Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alex Colley, Founder of ikon Boutique Branding & Creative Agency, located in Kemp House, London, UK.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I run ikon, a luxury branding and creative agency for brands looking to target an affluent audience. We work in luxury lifestyle sectors such as fashion, property, and automotive alongside art clients of often consultancies.
Tell us about yourself
I have always known I would be a designer since about 16 but never knew what kind, so I always experimented with art, design, photography, and illustration before settling on graphic design and now branding.
I have a passion for all things creative, and whether that's art or design, it fascinates me, so I love to see it and learn about it. I am more and more motivated over the years to start with it was to create a nice lifestyle, and now there is a lot of potential to turn ikon into something much bigger, so it's interesting to learn how to build and run a business as it's a completely different skill to being a good creative.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Being in business for 11 years now feels like an accomplishment in itself, especially as I read recently only around 33% of businesses make a decade. The biggest accomplishment has been attracting some of the most renowned global brands, and the stand-out one was Cartier. The weight that adds to your credibility as a business is huge.
See some of my other projects here: https://ikon.london/projects
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Everything is your fault. Not enough leads, employees, or freelancers not performing. It's all your fault, as you made the decision in the first place. You do have to leave your ego at the door as you will fail more often than you succeed, but when you do succeed, and you hit it big, there is no better feeling.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Really focus on your ideal target audience - Marketing is hard enough to go after everyone, so be very specific, as it will make your efforts go much further.
- Market the business hard - If you don't have the money, you have to do it organically, but if you have money, invest in getting the word out. It's not always the best product that wins.
- You have to be passionate and believe in what you are doing – You have to be able to be positive through bad times and good, and I think with most things, people underestimate how hard it is and give up too early.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://ikon.london/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ikonlondon/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ikon_london
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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