Jane Banks of LaserFlair, Upper Largo, gives an insight into her laser cutting and engraving subcontracting business.
Q What does your company produce?
A Most of my business is contract manufacturing.
I laser cut and engrave a wide variety of my own solid oak products to create personalised and corporate gifts including baby and wedding keepsakes.
I also engrave slate table-ware and olive-wood platters, company logos, quotes and weddings.
I exhibited and sold some of my cut wood line art at Pittenweem Art Festival.
Recently, I taught my first ‘designing artwork for laser cutting’ course.
Q How many members of staff do you have?
A Only me: sole trader.
Q How did you start?
A I started LaserFlair in April, after several redundancies and jobs I didn’t enjoy very much.
This technology enables me to return to manufacturing and refocus on my creative side.
Q How did you get where you are today?
A I studied chemistry with medicinal chemistry at Glasgow University.
My first job was with Akzo Nobel in Buckhaven in large- scale pharmaceutical manufacturing.
I completed an MBA through distance learning at Heriot-Watt University.
After working as a drug rep for a couple of years I returned to manufacturing at Curtis Fife Papers in Guardbridge as the product development manager until the mill shut.
Q Who has helped?
A My husband. He set up and optimised the machine, installed the services and provides ongoing technical support.
Q What was your biggest mistake?
A Procrastinating and worrying about everything rather than getting stuck in and starting sooner.
Q How has your business developed?
A Even since I started eight months ago the bulk of the business has shifted from one-off personalised products for new babies and weddings sold online to corporate work.
Q What is the hardest thing about running your own business?
A Spending money, and doing things I don’t enjoy without anyone to make me do them. I have to ask my husband to ask me whether I have done certain things when he comes home.
Q Any advice to wannabe entrepreneurs?
A Minimise your financial outlays to make your business as sustainable as possible and help you sleep at night.
If possible, have a go at starting small while doing your current job so that you can test your idea and build some revenue streams while you have some income.
And don’t be afraid to network.