insideKENT Magazine Issue 75 - June 2018 | Page 167

KATE & GEMMA OF THIS ART OF MINE, THURNHAM // www.thisartofmine.co.uk
What sparked the initial idea for
your business?
As a mother and daughter team, running our
own business together was always a dream
of ours. We decided to go down the art route
primarily because it is a shared passion, but
also because we believe it is an important
activity for people to experience and enjoy,
adults and children alike.
What was the first step you took in getting
off the ground?
The first step was finding a venue, whether to
head into the town or use one of the farm
buildings. We decided on the countryside. We
knew it would take longer to establish the
business this way, but now the countryside is
part of the attraction. We converted part of a
barn into a contemporary art studio. This has
been a very successful move for the business
as it gives us space to run multiple pottery
parties and art events at the same time. The
fact that the studio is also situated on a peony
farm helps attract customers in the summer
months too. Once the venue was sorted we
pooled our savings, got our finances in order,
began investing in stock and equipment and
continued to work our day jobs!
What’s been the toughest challenge you’ve
faced so far and how have you overcome it?
There’s been ups and downs, but one of the
bigger challenges was probably during the
tough economic times, when big corporate
event work was harder to get. To combat this,
we went back to roots focusing on the studio
and teaching more and more classes. It has
been wonderful to see that side of the business
flourish too.
What’s been your biggest achievement
to date?
how turbulent it can be for small businesses
in the initial years. We’re proud to say we’re
still going strong and we are looking forward
to celebrating 10 years!
In your opinion, what separates a product
that will be a success from one that won’t?
We have put the time into getting to know our
customers and creating a fun, relaxed
environment for them. We also try to keep
ahead of the game when it comes to fashion
and trends. This helps us design classes and
products which will sell well for us.
If you had one piece of advice for anyone
thinking of launching their own art
business, what would that be?
Do a lot of research into your potential
customers and the products they might like;
try not to base things solely on your own taste.
We do not take it for granted that the business
has reached its eight-year mark as we know
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