
Simon has just started a new business SISU Web Co, to help small businesses and creatives develop their websites. I obviously wanted to share that news with you - in case you needed help - but thought it would also be fun to share how things started for us.
We started Famille Summerbelle some 5 years ago now (it was 5 yrs on 15th Feb!). Time sure flies when you're having fun!
I was working as a set designer in theatre and having just given birth to Ophelia, I wanted to spend time at home with her and continue working as much as I could.
Starting a business felt like a natural next step. I had a lot more time to design at home and a new enthusiasm for interior decoration having a new baby room to decorate.
I remember looking at Bloesem everyday and thinking to myself that one day I would love to have my work featured on this beautiful blog…and my dream came true a few months later!
I think we had the business up and running within about six weeks. Perhaps what made it easiest was that I was married to someone who could build a website. Creating a business online has given us so much freedom. The week after we built the first proper e-commerce site we actually went travelling for three months, leaving Famille Summerbelle in the safe hands of Simon's mother to send the orders! I can't believe we were that cheeky! You can view images of our World tour here.
We've also moved to Paris - keeping the business in the UK (this time in the safe hands of the wonderful Priscilla our studio manager).
We work some odd hours and it takes time to build a profitable business, but we get to spend a lot of time together as a family.
For all the trials and tribulations, I'm proud of what we've achieved and I'm still blown away by how easy it is to one minute be selling to someone in Brazil, and next minute in Sweden!
If you want to contact Simon about your own project, you can email him here or visit the site.