Business Profile: iDesign / Love Box Wedding Stationery
Contact: Terry McClean
Businesses: iDesign / Love Box Weddings
T: 028 8224 0149
E: info@idesignni.com / info@loveboxweddings.com
Can you describe your business?
We are a creative design agency offering graphic design and branding, website design, digital marketing, full colour printing and large format printing for exhibitions and trade shows. To keep us on our toes we also run Love Box Wedding Stationery.
Why did you start your own business?
I had been employed as a designer for a number of years and developed a strong individual design style. As my style developed my ideas about how that style would come to life within my own business also developed. I knew there was a great opportunity for a design agency with a fresh, unique approach. I proposed to my girlfriend just a couple of days before starting the business so the plan to start a family helped motivate me to make it a success.
What are the best things about running your own business?
It’s great watching the business grow, both in our client list and staff levels. We have recently moved from our modest little pink building on the Brookmount Road to our new 3,000sq ft studio and production premises in the Gortrush Industrial Estate. We get loads of great feedback from both established businesses and those we’ve helped launch and most of our clients come to us via positive word of mouth so it’s good to know that we must be doing something right. As a designer I love the freedom I have to let loose within my own business.
What are the main challenges facing the business?
We have been so busy in recent years working with other business’ that we have struggled to implement ideas to benefit ourselves. We knew we needed more staff and equipment to keep up with how busy we were getting but it was difficult to find the time to source either. We have recently added local graphic/web designer Bill Mawhinney to our creative team. Having worked for busy studios and commercial printers for over 10 years for clients large and small he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the iDesign family. Also, with recent investment in new machinery we can expand our list of services this year.
What advice would you give to someone starting a business?
Do a lot of research before you make the move. I attended the start-a-business course in the Enterprise Centre, some of the classes really opened my eyes to sides of business that I never really considered. Be prepared to work hard and well beyond 9-5 hours. When you are estimating costs keep in mind that it will nearly always cost you double.
Can you describe your experience of running a business in three words or less?
Stressful yet satisfying.
