Abigail Wastie tapestry workshop artist on running a successful business

Abigail Wastie tapestry workshop artist talks to Natalie Donovan about her business journey

Introduction

As a website designer in Derby, specialising in Squarespace sites, it’s an absolute privilege to see our previous clients fly. Abigail Wastie, whom we helped with her new Squarespace website and workshop booking system on Acuity Scheduling, was recently on BBC Sounds, talking about her entrepreneurial journey. Abigail is a tapestry artist, fashion maker and weaver, who runs workshops in Derby.

Abigail heard a shout out from You & Yours, Radio 4’s consumer affairs programme, and suddenly (about an hour or so later!) found herself on air on ‘The Smart Consumer podcast’ with Natalie Donovan and The Mindful Chef'; the episode is ‘Young entrepreneurs - have you got what it takes to run a successful business?‘. We’ve clipped and transcribed her slot below, but you can find the full episode via BBC Sounds.

Listen again

You can also listen to Abigail on the BBC Sounds app here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p07v2cl0

Transcript

Nathalie Donovan 0:00

For a taste of another type of self employment, I've been speaking to Abigail Wastie. She's based in Derbyshire. And it's maybe a little bit more typical of the new self employed. In the last year, she's told me that she set up her own business, she makes wall hangings and she runs workshops for people who want to make their own clothes.

Abigail Wastie 0:17

I set up my business because my trade is in fashion. And it's not really a very family friendly, flexible career path. So I decided to start my own business. I have a more of a family friendly lifestyle balance. I teach people how to make their own clothes, tapestry weaving, how to make craft products like beeswax wraps and then I also have another part of my business where I develop products. We're using an organic cotton, whether it be baby wear underwear, mainly clothing based products.

Nathalie Donovan 0:48

And you're doing all of this on your own?

Abigail Wastie 0:50

Do it all on my own on my own. Yeah, just me in my spare room. My costs are so low and I've managed to set my business up with no investment, no cost and I've most the way I've managed to do that is through exchanges. So I've got friends that have got really relevant skills like website design [that’s us!], branding, photography [The Gribbons Photography], and we've done exchanges so they've done my photography for me, which I understand is incredible and I've swapped for a year looking after their kids or making them clothes, things like that.

Nathalie Donovan 1:19

And how much does it cost you to set your business up and how you doing financially?

Abigail Wastie 1:23

To set my business up from the beginning I'd say it's probably zero. Stock actually is the main thing and I have since I started now got a website and I that cost me £25 a month and I pay £16 a month for insurance and that is all my burn rate, any other costs are essentially that investment. So I purchase products materials, and now I'm growing essential look at maybe needing more equipment

Nathalie Donovan 1:47

How motivated as a person do you have to be to set up as self employed you think?

Abigail Wastie 1:53

I think I'm highly motivated but I enjoy it so it doesn't feel like a striving but a pleasure to do the things I do, I believe passionately in people, and having a slower approach to fashion and to product consumption and being considerate about the materials I use. So it feels like an honour to be able to help people on that.

Nathalie Donovan 2:15

Do you think doing it now rather than 10 years ago? I mean, if you, you're 31 now you say, if you were 21? Or had you tried to do this when you were 21, do you think it would have been as possible?

Abigail Wastie 2:25

I actually graduated in recession. So it was really hard to get a job as a graduate and I did try to set up my own business and it wasn't a great success, but it helped me get internships which helped me get jobs. But people were not as interested in the product that I'm offering. 10 years ago, people didn't really care about slow fashion or ethical fashion. So it's more of a topical thing and also probably got a bit more maturity to understand how to market and I'm probably a bit more confident.

Nathalie Donovan 2:51

Confidence is really key isn't it?

Abigail Wastie 2:53

It's so key and that's one of the biggest learning factors and having your business for me as a creative is not feel like an imposter. And have the confidence to charge people for I do. And that's my biggest learning curve, it isn't the things like finance or accounts or marketing, it's believing that you can do it and that you're worth paying for.

Nathalie Donovan 3:12

That was Abigail Wastie!

Conclusion

If you’ve enjoyed finding out a bit about Abigail’s journey, don’t forget to check out her website.

Plus, if you’re a small business or entrepreneur, particularly in the creative sector (maker, artist, photographer - others too!), and looking for a new website or visual identity that really captures you, feel free to get in touch for a chat.