What’s the very first thing to do if you’re going into business?
Ask Chantal at boutique design studio Creativore and she’ll tell you to get your accounting set up from day one, because she’s got a story about transferring two years worth of accounts that ends in tears and a $5,000 bill.
Running a close second?
“Have a business plan, a strategy for operations and a budget for branding and marketing. If you don’t have all of those, don’t start,” she says. “When we’re talking to our clients we ask them very clearly about their budget. The reason is not to max it out for them – but to help develop a solid strategy for the best return, giving them a better chance of success.”
Now in its fourth year, Creativore was established after Chantal spent almost a decade in the design industry, including teaching at TAFE, managing a design and printing studio and finally working as an art director.
“We invest in our client’s entire business, we want to be part of their success”
“Developing durable brand identities for small to medium start ups is what we do,” she says. “We offer a full brand package: brand development, logo design, web design, social media graphics and strategies, marketing design and strategies, promotional material, even setting up email providers. We also have our newly developed Brand-Aid™ service for existing businesses needing to update, modernise or develop their brand to better reflect their mission, values, market and goals. In this service, we design new brand identities and plan strategies for these clients to be able to transition to their new brand smoothly, economically and with impact.”
Chantal won a typography award for her work on the Raw Earth Botanicals brand.
The Creativore studio dreamed up this fresh new look for the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation.
Since setting up the Creativore studio Chantal has built a loyal client base, including the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation, Polka Dot Pop and Neva May Cakes and is currently working interstate to assist a new client launch a dynamic and unique franchise. Perhaps the reason her clients stick around is because she only takes on one in each field, guaranteeing exclusive ideas and commitment. Or maybe it’s her total focus on making sure her own design preferences don’t cloud what she does for her clients.
“The way I look at my style is my first commitment has to be longevity and the market,” she says. “The psychology of design comes before me. Our clients have a market to convince and attract, so whatever needs to be done to do that ethically, sustainably and creatively gets done.”
The best designs begin with pencil and paper, and that’s where Creativore starts every project. Her creative and thorough approach has recently earned her a Silver Medal for Typography at the 2015 Queensland Printing Industry Craftsmanship Awards for the soon-to-be-launched Raw Earth Botanicals.
Think you’re in the market for a designer? Chantal recommends you’re really ready before you start and that you find a branding studio you can work with over the long term.
“We invest in our client’s entire business, we want to be part of their success,” she says. “So we don’t take everyone on. If we think they might not be entirely ready, we guide them towards solutions to assist them off the ground. We are loyal to our clients and they are loyal to us and in all ways we are a part of each other’s success, large and small.”
For more information about Creativore or to see some of their work head over to creativore.com.au, say hi on Facebook or have a look at Instagram.
