In early September an initial meeting was set up with Laura Hollis-Ryan from Arts & Business and my new mentor*.

Having had several business mentors before, I have had experience in dealing with unsuitable mentors. I learned that the most important criteria which must be met by a mentor for a start-up business is relevant experience. There’s no use at all in having someone who has worked for a large corporation advising on the day to day running of a start up. A mentor should be able to wear many different hats, not just an expert in one thing. A flexible nature is crucial in a mentor as this is the nature of a start-up business.

On meeting my mentor my expectations were surpassed. His relaxed yet confident approach put me at ease instantly. With the first hand knowledge of creating several start-up’s his wealth of experience and professionalism quelled any concerns I might have had about entering into a new mentoring relationship.

At the end of September I was told by my patron and host for my Christmas show, that I needed a greater variation of stock. She explained that there must be a wider range of gift ideas seeing as it was Christmas and there would be men as well as women buying. We concluded that key-rings and cuff-links would be a good addition as would some smaller jewellery items such as earrings and pendants.

Successfully creating these additional ranges would ultimately depend on my manufacturing capabilities, time management, and of course investment…fingers crossed!

(*Partnerships between craft makers and mentors will be officially announced at the launch of Crafted on Wednesday 25th November!)