Marianne Campbell of Minimum Mouse, 25, Vintage Fashion and jewellery retailer.
How did you get started within this field?
After graduating with an English Literature & History degree, I was not really sure where I wanted to take my career. After a couple of (very dull) ‘proper’ jobs, I decided to give being self employed a whirl, and considering my passion for vintage fashion, setting myself up in this industry seemed a great way to channel my skills. As a teenager I used to make jewellery for myself, so I got back into that at the same time, as a fitting companion to the clothing.
What is the best / worst thing about working within a creative industry or being self employed?
The best thing about being self employed is being able to take the afternoon off to go sledging in the snow, knowing that you are responsible enough to catch up later on when everyone else has finished up for the day. The worst thing is having to be responsible for every last little thing, from getting your tax return in order through to keeping the office tidy! Working in a creative industry is really satisfying, and hearing from a customer who is so pleased with something I have made from scratch never fails to put a big cheesy grin on my face! I guess the downside is having those days where you just don’t feel inspired at all, and having to plough on anyway as there are always bills to pay.
What do you find to be the best methods of promoting and advertising your talents?
Social networking sites have really launched us; we have over 28,000 friends on MySpace and even though it is not as popular as it once was, every time I send out bulletins on there we get some kind of response – website hits, sales, or custom requests. Facebook advertising has also been really useful, as you can target it really carefully and even with the smallest budget you can get results. Press coverage has also had great results – we have been featured in Mizz Magazine a couple of times and this has been great, so I’m always trying to reach out to other publications, websites and blogs who might like to feature us.
Which websites or industry resources do you find the most useful?
Craftster.org is a great place to get tips on various craft techniques; if I have an idea for a product but am not quite sure how to execute it I go straight there. I find that etsy.com is an amazing resource for great raw materials. I always check out vogue.com for trend forecasts so that I can tailor my vintage buying to fit in with coming trends and attract more custom.
What are the biggest challenges you face as a young professional, and how are you overcoming them?
To be honest self confidence is always a worry – I have great plans for the business and sometimes I’m not sure if I can pull them off! I just remind myself that I have got this far, and that as a young person I have nothing much to lose; I think it is so much harder for older people with children and mortgages to take a risk and go it alone.
What are your tips for other entrepreneurs, or those looking to get into the same industry?
I would say that if you have a yearning to work for yourself then go for it – you can start small with only a modest financial investment and a few hours of your time a week, as this will allow you to get a feel for your industry without much risk. If you get a taste for it, you can see how far you can take things. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, there is no shame in working and running a business at the same time. For vintage sellers, I would start out selecting some really individual items from local charity shops and sell them on eBay, as that’s how I started and it allowed me to make my mistakes before things got serious! For jewellery designers, just do your best to keep your designs individual; I do find it a bit depressing how many people just put a charm on a chain and call it their own design. There’s nothing wrong with simple designs like that, and they are often my best sellers, but show your true creativity with more elaborate and original designs to make sure you have longevity and repeat business. And stay versatile – always try to learn new skills and try different things to go alongside what you are already doing.
