Breakthrough: Cornwall Studios finds new creative direction
Breakthrough support for the business of business itself
When commercial illustrator Jacquie O’Neill began to draw surfing and ocean pictures to help her deal with the first lockdown, she had no idea that what was making her feel better would end up making her business a lot healthier too.
As Cornwall Studios, she had been providing commercial illustration services to clients for years, but everything ground to a halt in Spring 2020. Jacquie’s new, therapeutic habit was inspired by her love of the sea; once she’d shared the drawings on Instagram, she quickly gained a following. Requests to buy the artwork came next, opening up a valuable new source of income.
The most amazing few weeks of learning
By her own admission, Jacquie’s always been an artist first; the business of business itself has always come second. This was an ideal time for that to change, especially once a friend had told her about Breakthrough and its impact on her own business. What followed for Jacquie was “the most amazing few weeks of learning so many new things about my own business.”
She was encouraged to focus on (among other things) her Customer Segments, Value Proposition and Product Viability. She says:
Like one of my fellow course attendees said, ‘You don’t know what you don’t know!’ And this is so true, I had never considered these elements but now I feel much more focused and targeted!
The art of social selling
For many artists and makers, there’s often a strong emphasis (especially pre-Christmas) on selling via markets and fairs. In the absence of any this year, Jacquie, with Breakthrough’s help, has made sure to raise her social media game to fill the gap. Sneak peeks of what’s coming, stories describing how products are created, accounts of why she insists on working sustainably, with plant-based sleeves and plastic-free packaging: all this adds up to engaging content. This is how Jacquie’s been attracting – and keeping – the attention of potential customers, something also made easier by the work she’s put in to make sure her website’s content is also fresh and compelling.
She’s noticed the difference it’s all made, in particular during such a tough time. As she says:
Considering everything I have learnt over the last month, I wish I had signed up with Breakthrough sooner, but as that popular saying goes, ‘When the student is ready, the teacher will appear!’ And this couldn’t have been more true in my case!
Breakthrough is for ambitious new and early stage businesses who have taken the leap and are building momentum. Grow your confidence, credibility and opportunity with a programme shaped around you. Ready to start strong, don’t go it alone, get in touch today.