Who the fuck is Claire Brown?

I’ve been working in the creative industries in one way or another for literal decades in businesses of all shapes and sizes. Specialising in operations, people and admin, I have a keen eye for detail and am always alert to opportunities that are waiting to be explored.

What do I know about running a creative business?

Alongside working in the corporate world, I ran my own creative indie business designing, making, packaging and promoting craft kits, homewares and accessories. Miso Funky (latterly renamed The Bellwether) ran for over 20 years, with highlights including being stocked in Liberty, John Lewis and dozens of independent retailers in the UK and around the world.

I also set up a second independent business designing and printing customised cross stitch fabrics during the pandemic. I grew this business from 0 to five figures within 3 months, dominating the printed fabric market on both Etsy and my own Shopify store. I wrapped this up in 2023, selling a thriving going concern to concentrate on opportunities in the corporate world.

What services do I offer?

There’s 4 main areas you can work with me within:

Admin Support

Indie businesses live and die by their web presence, especially those in retail. Having your products up to date, attractively presented and available to buy without obstacles is paramount to your success. If you find yourself with piles of products waiting to be added to your inventory system, don’t put it off any longer! Every day you leave that pile of doom is more revenue you’re missing out on.

Examples of services I provide in this area:

  • Adding products to inventory

  • Writing SEO-friendly product descriptions

  • Improving website navigation, collections and identifying opportunities for cross-promotion

Practical Support

Remember the last time you had a holiday? Or when you didn’t have to cover the shopfloor because your staff are sick or on leave? For those with stores in the West of Scotland or Central Belt, I can provide in-person cover to allow you to have that break you’ve dreamt of or to provide short-term cover for holidays.

I can also offer stocktaking, visual merchandising support and offer advice and tips for improving the impact of your displays and maximising sales.

Strategic Planning

If you’ve got something in mind that you need an extra brain on, I’m happy to help brainstorm your next move. Whether it’s the pros and cons of opening a second (or first!) store, navigating new sales channels or working through people issues, a problem shared is a problem halved - and a plan moved forward.

Coaching

Running a small or micro business can be a lonely place - your brain has to keep on top of everything and the buck stops with you. You can let that motivate you or consume you but finding a healthy balance is what makes your business sustainable for the longterm. I hold certificates in coaching and counselling and am a qualified Mental Health First Aider.

I offer informal, relaxed and commitment-free coaching for indie business owners or those aspiring to run their own show. These sessions can be in-person or virtual, with the initial consultation always being free and the goal being to help you move forward with whatever your plans are.