How do you know if you’re making the right decision when starting a business, or in this case, the Wright decision?
It always helps when there are options for financial support available to you – and that proved to be the case for Imogen Watt of Wright Studios, when she found out about The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity’s interest-free business loans, available up to £20,000 over the course of nine years.
With that, Imogen took her business venture from being a dream to a reality, and she is already thriving on her ideal career path.
“I am so grateful that I found The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity”, Imogen began when discussing the impact of the Charity on her business.
“I was working at a jewellers in Leicester as a sales assistant. I enjoyed my time at the jewellers, but I knew it wasn’t a forever role for me. However, I was lucky enough to have access to a very small office space that I could us as a studio and started photographing families, children, and babies on the side of my full-time job.
“Now, as I got busier with this, I knew it was time to take the plunge and start looking into the process of setting up a fully functioning studio and making it my full-time job. This is when I found STWLC. With their help, I was able to set up Wright Studios.”
Imogen then explained how her business operates in further detail: “So, Wright Studios is a photography studio specialising in baby, child and family portraiture. It’s a warm and welcoming studio that invites the whole family to come along and capture memories that will last a lifetime. We also offer a printing and framing service. When the clients have received their images after the photoshoot itself, they can choose from a very wide collection of framed prints, canvasses, wall art and other image options. It’s a streamlined and simple approach to portrait photography. This flexibility makes the lives of our clients much easier and more stress-free.”
As well as being a crucial part of the process, Imogen found that there were benefits to the application phase of STWLC’s interest-free business loan when it came to expanding her thought process around her business venture.
“The application forms were quite thorough yet straightforward and simple to fill out,” she remembered.
“They also made me think of things that I hadn’t thought of and alerted me to the different factors that go into starting a business. The team also advise on exactly what costs are involved and how you will cover them.
“My business plan came into action as soon as I knew that my loan application had been accepted. I was over the moon with the news and couldn’t wait to get started. I knew which property I wanted to acquire for the studio, so my first port of call was to contact the letting agent and get booked in for a viewing.
“Most of the money was to be used on physical assets, the technology I needed to buy, furnishing the studio, and purchasing marketing tools such as signage. I made sure I had everything I motion and ready to go to get my business started as soon as possible. Sarah Hope (Clerk to the Trustees at STWLC) kept me updated every step of the way, so I knew exactly what needed doing and when to expect the funds.”
Suffice to say that Wright Studios is flourishing, and its brightest days are still yet to come. Nevertheless, Imogen recognises the role that the Sir Thomas White Loan Charity has played in the growth and development of her business: “I can’t thank Sarah Hope and the Trustees enough for the help they have given me.
“STWLC has been instrumental in me starting up Wright Studios. I think that it’s a great Charity that does amazing work for small businesses across Leicester. I knew what I wanted, but I just didn’t know how to accumulate the funds to get there. The Charity helped me to figure this out, and it was up to me to take it from there. Sarah and the Trustees are just brilliant, and I cannot thank them enough. They have truly changed my life, and I don’t think I would be where I am now without them.”
In closing, Imogen commented: “I have only positive words to say about STWLC. They have helped me achieve my dream, and I am beyond grateful. I would recommend anyone looking to start up a business to look at working with the charity as they have been fantastic.”
For further information about Wright Studios, please visit www.wrightstudios.co.uk.
Alternatively, you can head to their physical location at Wright Studios, 3 Manor Walk, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9BP.
To learn more about The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity’s interest-free business loans, which are available up to the value of £20,000, please click here