We are delighted to bring you a spotlight on WIK WAK, one of our newest stores and another totally innovative product. Read about Annie, how WIK WAK came about and have a look at her wonderful frames – a truly gorgeous present.
Welcoming WIK WAK….
Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Annie and I live in Battersea, London with my husband Richard and my 1 year old daughter Beatrice (Bea). I spend my time attempting to be a good mother, alongside working part time as a Landscape Architect. I have always enjoyed being creative and so I recently set up my small business – Wik Wak – which sells a range of personalised family tree prints, limited edition prints, and greetings cards all designed and illustrated by myself.
Tell us about the products you make / sell?
The main emphasis of Wik Wak are the my illustrated, framed family tree photograph frames, although I have also designed a range of limited edition art prints and greetings cards.
My family trees are essentially a quirky illustrated print, designed by myself. The tree is brought to life with a range of characterful birds, insects and other fun objects. Within the trees’ branches hang 12 little frames, perfect for displaying photos of your family, friends and pets. Each is supplied at A3 size and in a lovely simple white frame.
How did you get the idea for your business?
I have always been creative and enjoy selling my artworks at fairs, in galleries and at markets. When my daughter was a few months old I begun missing the creative process and started to think about how I could liven up her bedroom walls. Alongside creating an artwork, I wanted her to familiarise herself with her family. So, I began illustrating a number of quirky family trees, each of which included a number of small frames to display photographs of family and pets. At the current time I am marketing just one family tree photograph frame (in 3 different colourways), but I am keen to extend my range.
How long have you been running your business?
Wik Wak launched in November this year. So I have only been going a couple of months! I’m just hoping to get the company name out there a bit more and our lovely family tree photograph frames a bit more in the spotlight. If you like our products please do spread the word by email or facebook. Trying to get a small voice heard in today’s high street led world is hard!
How did you come up with your business name?
To be honest, I don’t really know. I wanted something catchy and simple, but a name which did not restrict the products I could produce within my business. I also wanted a name which hinted at something arty, which for some reason I thing Wik Wak does!
What resources have you found most useful in building your business?
At the moment I am very new to all of this, but I would say encouragement from my husband and friends has to be pretty high. Also, organisations such as Craft Central and Met Works have been very helpful in helping me to get to grips with setting up a small designer-maker business and also advice on where to sell your products.
What’s your best advice for someone starting up?
It is harder work than you are imagine trying to not only design your product, get it manufactured, marketing it, selling it and doing all the day to day tasks that are involved with running a small business. However, if it is always something you have dreamt of doing you are never going to feel complete until you give it a go! There is no harm in trying and if it does not succeed, at least you can say you have given it your best shot!
What do you like to do besides business?
We have a lovely cottage in Tintagel, Cornwall that we visit as often as we can. We bought the house at auction and have spent a lot of time making design changes and almost rebuilding it! The cottage is only 200m from the south west coastpath and also has a glorious garden and large vegetable patch. I am in the process of building some large raised beds so I can take my veggie growing that bit more seriously. I also have a very large, close family, so I enjoy spending time with them and of course going for day trips with my immediate family.
What is your favourite way to unwind?
A warm bath at the end of a tiring day, G & T in hand!
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