DUNDEE-BASED jewellery designer Genna Delaney of Genna Design talks to Courier Business.
Q Which market do you cater for?
A Arts and crafts, the jewellery sector.
Q How many staff do you employ?
A I am self-employed with no staff. However, I am looking to take on a local website developer to optimise my online shop, and possibly an apprentice to help in my studio in the future.
Q Why did you start in business?
A Designing and making jewellery is my passion. I realised when I graduated from Cardonald College in 2002 I wanted to set up my own business.
Q How did you get where you are today?
A Lots of hard work, motivation and passion.
Q Who has helped?
A Small Business Gateway (now Business Gateway), PSYBT, and the Cultural Enterprise Office.
Q What was your biggest mistake?
A Being pressurised into something over the phone.
I now realise when you are in business never agree to anything over the phone as you don’t have the seven-day cooling off period which you do as a member of the general public.
Q What is your greatest achievement to date?
A Winning a Jolomo Craft and Design Award in 2011, and being nominated as Best Scottish Artist and Designer in the Scottish Variety Awards 2012.
Q Do you provide any product or service unique to your business?
A My designs are unique and I have six ranges to choose from in varying price categories.
Each piece of jewellery is hand made and inspired by architecture, the Scottish landscape and natural rock formations.
I also offer a bespoke service where I can design and make something unique for each client.
I also do some repairs and can revamp old jewellery into something new.
Q How has your business developed?
A Since graduating in 2006 from Duncan of Jordanstone my business has gone from strength to strength, building up each year.
I have increased my customer base and expanded the number of galleries stocking my work from three to more than 20.
I am always designing new pieces and adding to new collections.
Developing my online shop has also helped to raise my profile and gain international clients.
Q What do you hope to achieve?
A To have my own shop/gallery/workshop where I would run my own jewellery classes and sell my own jewellery as well as other designers’ work.
Q What is the hardest thing about running your own business?
A Working on my own, having to do everything and continue to be self-motivated.
Q What is the highlight of your business calendar or working day?
A I love going into the studio and having time to design and make a challenging new piece of jewellery. I want to produce more statement one-off pieces.
Q What advice would you give to wannabe entrepreneurs?
A If you have the drive and determination to work hard, the passion to strive to push yourself forward, you will succeed.