! Maintain really accurate records and file accurately – the “devil is in the details”!
And the best of luck to you!

By: blue

blue — Tue, 25 May 2010 18:43:01 +0000

I would like to start a business with a friend, but what’s stopping me right now is homework! Once we get down to it though, I think it will be an interesting learning experience… We’re both art students so it will probably be pretty free-form. But we also both love scheduling so everything will probably still be organized. An organized mess… just like my room!

By: Jade

Jade — Tue, 25 May 2010 17:33:43 +0000

I am a student at the moment doing TV and Radio, it isn’t what I want to to. I want to be a primary school teacher and do photography on the side for a bit of extra money but I’m so scared that I won’t make it and I’ll feel silly. But these comments have really inspired me to just throw myself in at the deep end and go for it.
I love Moo and everything that they do, their products are amazing (and ever so cute) and I like receiving their emails telling me about little things like this. I really wish they would hold an event in Manchester so I can see more work. Flikr doesn’t do them justice!
When I’m slightly successful I’ll say a big thank you to Moo.
I Love Yoo
hahaha!

By: Kerry Harrison

Kerry Harrison — Tue, 25 May 2010 17:33:01 +0000

I think one thing is outstandlingly important – make sure that you have PASSION for whatever you choose to do, because when times get stressful/tough/money is short, you need to have that passion for what you do to keep you moving forwards. I love, live and dream photography… and I love that it is now my business too – http://www.kerryjphotography.co.uk.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:49:46 +0000

Wow! Great idea for a blog post Moo! Today just so happens to be my first day working full time with my business, Nephos Design. It took me exactly 2 years to get my stuff together and prepare myself for this step, and also find the guts and the courage to quit my full time job and just do it! Fear is a major thing that makes you hold back. And so I say (as naive as it is), life is to short, just do what you love and the rest will take care of itself!

By: Noel Hannan

Noel Hannan — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:44:52 +0000

As a photographer it is a no-brainer; it has to be your name. However, how you brand the name can be crucial to how you are perceived in the market place. I use a pair of my wife’s red shoes…

http://noelhannanphotography.blogspot.com/2010/05/follow-red-shoe-part-one.html

I have just written a blog entry on this very topic. The best advice is to keep the branding simple but dynamic, unique and memorable. Remember whatever logo / brand you come up with must be somehow anchored to your product, with me it was the photographs, and an extensive use of Moo Minicards to… ;-)