july 2019
Custom House Design was started in Topsham in 2010 by Teresa Hamlin based upon her design and retail experience. The business brings interior design and a quality home furnishing studio to Devon. In July 2019 a new high street shop/studio was opened in Cullompton, called Design @ No9. Terrified of the risk, Teresa’s challenges were to:
• confidently transition from small scale design studio to high street shop/studio
• effectively market a range of curated and bespoke product and design services
• enable the display and sale of community artwork
... and to make it viable - all with limited resources.
Teresa attended and participated in a DCT business ‘Launchpad’ event held in Cullompton in July, following which a series of 1:1 enterprise coaching sessions commenced at the new shop/studio, as part of our New Start Devon project. They were based on the following themes:
• Recognising the strengths Teresa brings to the enterprise
• What is the three-year plan?
• How to develop a scalable business model
IMPACT
With support from the DCT enterprise coach, Teresa developed a three year vision for the business with KPIs and gained a deeper recognition of her creative energy and organisational capability. This work in developing a scalable business model succeeded in upskilling, training, supporting and advising Teresa to start to make changes and give the enterprise the best opportunity to achieve positive outcomes. It is expected that one of these outcomes will include the creation of new job opportunities in the near future.
“Thank you Matthew, I really enjoy our sessions – I am always left with a real buzz and a re-invigorated belief in myself and my business.” Teresa Hamlin, September 2019
New Start Devon is receiving funding from the European Regional Development Fund.
