Sixteen years ago today, I set up my own little business … a boutique consultancy called Art in Marketing. It was founded on the principle that great marketing has more to do with creativity and imagination than business formulas and textbook science. My business got off to a flying start with some big clients like Coca-Cola and Santander and continued to soar with a wonderful array of clients from all sorts of industries, large and small.
When I opened back in 2003, the life expectancy for a start-up business was only about 2 years but I didn’t really think much about that. Instead, I kept my mind focussed on doing a good job for the clients I had in hand and just let the future unfold come what may.
I didn’t have any grand plan to run the business for this long. One project for one client led to another project then another … then one client recommended me to another client and another … and so on and on until a decade and half rolled by.
It’s been a great journey working for so many amazing brands of all shapes and sizes and the best bit has been the opportunity to get to know a multitude of fabulous people along the way.
Just like a girl’s ‘Sweet 16’ birthday marks a coming of age moment in her life, this day marks the start of an exciting next stage for me … I’ll still be around for those who need my helping hand and the ‘art in marketing’ will continue as a philosophy (plus a book!) but no longer as a limited company. The same creativity and imagination that ignited my little consultancy all those years ago will be taking me on some new adventures … can’t wait to see what unfolds!
