What Does It Take To Build A Top-Notch Interiors Brand?

10 designers and creatives share their heard-it-here-first business secrets

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1 Take your time

Don’t rush! Take time to develop a cohesive story and a brand that represents the aesthetic and message you are trying to convey. It’s always good to have a goal or a timeline to work towards, but don’t launch something until you are sure it represents what you are trying to achieve.

Jehanara Knowles, founder, Kam Ce Kam, kamcekam.com

2 Be original

Start with the product, not the brand. No amount of clever marketing or a fancy name will rescue a product that does not deliver. You have one chance at making your customer happy and, if you blow it, that customer will make it their business to spread the sad tidings as fast as they can!

Edward Bulmer, founder, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk

3 Be principled

Have a genuine reason for starting your creative enterprise. A problem to solve or methodology which is new, and learn how to articulate it as part of your brand communications. A business built on your values is more compelling for potential clients and even more meaningful for you the creator to plow your time and energy (and ultimately heart and soul) into. Don’t follow trends or even just the crowd, lead the way. Also, hire the right people. People who are better than you, who have the skills you lack, and who bring new and useful expertise. This goes hand in hand with hiring good people. You can teach someone to work better but you can’t teach someone to be nice if they’re not.