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Today’s spotlight is on the amazing Happy Bee Designs, and I sat down with owner Clare Bentley to discuss how she started her design business.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your business. How did your creative journey begin?
I’ve always been particularly creative. From cutting out images from magazines and making a two-page spread of what my ideal home would look like to making birthday cards. I loved to craft. I guess it was natural that when I considered publishing my own book that I would make the cover to keep cost down. Then I started making graphics for friends—eventually making covers for them… I toyed with opening my own graphic business and encouragement from friends helped me to take the leap.
What inspired you to start offering your current services or products?
It was actually my editor, Karen Sanders, who first mentioned turning what I did into a business. She’s a great believer in encouraging women to work for themselves if they can and she gave me the confidence I needed to venture out.
What does a typical day look like for you in your creative business?
Typically, if I have a client booked in, I start with a refresh of their request and search for images that best suit what they want. Sometimes it’s trial and error whether something will work, but once I have created a mock up of what they wanted, I check in with the client to see if I’m headed down the right path. Then we generally collaborate on font and the colour for it, until we’re both happy.
What’s your favourite part of the creative process? And what’s the most challenging?
The most challenging for me is knowing whether I have created something the client had in mind. My favourite part is when they tell me I have. Hearing someone say it’s as if I took the image from their head is a great feeling.
How do you stay inspired or motivated during busy or difficult times?
It’s hard. I have days when I feel everything I create is absolutely rubbish. I just have to remind myself of the client who trusted me with the task. It helps me to keep going, even when I feel inadequate.
Do you have a favourite project you’ve worked on recently? What made it special?
I do, and I actually can’t reveal it yet as the author hasn’t quite decided what she’s doing with the covers.
Though, everything I create is special–to me. I am dedicated to every client I work for, so each project is important for to get right. I put the same about of dedication into creating a cover, as I do a logo, and teasers because I put all I am into everything I do.
What advice would you give to someone looking to start their own creative or service-based business?
It’s not easy. There are days when you wonder why you took the leap, but building a client base takes time. And don’t compare yourself to your competition. Each creator does things differently. What you think is important, they may not put much effort into, but by the same token, they may do something you know you’ll never be very good at. Every creator has their pros and cons.
In what ways do you support the creative community?
I like to think I support my creative friends by sharing their work whenever I see a post promoting something. Though, that’s not always the case. Still, if I can’t give a client what they need, I will recommend other designers who I think can.
Are there any upcoming projects, launches, or goals you’re excited about?
None I can think of.
Where can people find you online and follow your work?
People can find me in all of these places >
Website - https://h4ppyb33designs.wixsite.com/happy-bee-designs
Facebook page – www.facebook.com/HappyBeeDesign
Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/happybeedesigns
Instagram – www.instagram.com/Happy.Bee.Designs
