You guys remember Vintage English Teacup from several of our Inspiration Collaborations, right? If not, refresh your memory by clicking here to view them all.
We asked Vanessa, the Founder, Owner, and Operator, to tell us some things she’s proud to have accomplished and a bit about her company. Before you get started, let us just go ahead and tell you that we were thoroughly impressed! 😉 She talks to us about overcoming obstacles, learning how to network in the wedding industry, and what true success and pride looks like. Enjoy her insights below.
“I started!!!
Getting started is rather like jumping off a cliff, leaving behind all the comfort of stable employment and a normal schedule! I threw a Tea Party at my home for the Royal wedding of Prince William and the, almost above perfect, Katherine Middleton. I invited a bunch of people imagining that as televised coverage began at 3 am very few would arrive. Well my street was full of cars and ladies in hats quickly filled my home all pulled in by the lure of Tea served on Real Fine China. Such Fun!!!
Being raised by a father who was self made, this set off all sorts of bells in my brain. If these people like this, who else would? Does anyone else do this? If not why not?? etc etc as any of you creatives know it’s an obsession that becomes your life.
Overcoming obstacles
Well buying endless luscious pieces of Fine China was not at all hard! Especially as I did most of it in my home, England. I have now found two ladies who own antique shops and through the joy of iphones we are able to shop auctions together! If they find anything that is utterly irresistible I dont resist!!! Then my wonderful shipper Trevor wraps each piece, and then wraps it again and puts it in a magic box and it arrives intact.
Networking
for the first time involved hiding in a hotel bathroom and having a long conversation with myself about why I was there!!! Funny now but terrifying at the time. It’s vital to make good face to face contacts and to be able to tell them why you are the best thing since sliced bread in about two sentences!
Next comes choices, where to advertise and why, also extremely difficult at first. My advise, ask someone who is experienced. Then ask some more. Knowledge is Power. I am still asking and still making mistakes with my budget that makes me weep every time. But you learn from those mistakes and hopefully can help others.
Invest in a good contract! end of story!
Get paid before the event! Also self explanatory!
Be nice to all, in life and in work!
What does success look like?
Deciding what success is …hmmm. For some it’s being “busy” all the time. For me its checks in the bank and a happy client! Oh and zero backache or throbbing headache!
I do not want to launch an empire, I want to earn but not be burdened with more than I can handle. I do my best work when I can focus and not worry about what I am missing.
Spending hours looking at other vendors sites is not productive and often disheartening. Just because they have a million followers does not mean they have a healthy company. Perception is so important in this business, but only if its backed up by substance.
Being who you are is a gift that equals success.
Pride!!!
I am proud that I have survived…and did not give up at times when well meaning folks tried to tell me there was no market for a luxury china line. They meant well and perhaps as there was not a market then they were right. However a market now does exist and I am mentoring other start ups doing the same thing because they saw my company! Awesome!
I am proud of the “real” friends that I have made in the industry and for the support that we have for one another. I am further jolly chuffed to have made the choice not to work with those who seek to only elevate themselves to the detriment of others! Enough said! This frees me to enjoy what I do, most of the time.”
So, what does success look like to you? We say it’s good business and good Friendors.
