I don’t know if you are in the process of setting up your own business or are just in the middle of a demanding work or home project but all projects have their ups and downs. There are moments of tragedy and moments of triumph. Well, last week was definitely one of joy as I enjoyed a day in Derby with photographer Holly Booth. The journey of setting up a skincare business has many and varied aspects. The most fun of which is the easy part – formulating your products the way your want them. Then there is the equally fun aspect of working out packaging and the brand name and logo. Marketing material is also an essential element and slightly daunting to me but with the help of the lovely Vanessa Emery from Fuzzbox Designs that was soon a done deal. After all of that fun there is the low of negotiating the red tape of EEC and business regulations. All very important but I must admit a real phaff! So after a period of red tape I so enjoyed my day out with a real professional showcasing my products in a way I could only dream of doing with my camera phone. We had so much fun and Holly really got the ‘natural’ aspect of my products and the fruit extract active ingredients that I use. We made a real team with me at a table surrounded by fruit and veg, a knife and a chopping board and Holly letting me know what we were shooting next. Its was the healthiest food days I have had for ages as I munched on the food after being used! What I really loved as well was the way Holly used so many of the props I brought from home. The crystal rock were a much loved present from my parents one Christmas and the moss collected on a dog walk the day before. Even the shells were from a collection we pick up from every time we go to the beach. I love the idea of having really professional looking pictures but also keeping the homemade, personal aspect of what I am doing. Its good to be able to compete with the biggest businesses but keep the ‘feel’ that you get from being a cottage industry. The pictures aren’t on the website yet but keep your eyes open and they should be there in the next couple of weeks. So, all in all a really lovely part of the journey and once I have the pictures on to the next stage. So far business growth had been completely organic through word of mouth but time to drink deep from the cup of confidence and start getting out there knocking on doors and approaching web sellers. If you are interested in my goodies for your own business then do just give me a call or drop me an email and we can talk through the options. Thank you to all of your for your fabulous support to get me this far and good luck to all of your with your own fledgling projects.