Dublin City Enterprise News Talks To......Aisling Hanby
Best friends, Aisling Hanby and Gemma Coady, set up Koh Creative, a successful graphic design studio on Pearse Street, three years ago.
Aisling - How did it all start for Koh Creative?
Gemma Coady and I are young designers who fell into an idea, that grew into an adventure, which developed into a business. We have been best friends since our college days and we merrily ignored warnings telling us not to do business with friends.
We went travelling together in 2008, by the time we got back the business environment had changed drastically. Business ownership had always felt like a natural progression for both of us-it just came sooner than expected.
Our friendship based efficiency is our competitive advantage. Both of us are completely different which, strikes a nice balance – we tend to complement each other’s skill-sets and personalities. We specialise in branding design and strategy, from quirky to corporate concepts and complete promotional campaigns.
What was the reaction of your family and friends?
Primarily pride, sprinkled with apprehension and jealousy.
How did you overcome any stumbling blocks?
In general, it is remembering all the positive things that we have achieved and putting everything into perspective. It is important to ‘sleep on it’ before you make any important decisions, more than likely, things don’t seem so bad the following morning.
Tell us about your business mentor? Kate Hickey our mentor from the Dublin City Enterprise Board (DCEB). She has been fantastic help, and we’d recommend the DCEB mentoring scheme to any new business. A support system for the aspiring entrepreneur is essential, not optional. External constructive criticism from a trusted source is the cheapest most effective way of refining your business. Kate understands our Brand and our goals and espouses many of the same philosophies herself.
What is the best thing about being your own boss?
I am learning so much more about building a business than I ever thought possible. It’s not easy being our own boss, however, the thought of it being ours is enough to motivate and inspire.
And the worst thing?
Working long days and through weekends. It is very difficult to detach yourself from the business when you know the amount of work that needs to be done, so you end up neglecting your personal life! That being said, work doesn’t feel so much like work when it’s your own business and someday I will reap the rewards and it will all be worth it!
Does the reality of running a business differ from what you were expecting, before you started?
Absolutely! We had no idea how much time, work and effort was going to be involved. Business Plans, Projected Figures, etc? Not exactly my area of expertise! However, we ended submitting one of the most detailed Business Plans that our bank had ever received (apparently!)
What's Your Company Vision for 5 Years’ Time?
Sitting at my desk in Junction Studios with a design award for KOH Creative for ‘Best Agency’. We will be inundated with work and exciting pitches. I can see KOH Creative’s’ organic success far outstripping our original aspirations. (I will also make sure to get the odd holiday to reward myself for all the hard work!)
Aisling Hanby from Koh Creative can be contacted at (01) 6458010 or by visiting www.kohcreative.com
Koh Creative also has centrally-located office space to rent at ‘Junction Studios’ on Pearse Street, offering one month’s free rent for Dublin City Enterprise News readers. For more information on this special offer, please visit KOH Creative’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Koh-Creative/122778273101