Hi Emma, thanks for taking the time out to chat to us for International Women’s Day! It is a chance to celebrate the incredible women in our lives and we’re taking the chance to shout about the female-led businesses that are on the Good Liverpool platform and smashing it!
We love showing our customers the faces behind the businesses, tell us more about yourself!
Hey, I'm Emma, I am 28 and a graphic designer from Liverpool. Before Covid was a thing I had been working as a graphic designer / account manager for over 5 years, most of my work was for the pub industry, lots of food and drink menus, start thinking about Christmas in March that kind of thing. I was made redundant last year and started State of Mind Prints in January of this year. When I'm not busy working or creating I enjoy dog walks at the pine woods, spending about 4 hours washing my car, watching the Formula 1 or a good documentary on Netflix.
Tell us about your business!
Starting State of Mind Prints has allowed me to be creative again, I have no constraints I just do what comes to mind, hence the name State of Mind I love creating artwork, seeing the final print, packing it up and sending it out to a new home.
Did you always think that you would run your own business one day?
In a way, yes. I have always had online businesses since I was in school, I was designing and selling t-shirts when I was 15 and I have always loved working towards something that I will be able to see the rewards of so running my own business has always been my aim.
If any, what challenges have you experienced as a woman in business?
Sometimes you get people who sort of roll their eyes and don't expect you to succeed and within the creative industry people can see everything as a competition but to things like that I really just let it go over my head and focus on myself and what I'm doing. Luckily, I wouldn't say I have experienced any challenges specifically because I am a woman but just challenges in general.
What advice would you give to other women starting out in business?
Go for it! If you have an idea, something you are good at and that you want to do just do it (sorry I sound like a Nike advert). With the tools out there to help you start a business I think now is as good a time as any and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Where do you see your business going next?
I like to take things one step at a time otherwise I can get ahead of myself and start thinking like 5 years down the line. I would be super happy if people just like my artwork and choose to have it in their home or give it as a gift to someone and I can continue to create the kind of artwork I enjoy. A big thing for me too is sustainability so being as eco-friendly as I can be, I already use a local eco-friendly printer but there is always more that can be done.