It’s important for us all to save money wherever we can. This is especially true for business start-up’s....and I’m really not one to go spending when there could be ways around getting my wallet out (bet all my mates reading this are propa chuckelin to themselves, hearing me admit this....I’m a great person to go to the pub with!). So at the early stages of creating my business, I’m looking at ways I can reduce my expenditure whenever possible.

I’ve spent a long time trying to find up and coming artists to create the art for my band T-shirts and album artwork. I’ve used Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to get in contact with artists and explain that although I cannot pay them at the moment, there would be a number of opportunities they will benefit from by designing various works for the business. Their work will be profiled and discussed through my blogs and videos on the fishbowl website, helping them raise their profile and get their work noticed. Once the money starts coming in, I will begin to pay artists to do this work, and I will always try and involve those who helped me out in the beginning.

I am also in a fairly unique position to help those designers find further work. As I am based at the Hive Enterprise Development Centre I am always meeting new people setting up businesses who are on the lookout for good designers. This word of mouth advertising I can do on their behalf, direct to their exact target market can be invaluable and I will do all I can to spread the word for them. I have already secured one of the designers I have been working with a contract with another company, so it’s already been beneficial for them!

I have also been in contact with the heads of art at Nottingham Trent Uni. They have been kind enough to forward an email to students on their courses outlining what I am looking for in the artists and the benefits I can offer them. I’ve had some great responses and have found a number of really talented artists who are beginning to create some amazing art pieces for Sharabang to use. As soon as things are ready, I will post their work up here and see what you all think of it! If anyone else fancy’s getting involved, email me at mjjstockman@gmail.com for more info. Although I can’t pay (quite yet!) there are still a load of benefits for getting involved!

Labels: design, fishbowl1, nottingham trent, students