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From addiction to art with Clare Haggas

clare haggas fine art

Clare Haggas, formerly known as Clare Shaw, is a well known artist in the country space. But in addition to the most stunning pieces or art you will see on walls, around people’s necks as scarves, and also as soft furnishings, Clare is fascinating.

From addiction to art with Clare Haggas

If you follow Clare on social media (and if you don’t you should!), you’ll know how honest this lady is about everything in her world. From being at rock bottom and losing everything through addiction to where she is now.

In this episode, Clare shares everything, from how she runs her social media, to the soon to be released Black Label, creating wearable art and why limited editions matter, working with retailers, the development of her business, and even how the colours changed in her pieces during different stages of her recovery.

Prepare to be seriously inspired. Not just by Clare’s art, but by everything!

To find out more about Clare – there are a few links below that will help you!

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Small & Supercharged Extra

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5 ways to use social media to promote your country business

If you have a country business, this blog is for you. It’s all about how to use social media to promote your country business. And it’s really, really important that you do. Even if your strongest ‘marketing’ is your customers and word of mouth, or even traditional forms of media like printed ads, I would urge you strongly to get on board with social media. It’s free to get started and allows you to reach people who will have never heard of you. More than this, it adds a new dimension to your PR and marketing as the world is your stage. Not just people in the local vicinity. Social media does level the playing field and also expands your audience to global. Even if you have a local business who serves the local community, you need to get on board. Yes, social media can have global reach, but you can also really focus in on your local area if that’s what you want to it. It also helps you to create a real brand. The kind that brings people in from afar. So let’s get cracking, shall we? Here are five ways to use social media to promote your country business.

Five ways to use social media to promote your country business

  1. Who are you? Use social media to introduce people to your team. Who do they speak to when they call you? Who packs orders? Who serves in the shop? Who churns the ice cream? Who started it all? Share the information. This can be done through images and text or, even better, video. This helps people get a real feel for your business and what makes it tick. It’s a really easy thing to do that can make a real difference.
  2. Where does the magic happen? If you’re a country business, why not show people where you’re based? You don’t have to give people your full address and postal code, but why not show a studio for a craft business? Your animals? The surrounding countryside. Help people buy into the lifestyle, the animal welfare, the feeling that your company wants to create in its customers.
  3. Share tips. If you sell produce, create some recipes- video them/write them up/take some nice images. If you create clothing – style tips. If you run a rural accountancy firm- how to keep track of your receipts. Tips help people and they also help you and your expert status. You can decide to display these tips in a blog, as graphics, as video… or, better still, all of the above.
  4. Document, don’t create. This advice is from Gary Vaynerchuk, and it’s so right. Your everyday life as a country business is filled with things that you might find mundane but, to someone who doesn’t know about what you do and how you work, it’s fascinating. If you run a farm shop, opening up in the morning, dealing with suppliers and restocking could create really great content. Maybe you’re talking about new season’s asparagus that only comes in for a limited time. Yes, it’s your day to day life, but why not share it with your customers? Get them excited about your new asparagus too!
  5. Get people involved. User generated content is a really big deal, and it is a great way to use social media to promote your country business too. Retweeting, sharing and reposting content from your customers can help them feel special and cared for, but it does huge things for your social media too. You could always introduce a competition to encourage this kind of engagement too.

So here are five ways to use social media to promote your country business. Of course, there are loads more, but it’s a good start!

If you’d like to find out more about one aspect of social media, Instagram Stories, download my free guide here by signing up to my newsletter list.

Instagram Stories

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Exciting times with Countryside magazine

NFU CountrysideIf you follow me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook you may have seen me post about Countryside magazine. Why? Well, the September issue (which is the one that is out NOW) sees my first monthly business column. I’m a bit excited about it.

Why Countryside magazine?

I have worked with the team at Countryside magazine, with various clients, for… I don’t know… 10 years? Maybe a bit longer?! I love the magazine, get each issue and read it from cover to cover. It’s also one of the few magazines that comes into the house that my husband also reads (and discusses articles at length… today he told me he’d read you shouldn’t trim a horse’s whiskers… and I know where he read it!!). It’s wholesome, it’s interesting, it’s useful and I love the content. The feature about harvesting in this issue is particularly fascinating as it looked at different crops… but I digress. With my small business coaching, Small & Supercharged and Small & Supercharged VIP group, the vast majority of the people inside it have some connection to the countryside or equestrian industry. This could be that they live in the countryside, own a horse, spend every minute they can with nature or sell equestrian, canine and country products. The groups are open to everyone but, I think because I’ve been in the equestrian and rural industry for so long, I’m best known there. And that’s fine by me. Well, it’s more than fine.

So, the column in Countryside magazine?

Ah yes, the column. I understand this magazine and regularly speak to the editor, the brilliant Martin Stanhope, and with Small & Supercharged growing at an alarming rate, now seemed like the time to share my expertise, put myself out there and help people by sharing a bit of knowledge that they can apply to their business. I really REALLY love helping small businesses, and being able to potentially help even more is incredibly exciting and something I am really grateful for. So thanks so much for the opportunity, Countryside.

What’s the first one about?

The first column is all about collaborations (because it’s not a secret that I’m a fan of the good old collab!), and next month’s is all about influencers… so definitely have a look out for that…

I’ll be writing a monthly column in each issue of Countryside magazine. I hope you enjoy it. If you want to find out more about Countryside magazine, have a look here.

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A few minutes with… Samantha Hobden – Haynet

Today’s ‘a few minutes with…’ is all about Samantha Hobden from Haynet. Haynet is a fabulous community online created for bloggers.

Tell us about you and your backgroundSamantha Hobden

I am a half Finnish mum born in the seventies running two businesses, two terriers, a handful of chickens and one huge horse! I have always worked with the public sorting out problems through customer services or promoting companies through marketing and PR. These industries have ranged from the banking sector, hairdressing and medical companies to the car industry. I have also worked in a partnership with a clothing and accessories business. I am now working within the equestrian industry talking all things blogging and social media, which I definitely enjoy the most.

What made you want to start a business?

Having worked for many big companies and sorting out their client’s problems, I knew that I would rather be working for myself utilising these skills and helping smaller businesses. This has now expanded to the rural industry where they are experiencing tough times, so to help with their social media marketing I find hugely rewarding.

How is your business different?

I think because I own and run my own social network it enables me to give my clients and the work I do an extra audience. I would say the experience in running this business over the last few years enables me to use a wider network and encourage them not just to use the basics in social media but help them with content and trying to be just that little bit different.

What makes your product special?

As I don’t sell a product but a service, I would hope that my experience running a social media network would make an extra impact to potential clients needing help. with their social media.

If you had to sum up your business in five words, what would they be?Haynet

Telling your stories from the stables to the fields!! Sorry that is nine…..

Do you have a motto or ethos?

I cannot emphasise enough to have respect for your clients and work colleagues. Just be nice and friendly. There are times where mistakes are made, so say sorry. Don’t make excuses and own your errors. This builds respect and that goes a long way in business.

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring business owner, what would it be?

Well as the saying goes “Rome wasn’t built in a day” and I think that applies to any new business. Give it time, put in plenty of research and thought and go with your gut feeling. It also takes time to gain a reputation and all the hard work you put in when starting will be worth it. However, it just may take some time, so be patient.

One thing that helps you run your business more effectively

As my business is totally online, I would have to say I would be lost without my iPad. I do all my work on a desktop and this is invaluable but my iPad takes over when I am away from home or away from my desk, it continues to work for me. Software wise I am a massive fan of Canva. I am no graphic designer but this piece of software has made my life so much easier. Photoshop made me cry…. So thankfully I discovered Canva before booking on a Photoshop course!

Best thing about running a business?

It is totally flexible and you only answer to yourself. You make the decisions whether they are right or wrong but the buck stops with you. It is also a massive learning curve being responsible for your own income and growing your business. However, it is a great learning curve!

Worst thing about running a business?

Being responsible for your work and this is potentially a tie. You cannot clock off at 5pm and having time off from it can be like organising a military operation. If you work from home like I do, it is not recognised I think as “proper work”. I think perception of working from home is sitting in front of the tv with your iPad watching Phil and Holly!

Top business blog you follow

I suppose it will have to be Andrew William Smith on Facebook. Every now and then you need to take a moment and listen to his video tutorials to make sure you are keeping an eye of the ever changing world of running a business, especially through social media.

Top business book you’ve read

I will side track from a business book and say The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. If you are ever thinking life is not going your way or work is getting you down, please read this book. It will change your outlook completely!

One thing we might not know about you

I love psychic mediumship and all things about it. I have read so many books on the subject and love seeing mediums and have been on workshops too. So make the most of this life before you move on to the next one…

Top business achievement

It has to be Haynet and the recognition and following I have with this now. Someone was talking to me the other day and one sentence from our conversation made me smile and think that running Haynet is all worth it. She was visiting a yard with her work and one of the liveries was telling her how she loved Haynet and had learnt from the blogs and content that was featured on it. She also said what a friendly equestrian place it was online. It may not sound much but it made my day!

Where can people follow you or your business online 

Haynet: http://www.hay-net.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haynetblog

Twitter: https://twitter.com/haynetblog
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haynetblog/

 

 

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