We clocked up 23 years in business this week….
by Steve Andrews
We clocked up 23 years in business this week….
Okay, so 23 years is not really seen as a major anniversary milestone, but we’ve seen so many changes, worked with and for so many people and reinvented ourselves so many times that some comment should be made!
Dave and I opened for business at the Old Chapel, Silver Street in Newport Pagnell on the 4th October 1988. Working with our drawing boards, layout pads, magic markers and cow gum we regularly worked deep into the night on our creative ideas, allowing ourselves the daytime hours to meet with our customers and pursue new business.
I can remember Dave and I making a major presentation to an accountancy business at 9.00am on the 20th October 1988, having witnessed the birth of my eldest son Callum at 5.00am that same morning! Interestingly, the senior partner of that same business visited us just last week to discuss his branding.
Unbeknown to us the 1990 recession in the UK was lurking ahead, but this served to focus us on tight financial control, an experience that has stood us well in recent times….
Ours is an industry where long established companies are rare and most creative businesses lack people with the energy for the long haul. We cannot comment on all the people that have worked with us over the years but a mention of a few seems appropriate.
So a sincere thank you to Fred Green, David Addison, Bharat Pandya, Peter Randall, Nick Gilkes, Ann Limb, David Ashton, Marianne Harris-Bridge, Graham Butterworth, David Foster, Sheila Hill….all of whom have been outstanding.
I am very fortunate to be making these reflections from the office I share with Dave at our converted stables and studios overlooking the superb setting of Holdenby House. Our room is entitled “The Management”….a gracious comment from our creative team!
Our long experience is fine, but it must constantly be balanced with young blood and new ideas and we are very proud of our current team….
Anyway, back to reality….our office manager Heather has just informed us that the electrician’s boot has just appeared through our reception ceiling above her!!
Steve
