2013-06-18T21:49:49-04:00 Elizabeth Assaf http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=elizabeth-assaf Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Elizabeth Assaf Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3440202 2013-06-14T05:49:28-04:00 2013-06-17T11:26:14-04:00

Elizabeth Assaf http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-assaf/
The variety of what we all do doesn't seem to matter at all -there is beer, bags, cakes, software and of course doors! All of us strive to make a fantastic product for the British and worldwide markets and to push the idea of women in business and for that matter in unusual industries. One very important issue came up in our meeting and that was the new budget - how it impacts us as small businesses and also the economy. Do we think things are improving in the economy and are we feeling optimistic? Yes, we definitely are. Things are looking up at the moment and hopefully will continue to do so. As British companies making products that have global potential, we need the back up of our government to move forward but sheer determination helps as well.

Petra Wetzel, from West Beer, makers of St Mungo's beer, was chatting to me about her new brewery being built in central Glasgow telling me all about the vast mountain of work ahead of her this year, in addition to her work exporting her beer to the USA. Julia Gash from BIDBI, makers of eco bags, is growing incredibly well in the UK as well as Asia and the US, creating bags for the likes of Liberty and her own range of unique designs. Then there is Viv Parry, from Exquisite Handmade Cakes, whose been shipping her cakes to the US since our trip and growing incredibly well in the UK, in addition to the lovely Olga Kubassova, from Image Analysis whose medical image analysis software is making waves all over Europe and the USA.

And Urban Front? We've been investing in our product development to ensure it's the best of British made. Watch this space in a few months when we launch our new Passiv Haus (eco homes) certified external doors. Increasing our efforts in Europe and the USA can only strengthen our brand and we continue to do so - with a little bit of help!

I personally am not British, but I have learnt a lot from living in a country that advertises 'Keep Calm and Carry on' in such a patriotic style regardless of how hard times are. If I have learnt one thing from all these fantastic women and being in the business of doors, it's that you can achieve anything you want to if you try hard enough. A trade mission to the US last year has opened my eyes to what we can all do with products made and designed in the UK and backed enough with a strong economy.

Here we come world!]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2403377 2013-01-03T19:41:12-05:00 2013-03-05T05:12:01-05:00

Elizabeth Assaf http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-assaf/
The trip, which I managed to secure a place on, was part of a rather clever scheme I found on the internet that Santander has set up in order to help small businesses like mine grow, and was aimed at giving us a good step up into the US market. A few days in, I was thrown in at the deep end and taken to a networking event at the British Consulate's residence, where I had the privilege of speaking to the British Consulate General himself, Danny Lopez. Always on the look out for a chance to promote my business, I got straight to the point. I mentioned the latest door we had produced, a special edition Olympic-inspired Union Jack piece, and asked him how I could market it in the States. Of course, I was expecting the polite small talk you'd imagine from such a busy man; however I was shocked when he said he would see if they could have one installed in his residence. He then proceeded to walk around the place working out where he could put it. Rather sceptically, as any shrewd businesswoman would be and thinking he was just being nice, I played along.

I really didn't expect anything to come of it and the next day, went about my business as usual, speaking to potential partners through which I could do business. While on my way to another meeting on the other side of town, I received a call from the Consulate's office asking me to come over to the office as soon as possible to confirm the booking. Stunned, I jumped on a tandem as there weren't any taxis in sight and sped over to the Consul. Danny's staff met me at reception, we organised the measurements and the rest is history. In the US people don't mess around and deals are done quickly.

The deal might sound small, just one door, but this really was the step up the business needed to strengthen our presence in the US, and build on our current position. The doors we make are bespoke, high end and eco-friendly and range in price between £3000 and £7000 and therefore the right kind of customers can be hard to come across. So, not only was this a healthy bit of business for us but the potential marketing exposure was huge. Over 6,000 dignitaries walk through the British Consul's residence's door every year including foreign and US minsters, so a lot of influential people are going to see it. I recently went back to see the door installed and the editor of the FT came in just as I walked out and Danny promised to speak highly of the door to him. It really couldn't have got much better.

For any entrepreneurs out there who feel their growth in the UK might be waning a little in the difficult economic times, I implore you to look overseas. I was lucky enough to stumble across Santander's Breakthrough programme while googling 'how to grow your business' back in April. After going on their trade mission to the US, I've made numerous commercial partnerships, appointed a sales representative on the ground to deal with orders and of course landed the best bit of free advertising I could possibly have wished for with our very own Twenty 12 door in the British Consulate's residence. As an entrepreneur who's had to struggle doing business through the recession, I wish I'd worked harder to increase our business in the US a long time ago.]]>