Where do you get creative?

According to recent government figures, more and more people are shunning traditional office hours and commutes to set up creative businesses and side projects at home._x000D_ _x000D_ If you’re looking for freedom with childcare or would just love an opportunity to turn your passion into your job, working from home could be right for you._x000D_ _x000D_ Some of Britain’s best and brightest entrepreneurs have proven that you don’t need to rent out a fancy studio or office space to be successful. And while working from home has its challenges, at least you’ll have an excuse to wear your PJs all day (we won’t tell)._x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ In this post, we’re taking a look at what types of business can thrive from the comfort of your own home._x000D_ _x000D_ Home is where the start-up is_x000D_ Perhaps you want to start a cupcake bakery or sell your signature jams and chutneys? Where better to start than your own kitchen table – you’ll never be short of taste testers!_x000D_ _x000D_ Setting up a business from home might sound like a mammoth task, but information from Prince’s Trust and GOV.UK makes it easier, with step-by-step guides and checklists available._x000D_ _x000D_ Once you’ve got your setup sorted, you’ll need plenty of promotional ribbon with your logo to tie around jars, boxes and baskets for local food fairs and farmers markets._x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ A kitchen table can also act as the perfect work space for businesses that need room for you to be creative. Flat, clear spaces are ideal for laying out notebooks and sketchpads, and are big enough to pop your sewing machine on too. Julie Deane famously started The Cambridge Satchel Company from her very own kitchen table._x000D_ _x000D_ Plus, you’ll be near the kettle for those all important tea breaks._x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ Getting creative outdoors_x000D_ The humble garden shed. Once just a place to dump your dusty lawnmower, you can now transform yours into creative retreat._x000D_ _x000D_ Famously, sheds have been known to inspire writers (including Roald Dahl and Dylan Thomas) but they can also act as a fantastic studio for entrepreneurial fashion designers and artists._x000D_ _x000D_ Sheds have plenty of space for moodboards and mannequins, and offer the peace and quiet needed to focus on transforming your ideas into real life garments. Stunning views of the changing seasons are sure to give you a boost of inspiration to finish those ideas you’ve been working on._x000D_ _x000D_ It’s a great feeling when you can stand back and see your finished collection, and it’s often at this point that most designers give us a call. Once they’re getting retail ready, we add the finishing touches with our bespoke swing tickets._x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ We love creative businesses_x000D_ Whether you're baking biscuits or sewing skirts you’ll need to think about your branding – that’s where we come in. While it’s exciting for us to work with big-name brands, when we get that first phone call from a new start-up, there’s no better part to our day._x000D_ _x000D_ It’s rewarding to be able to advise new brands and guide them through the manufacturing process using our 50 years of industry knowledge._x000D_ _x000D_ We understand it can be overwhelming when it comes to branding and you may have lots of questions. Before you call or email, it’s handy to get prepped, read our blog post on what you need to know before you order labels or have a look at our advice guide. When you’re ready, drop us an email with your ideas and we’ll talk you through the rest._x000D_ _x000D_ If you run a creative business from home, why not tweet us a behind the scenes snap of your workspace or show us what you’re working on via Instagram.