Robert Bloxham, founder of Orb Creative, tells us how learning from former employers was a good grounding for launching his business and explains his strategy for getting to the top of his market.

Explain your business so my mum would understand it.

ORB Creative is a design and marketing agency based in Birmingham and London. Our clients (usually marketing or business managers) ask us to execute their design and marketing requirements, using a variety of media.

In simple terms we design, illustrate and produce anything you see printed, from adverts in magazines, leaflets in the doctors, to banners on the side of buildings.

We also design and develop websites, set up internal intranets and set up e-shots. Graphically we help our clients communicate their businesses to their audience.

Why did you start a business in the first place?

I have always wanted to be my own boss. Instead of talking about how I would improve on the methods of my previous employers, I wanted to actually do it. The business is an extension of my independence, and having control over my own destiny is very exciting.

What surprised you most about starting up?

The most surprising element is the amount of freedom you have, although there is far more work and stress initially, the feeling of managing your own time without anyone looking over you shoulder is fantastic and also daunting.

But, when moving from a team environment to dealing with all the problems individually this can sometimes be a lonely situation.

Was there anything you would do differently now?

Should I make a list? Not really, having your own business is a journey with a steep learning curve and I am still learning. I’m sure there will be might more things that I wish I hadn’t done, but the trick is to learn from your mistakes.

What was your strategy at launch, and have you stuck to it?

My main strategy was to take inspiration from my previous employers, analyse their business function and its strategies and techniques. I then used the good bits and improved on the bad.

We had a one-year business and marketing plan which we stuck to carefully. Since then we evaluate our business and marketing models annually. We ensure the plans adapt to the market and environment but still aspire to reaching our long term goals.

What’s been your biggest hurdle or stumbling block so far?

Cash-flow! With the business expanding quickly, cash-flow is a regular problem. We need to contend with increasing wage bills, hardware and software purchases and running costs.

This along with an ever increasing slow down in payment time frames often leaves us with difficult decisions based on cost versus value.

And your luckiest moment?

Surviving the first year. It’s not a cliché, it really is the hardest!

Where are you now with the business?

We are at the end of our fourth year of trading, we have moved from being one man in a back bedroom to a Birmingham studio with London connections.

ORB Creative now has a team of full time employees with a great reserve of freelance helpers. Our client base has developed substantially and we are now working with a variety of corporate and creative clients.

Currently we are marketing hard to create opportunities within our current client base as well as new business opportunities.

What does the future have in store?

Sticking to my original plan, within the next ten years we hope to have design studios in Birmingham, London and Manchester. This way we can have a presence throughout the UK and can compete against the very best in the business.

In the immediate future we hope to expand our operation in the London area and maybe buy some studio space of our own. Exciting times ahead!

What’s your best piece of advice for someone who’s about to launch?

•    On the build up to the launch ensure that you have good people around you, taking good advice is critical.

•    Remember that your long terms goals are set but your plans to get there may need to adapt to the business environment.

•    Try to build up some cash for the rainy days.

•    But most of all enjoy the ride, having good business acumen along with a passion for your business is a sure fire route to success.

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By LaunchLab.co.uk  on   Nov 29,2008

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Keywords

starting up    cash-flow    marketing    website    money    payment    technology   

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