Design and Marketing are closely linked, the psychology of design plays a fundamental part in regards to whether the consumer engages with a piece of content.
We caught up with Paignton based Jade Bellchambers of Luminos Design to find out more about what winning the Highly Commended for Young Business Person of the Year award meant to her and also a little more about her business.
Jade, holds a Masters in Digital and Social Media Marketing from Plymouth University and setup Luminos Design in February 2019.
At the end of her professional development, Jade began working for a small local accountancy practice building up her commercial experience within the social media and marketing profession.
However, although Jade was content in her job at the firm, she always had a vision, and an aspiration to run her own business but was a little hesitant in regards to the industry or type this business would take.
That would all change when Jade was made redundant from her role and began to dive into the world of freelancing.
I have always been quite creative.
Jade holds an degree in Media Arts and as part of this degree she was able to build up a small portfolio of works, alongside honing her skills to a point where they would be commercially viable as a business.
With a background in film and creativity, Jade has a natural flare for designs that work and those that could use a little improvement.
Illness doesn’t define me
Unfortunately at the end of Jade’s degree she did become unwell, however undeterred by her illness Jade pushed on and setup Luminos Design.
Luminos Design is a website design and social media marketing agency targeting start-up and small businesses. Essentially Luminos supports start-ups by providing content material for those of us who just don’t have the time to do this.
Award winning in 6 months
Jade started the business back in February 2019, with support from the Torbay Development Agency Business Start-up Programme, it was whilst she was completing this programme did she learn that she had been made redundant.
After just 6 months in business Jade has been commended for her work, and walked away from the South Devon Business Awards with the Highly Commended Young Business Person of the Year.
Business has been exceptionally positive for Jade both before winning the award and since.
In hindsight I’d say February was the right time for me to launch Luminos
Jade Bellchambers, Luminos Design
Vision for the Future
Jade’s vision for the future of the business is to build up a small portfolio of clients that she can use to help grow Luminos.
However at the moment she is looking to keep number of clients to a manageable level.
Luminos is a solely run by Jade and the flexibility that comes from running a business at this level enables the work to fit Jade’s lifestyle.
Jade is aware of improvements in both the technology and also some of the competitors that are within Torbay and the wider area.
Self employment suits me, having something that I can do around my illness, fibromyalgia, is a huge help.
Jade Bellchambers, Luminos Design
Over the next 12 months, Jade wants to build up a large enough portfolio of works to stabilise the business and then look to grow the business and also venture into new markets and industries.
Working on the go
When it came to setting up Luminos, Jade was mindful about having something she could do both on the go and also from home.
Working in the website design and social media industry appeared to fit that bill, and with plans to travel in the pipeline it is essential that she can do work on the go and from wherever there is an internet connection.
On the subject of Brexit, something we don’t mention here on BoostTorbay.com, Jade doesn’t necessarily see this as an issue that will affect her and her business going forward.
Reaching People via Social Media
An avenue that is proving to be both lucrative and also vital to the success of Luminos is the use of social media.
Social Media has driven traffic to both the Luminos website and as a result she has had enquiries from this, resulting in further work and new clients for the business.
Jade focuses on providing a premium service with the strategic goal of keeping the overheads down to a bare minimum, a noticeable point for anyone starting in business.
South Devon Business Awards 2019
The award will help Luminos and Jade grow further.
Jade was curious about the award, and on further recommendation from her business adviser, Kim from the Torbay Development Agency, she put in for it.
Unfortunately, Jade did not win the category, however she did win Highly Commended award for Young Business Person of the Year 2019.
Jade would possibly think about entering for the awards again, however, as Luminos and some of the works that they have produced.
On the subject of TikTok
Unless you’ve been living under a rock these past 6 months you may not have heard of a new website/video platform called TikTok.
The platform, essentially like Vine, back in the day enables people to post up short videos and engage with other people using the platform.
TikTok is huge in the Asian social media market place and has secured the interests of huge personalities including the likes of Internet sensation Gary Vee.
Jade thinks it could well be another Snapchat, a small yet potential rival to that of Facebook, but time will tell on whether this new social media platform will provide dividends to its users and eventually business owners.
The business environment in Torbay is quite strong, and I’m quite lucky to be living in this area.
Jade Bellchambers, Luminos Design
Support from the Business Programme
The Torbay Development Agency put on a Business Start-Up Course for eligible candidates.
When it comes to support Jade turns to people that she met on the Business Start-Up Course and also is considering taking up the mentorship programme that is offered to business owners that went through the start-up course.
