A Family Business

Is being part of a family business the right move?

In my opinion it can be good, but also it can be extremely difficult. I was part of a family business for many years, since leaving school in actual fact.
I done my apprenticeship in Graphic Reproduction London College of Printing, Back Hill (Farringdon). The first year was an integrated course combining all the departments within the industry and my own specialised subject.
After this I went onto LCP at the Elephant Castle to complete my City & Guilds in Graphic Repro'.

I did however leave my employment several times to do various other jobs, ran my own car mechanical business, was a mini-cab driver for about 2 years, done some lorry driving for a big Builders Merchant, and various other things. But, in the end always went back to print.

Things were never easy in the business, especially when we were all living in the same house as well, we would go to the office/factory together, work all day together, and then travel back home together.

Previous to the last 2 years Pre 2008, were perhaps the most stressful. Everything seemed to be on my head, I was continually 'put upon' to do more and more, even to the point I was being put on to drive sales. In my mind I had more than enough to contend with, I was doing all our IT, taking orders and talking to clients on the phone, printing, finishing, ordering supplies, organising work-flow, the lot. But I thought, ok, I'll go get some new clients also.

So, the mission started. I set out to find at least 1 high profile/celebrity client. Months I was trying for, until, one-day, I heard a certain, supposedly, celebrity speaking on LBC Radio 97. FM They claimed to reply to all emails personally. Hmm, I thought, heard that one before, but nothing to lose, so I emailed them, and yes, I got a response that very same day.

This was fab', through shear determination I had succeeded on the first part of my quest.
Eventually, we met in the City for lunch. I had kept it all quiet from everyone until the arrangements had been made to meet. Of course, all of a sudden everyone wanted to know me, but, Father & Brother thought, "well why shouldn't they want to meet me, it's nothing that great", ahem, so why didn't you do it??

Things went from strength to strength, meetings became more regular, invites to events became more, and yes, the orders started coming in. But this was still not enough as far as the other family members were concerned, what else could I do. Offers to re-brand the business were made, free marketing was also offered, but NO, they, didn't want to know, but still pressured ME to move the company forward, a very difficult thing to do when all offers and ideas are rejected. But the most annoying thing was, no one else came up with anything!!

I even built a website for the business, ok, nothing amazing, but still a website. I would stay late at night to research things, SEO etc etc, just to make it work, but even that was wrong, I was continually moaned at for staying late, but my thoughts were, out of hours, learn how to do it, and get it done, something is better than nothing in my eyes, we had nothing to lose by me spending those hours laboriously searching for info on the net, but everything to gain. And anyway, if 'they weren't happy with the website, then 'you' get on and sort it!!

So I decided, along with my new friend, to start another business, run it quietly, and feed the family business with lots of work. This was, in a way to prove that with some good branding, and a little marketing the business can move on.

Anyway, things didn't quite work out as planned. My eldest daughter collapsed, and was rushed into hospital, running a heart beat in excess of 290 bpm, yikes, serious. Then a few days later one of our Mac's went down. I got the blame, a row ensued and I was told to go, so I did, hence GiraffePress is born.

I built my first website, GiraffePress and it's still up and running, then some months ago, a very good friend of mine built GiraffeBanners, we will be re-building GiraffePress soon, so please do watch and keep a look out for the new site when it goes live.

My new friend & business partner, was a 50% partner/director in the business, and promised loads, loads of everything, marketing, promotion, clients, contacts, the lot.
It took nearly 6 months for them to brand Giraffe. Things didn't seem to be what they made them out to be, many failed promises.

Our partnership eventually fell part earlier this year, but since then, things have improved dramatically, orders are starting to flow in, my contacts are growing everyday, and am now looking to lease/buy some bigger kit to further enhance Giraffe.

So, although I suffered at the hands of my ex-partner, I have now restored the business over the last 8 months or so, and looking forward to taking it to greater heights.

And one last thing, thanks very much to all those fab people I have met on my journey, I will one day, pay you all back in anyway I can.

Kindest Regards

Mr Giraffe