FionaHumberstone
History
- Blog
- View recent blog entries
- Member for
- 41 weeks 6 days
Your details
- Real name
- Fiona Humberstone
- Business name
- Guildford printing.com
- Website
- http://www.guildfordprinting.com
- Profile
Helping small businesses and business start ups communicate the image their business deserves. Fast, flexible, affordable full colour print and award winning graphic design.
- Public email address
- fiona.humberstone@printing.com
- Location
- Guildford, Surrey, UK
- Would most like to meet...
Anyone looking to maximise the power of their business brand. Also other mumtrepreneurs who have successfully (or not!) kept a business alive whilst on maternity leave
- Your 50 words
- mumtrepreneur, branding, logo design, corporate identity, brand, business cards, cooking, mummy, marketing, copywriting, printing, print, business cards, stationery, marketing copy, marketing literature, collateral
Biography
When I left University with my History degree I joined printing.com as a fast-track graduate. Having soaked up as much graphic design and marketing knowledge as I could through courses, books and just keeping my eyes open I was very quickly promoted to Store Manager and then Regional Director, looking after a number of company owned stores and franchises.
Becoming pregnant in 2003 was a huge turning point for me. The corporate monster in me subsided and I became more focused on my bump and creating a sustainable life for the three of us. At the age of 25, I wasn't financially secure enough to be able to give up work, nor even substantially cut down my hours - we needed my salary. So nine months after having Ellie I reluctantly returned to work four days a week. My employer was fantastic at adapting my role to suit my new situation, but my priorities had shifted. If I had to go to work, rather than be at home with my daughter, then I wanted to do something that I loved doing. And I wanted to create a business that I could work around my family.
Fortunately I had the opportunity to buy a printing.com franchise, and six months after returning to work I set up Guildford printing.com from a serviced office; excited about the prospect of making exceptional graphic design and high quality, environmentally friendly print affordable for small businesses.
I absolutely love my job: the challenge of solving marketing and branding issues, the delight in saving someone money on their print; and ultimately the immense reward in creating a truly stonking brand that will transform a business.
Roll on three years and we're a team of four in our own beautiful listed offices overlooking the river Wey and one of the most successful printing.com franchises in the country. I have a fantastic team around me which means that I'm able to fulfil one of my ambitions, of working three days a week. I'm looking at expanding the business further by teaming up with existing Graphic Design businesses in the North Surrey area as well as expanding my own core business.
I've also become one of the core sponsors (and marketers) of the Grow Your Business event which is happening at the Guildford Spectrum on 30th April - visit www.growguildford.co.uk for more information.
How is your business going? I'd love to meet you for a coffee and a chat, or perhaps we'll meet at a networking event soon?
