Mallycat's Business of the Season

Mallycat's seasonal feature promoting artists and designers of Wales. From fantasy art to designer organic baby clothing, beautiful handmade wedding stationery and other handmade, bespoke gifts. Our third interview is with Victoria Lewis from Pembrey. Victoria is the designer and maker of the most beautiful handmade wedding stationery and runs Confetti Designs.

Confetti Designs

Mallycat: Tell us what you do at Confetti Designs.

Victoria: I design and make bespoke, handmade wedding stationery.

Mallycat: You certainly have a gift for designing the most beautiful stationery... What made you decide to use your creative talents to provide your wedding service?

Victoria: I have always made my own cards, even as a little girl. In 1999 I made my best friend's wedding stationery, the year after I made my sister's stationery, then one of the staff at my daughter's nursery asked me to make her stationery for her and at that point I began to consider it as a possible business venture.

Mallycat: What were your first steps towards starting Confetti Designs?

Victoria: I attended a few 'business start up' day courses with a local business support agency; wrote my business plan; registered the business with Revenue & Customs; opened a business bank account; created a portfolio of designs and then worked with my husband (and I.T expert!) to build my website. In terms of marketing my first steps were to have some business cards and a display banner printed and to book a stand at a Wedding Fayre.

Mallycat: It sounds like you had really thought everything through. Were there any specific challenges to overcome?

Victoria: I was made redundant from my job as a Development Officer in early 2006, so decided to use this break in my career to launch my business. I had two children under the age of 3 at this point, so the biggest challenge was starting up and running a business from home whilst still maintaining a work life balanceit still is a challenge at times!

Mallycat: Would you consider yourself to be 'self taught'?

Victoria: Yes, I am self taught. Although I have a G.C.S.E and an A Level in Art and part of my Degree was Art based, but my card making skills are self taught over the years.

Mallycat: As a designer is it important that you have your own studio to work from?

Victoria: Yes it is! I have a workshop in the attic area of our dormer bungalow where I have a work station a computer desk and am surrounded by all my equipment and materials neatly stored in a multitude of drawers and boxes. It's my child free haven!

Mallycat: Tell us, what does a 'typical' working day for you, involve?

Victoria: I start by checking and responding to emails, then I either continue work on an order in progress or design a bespoke sample pack for a new customer. I am limited by school and nursery times, so often try to squeeze a few hours work in the evenings if possible.

Mallycat: Designing wedding stationery must involve a tremendous amount of work and attention to detail, how long does the design and creation of a wedding stationery package take to complete?

Victoria: I usually set aside a week in my work schedule to complete the Invitation stage of an order (depending on the size of an order) and then another week later on to complete the Day Stationery part of the order.

Mallycat: Do you use any specialized tools or materials?

Victoria: I use lots of different cutting tools, adhesives and more specialist things like embossing inks, powders and heating tools.

Mallycat: The quality of your work is clearly very important to you, but What would you consider to be the most important aspect of your work?

Victoria: Keeping my designs fresh and of a high standard. Delivering a highly efficient yet personal and friendly service at all times. Positive feedback from my customers is vital to me and I consider the testimonial page of my website to be the most important page of all.

Mallycat: Have you won or been nominated for any awards, or had your work featured in any magazines?

Victoria: One of my designs was featured on the 'Wedding Stationery Gallery' website, and I received a lot of enquiries and orders as a result of that.

Mallycat: Confetti Designs has a beautiful website, is it through this that you promote and sell your designs?

Victoria: My website is a key tool in promoting my work and my business and I get a steady stream of enquiries from that source. I also occasionally exhibit my work at wedding fayres, which has proved to be an excellent stimulus for gaining new orders. Most importantly I have found increasingly as time goes by that my business is promoted for me by previous customers who recommend me to their family, friends and colleagues.

Mallycat: Who do you design and make your beautiful wedding stationery for?

Victoria: For couples who wish to have high quality, uniquely personal handmade stationery packages created to reflect their personalities and design choices.

Mallycat: When we first saw your website and designs, we were stunned at the quality of your work and the warmth that your website portrays... is this what you believe makes your designs and service unique?

Victoria: I think the bespoke nature of my stationery makes it unique. Each package is uniquely tailored to each couple, so no two packages are the same. I often accommodate requests for bilingual stationery, where Welsh and English are woven into the design as well as featuring bilingual card and insert text.

Mallycat: We've seen your 'Testimonials' page on your website which is brimming with compliments about your designs and your service... so tell us, what is the 'best' compliment that you've ever received about your work?

Victoria: I am lucky to receive lots of lovely comments and testimonials from my customers. I always feel that the best compliment is when someone, who has been recommended by a previous customer, contacts me ready to place an order before even seeing a sample of my work as they are so encouraged by what they have heard of my work and the service I provide!

Mallycat: What do you love most about designing wedding stationery and running your business?

Victoria: I love being able to express my creativity through my work and enjoy the challenge of the design process. Also, I love meeting new customers and am always amazed at how different people and their ideas are!

Mallycat: And finally... What advice would you give to someone starting a business?

Victoria: If you have a good idea, don't get too overwhelmed by everything you need to do. It is worth gathering your thoughts and ideas together in a simple business plan and getting some advice in the early stages, but I don't think everything needs to be perfectly in place before you start. Your business will grow and develop as you go along and as your experience and knowledge increases. Being your own boss and making your own decisions is very empowering.

If you'd like to know more about Confetti Designs and the unique, bespoke service that Victoria provides, why not visit the Confetti Designs website for yourself Victoria is able to design,create and supply the full range of wedding stationery for the big day. And with a long list of very happy customers, a free design consultation and a new range of exciting designs this month, now is the perfect time to visit Victoria's beautiful website. Just click on the link below..

www.confetti-designs.co.uk

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