Before we left London, on a very grey rainy Winter day, I took my camera around to Belle’s place because I love the interior and I knew you guys would love to see it.
And by now you, my lovely readers, probably know I’m writing a book. There’s more to the book than the book – the book is just the beginning. And I wouldn’t be writing it today if I hadn’t had Belle and business partner and Esther – who make up Benson & Boulton – there to guide me. They helped me pull my ideas together, to create something tangible and marketable. And to give me a vision for the future on where I can take this.
They come very well qualified – Belle helped get Jonathan Adler off the ground and went on to found Bird and Baby Bird boutique in Brooklyn. Esther, who has worked at MOMA and the V&A, also co-founded The Duke of Cambridge, the first and only certified organic pub in the UK.
What’s the background story on Benson & Boulton – how did you guys get where you are today?
We were asked to advise on the same project in 2008, using our own business experience and quickly realised how much we both enjoyed talking about how to run a business efficiently and how to problem solve for small businesses. We meet a variety of unique businesses and owners and they each have their on set of challenges but they all have a passion for what they do and what they are selling/providing and they have often worked incredibly hard to get the business where it is . It is really inspiring to be working with people like this.
While we both have experience in business that is traditionally more “creative”- fashion, food, interiors – we both feel that starting and running a business is a very creative pursuit whether or not the business is based in craft or plumbing supplies.
How did you and Esther get started?
We ended up both working on another friend’s project and we decided to make it official in 2010.
Business advisers? What does that entail? Do you have a particular area you specialise in?
Sometimes we call ourselves Business Partners for Hire – as that’s what we want our clients to feel like. When you are running a business it can be very isolating in terms of decision making and people often need someone else to bounce ideas off and check they are going in the right direction.
We provide experience and knowledge from all of our years in running businesses but also with all of our enthusiasm and sympathy.
We specialise in the creative industries, but have had clients that run from plumbing companies to psychotherapists, but also lots of textile designers, lamp makers, leather workers, fashion designers, book shops… many retailers are having a difficult time at the moment and we have recently seen a rise in the number of these businesses coming to us.
We also work with a lot of start ups, the Internet has opened up a whole new set of ways to fund and start small businesses and it is a really exciting time for many start ups although the competition is high and you have to get it right!
What sort of consultations do you offer – can people Skype in?
We offer support in a variety ways:
1. Workshops – one of which is very soon at Craft Central on Pricing for Designer Makers
2. Business Surgeries – an hour and a half of hands on, on-the-spot problem solving.
3. Ongoing support in which we work with businesses on whatever projects they need help with- be it pricing, marketing, planning…
We have yet to do a workshop online, but the others are absolutely available to do on Skype. We have a few clients in The States and we always Sykpe with them!
What are your fees? Most people will be wondering can they actually afford you.
A Business Surgery with both of us is £120 for 90 minutes and the ongoing support varies as then we will split up to do different types of work, but we each charge at £40/hour.
Your dreams for the future?
To get through all of the things we plan on doing for the business when things slow down!
Like updating our website…
All photos © Charlotte Franklin | Anknel and Burblets
All photos © Charlotte Franklin | Anknel and Burblets
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