Sweet Sucess

It is very common for women to put their career on hold when they have children. Susan Allen had taken eight years out from her successful Graphic Design Career to concentrate on her family. When she decided to start working again, she wanted to start her own business, work from home and be her own boss. She founded Sugar Design in September 2006, offering graphic design services to small businesses.

Susan had worked in graphic design for many years, working for large companies around the world. She knew she was a very good designer but as she puts it ‘designers are kept separate from the business side, they are left to be creative.’ She found that she knew very little about running a business. Susan’s bank advised her to go to BDS, where she was advised by David East. David taught Susan everything she needed to know in order to professionally and efficiently run her own business such as the difference between an estimate and a quote, about invoices and cash flow forecasting. David also advised Susan to attend the Business Planning Course, run by BDS.

Susan found the course extremely useful, she says it enabled her to ‘produce a business plan, set myself goals and ultimately to see if my business was viable.’ Susan found the course particularly useful as a networking tool. It gave her the opportunity to meet other businesses, to discuss how they were doing and tell them about her business. She says ‘by the end of the course I had been commissioned by three of the other businesses, this really got my company off the ground.’ Susan describes the course as fundamental for running your business.

As her business grew, Susan found she needed what she describes as ‘a business mentor’. She now visits David East three times a year. ‘Seeing David helps me to get a fresh perspective of the business. It helps me to take time and reflect on my company.’ As part of this reflection, sue started to have personal doubts about the success of her business. BDS knew how well she was doing and entered her for the Mid Essex Business Awards which she went on to win. ‘Winning the award was a huge confidence boost for me; I would not have won it without BDS’ help.’

Susan hopes to grow Sugar Design in the future and would like to be in a position to help young Graphic Design students by helping them gain experience. The only advice Susan has for small businesses is ‘go and see BDS if you are starting or thinking of starting a business, their expert, practical advice is great and they always have time for people. Even if they just pop in off the street.

www.sugardesign.info 01376 572628 sugar.design@virgin.net

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