Last month I made a big, grown-up decision.  I split my business in two, so that I could concentrate properly on both bits.

For the past four years or so I've been running "how to sell on Etsy" workshops, which then branched out into online shop reviews, followed by a series of downloadable PDFs.  I'd been selling these alongside my illustrations on Etsy, and while it's all been ticking over I was aware that it was becoming a bit confusing for my two distinct customer groups.

So, after giving it a lot of thought, I decided to go for it.  First things first, I had to decide on a name for my new business.  This isn't something I'd ever done before - it was pretty exciting, but I knew I had to get it right!

And then branding... again it's not something that I had consciously done for my own business.  My BGI branding kind of just evolved over time.  I decided to stick to the key colours I use in my BGI branding, as the two businesses will run alongside each other, and I created my own hand-lettered font.  I can't explain how much fun I had doing this; I really enjoyed creating a whole new brand identity for myself!

So, new logo in hand, I set up my new Etsy Shop, along with social media accounts, and launched my new project on 6th April... I was absolutely terrified that no-one would be interested!  But, you know what, it's been great so far!  Lots of interest - and so much support from my small business buddies.  I am so grateful to everyone who's supported me so far; and I hope that I'll now be able to develop the types of support I can offer to other small businesses under this new brand.

I've already been asked about running workshops as far afield as Glasgow and Cornwall; which is super-exciting - a little tour of the UK is definitely on the cards!  I'm also looking at expanding on the workshops I can offer - perhaps looking at some social media topics too.  Working under a brand name also opens up the scope of working collaboratively with other people, which is pretty exciting.  Watch this space!

It's a totally different kettle of fish, launching a business when you know a bit more about what you're doing.  I think it's actually a bit scarier, cos you know what can go wrong!

But, so far, so good... and my next big job is to get my own Make & Flourish website up and running.

To find out more about Make & Flourish, and for lots of handy Etsy tips, find me on Instagram and Facebook; and to see what PDFs and review services are on offer, see my Etsy shop!

This week I hit a business milestone that absolutely blew my mind.  My fifty thousandth notonthehighstreet.com order.
 
I’d realised my milestone was coming a while ago, and I did ponder briefly about sharing this publicly.  I decided that I would, cos it’s a heck of a number, and I’m bloody proud of it!
 
Since I started my business back in 2010 I’ve always shared various standout successes along the way – anniversaries, milestone orders, press features and so-on.  Social media posts celebrating these key moments have always been met largely with positivity.
 
However, in more recent times I’ve been aware of a rippling undercurrent of negativity towards such celebratory posts.  The ubiquitous “sack shot”, once extremely popular at Christmas, now divides a nation of small business owners… is it braggy and boastful, or is it simply telling your business story?  I’m still unsure myself – I do think it’s great to celebrate success, and I love to see my fellow small businesses doing well - but it always needs to be genuine (and thereby sparing) – and of course it needs to be sensitive.
 
Being completely inundated with orders that crazy Valentine’s Day back in 2014 is integral to my business story – enabling me to give up my day job – and I know it’s a tale that has subsequently inspired many other small businesses.  I’m proud of the story, and I’m not ashamed that I have shared it to death.  I’d hate to think that it was an anecdote that had ever caused anyone to feel in any way negative.
 
In the past I’ve heard unsubstantiated tales of online sellers filling Royal Mail sacks with empty boxes to get that perfect “sack shot”, and rumours of sellers photographing piles of blank paper claiming that they are delivery notes.  The quest for insta-perfection goes that one step further, and only fuels the crippling anxiety felt by other small businesses who might not be that busy either.  Building a façade of busy-ness is not helpful or constructive for anyone, but I can understand that it could be an easy trap to fall into when everyone else seems to be so busy.
 
I have other small business friends who remain steadfastly tight-lipped when it comes to order numbers and milestones – never sharing their figures with anyone.  Equally that is absolutely fine, and a totally valid business decision – though I do hope they have their own little secret celebration when the counter tips over to the next 100 or 1000 orders!
 
Behind my most recent milestone is a slightly different story to what you might actually expect.
 
I’d genuinely expected my NOTHS milestone to come during the Christmas busy period.  Christmas, to be truthful, was not really as busy as expected – in fact my business has been in a gentle decline throughout 2017, and there have been some quite scary weeks.  This year will be about consolidating my business activities and making some big decisions about the way I operate day-to-day.  It’s all going to be okay, I’m certain, but my “winging it” approach definitely needs a bit of tightening up this year.  The gifting industry is changing, with a saturation of online sales platforms, many people are giving it a go – so there’s a lot more competition. There’s also a lot more uncertainty around – people do seem to be spending less.
 
It’s also really really important to remember that a huge proportion of my sales are for £2.50 greetings cards.  And I’ve been selling on NOTHS for just short of six years.  So if you do a quick bit of maths you’ll soon realise that we’re not talking millions of pounds here.
 
Comparison is inevitable.  I do it myself.  Everyone does it.  But it’s always worth remembering – in the oft-quoted words of Theodore Roosevelt, “comparison is the thief of joy”.  No two people are the same, no two businesses are the same.
 
I’ve lost a good handful of Instagram followers as a result of my 50k post.  I’ve also had – to date – almost 400 likes and over 100 positive comments on that one post across Instagram and Facebook.  As a ratio I’m fine with that; and I will more than likely continue to celebrate my successes, but I will always endeavour to do it sparingly and mindfully.
 
I’d love to know your thoughts on this – do you enjoy seeing small business milestones?  Or do you find it distasteful?  Have you ever unfollowed someone after they've shared a milestone?

I've never been entirely comfortable in front of the camera - my left eye is always too squinty and I invariably look like I have a double chin - so the prospect of needing to update all my social media and website photos was a job I'd been putting off for, well, years.

It struck me recently that the photos on my website don't really look like me any more (it's - fortunately - been years since I had long jet black hair)... and also I have no decent photos of my "new" studio space - despite having been in here for six months now.

When I mentioned this to my good friend (and part-time studio assistant), Katy, she offered to take some photos of me and the studio.  I jumped at the offer - Katy's a really talented wedding and portrait photographer when she's not helping me - and I really love her natural and relaxed style of photography.

The whole experience was actually quite good fun - I didn't quite shake the inevitable awkwardness of having a camera pointed in my face, but we had a laugh... and the results are fabulous, really capturing the feel of my workspace - even the ones of me don't make me cringe too much!  Also, how good am I at gazing into middle distance...?

Katy has also taken some lovely flat lay photos for me to use, featuring various products - I'm so excited to finally have a more cohesive brand image!  Now all I need to do is to actually put them to use, and get all my different selling platforms and social media accounts updated.  The biggest trouble I'm going to have is actually choosing which ones to use!

I’ve been offering advice to small businesses – by means of workshops and also Shop Reviews – for years; and I'm always amazed that sellers neglect to shout about themselves more.

Having an incomplete "about" section on Etsy is not only a missed marketing opportunity, but it's also a mistake because Etsy will recognise your shopfront as being incomplete - and therefore your listings may appear further down in search results as a consequence.

Often people will think that their own personal story is disinteresting, or they'll feel that they don't want to share personal information with strangers.

However, sharing a little information will make your shopfront more authentic, and it engages your customer, making them much more likely to buy - and return too.

So, what to tell your prospective customer?  Here are three starting points:

1. Start at the beginning

How and why did you start your business?  It's so easy to forget when it's your day-to-day, but we are actually living the life that other people dream of.  Tell your story here.

It may be that you scrawled an idea on a napkin, you might have been chatting to a friend over a bottle of wine, or perhaps you trained to do this exact job - and you are fulfilling a childhood dream.  If you have a triumph over adversity tale that you want to share then it's entirely appropriate to include it here.  Etsy marketing may even pick up on it!

Whatever your story - it's your story - be proud and share it with the world!

2. Sitting room, studio or shed?

Tell us a bit about where you work from.  Everyone loves having a nosy at other people's workspace - and as a creative the intrigue is even greater!

Whether you work from home, in a shed at the bottom of the garden, or in a shared studio space, tell us more about that.  It's not everyone that has the opportunity to work like this, and it's genuinely interesting to other people.

You can - and should - use the photos section to show us your workspace in more detail.  This adds credibility to your business story.  And don't feel you have to tidy up specially either!

3. What's in a name?

If you have an interesting business name then don't be shy about sharing how you came up with it.

Maybe you've used your child's name, your favourite colour or another word that has extra significance to you.  Perhaps it was just a word you liked the sound of, or something that just "felt right".  Did you speak to people about it, or did you come up with it alone?

There's normally an interesting tale to tell with a business name - unless of course you went for the easy option and used your own name (and what idiot would do that...?)!

If you'd like some more help setting up or improving your Etsy shop then I offer both beginners and more advanced Etsy workshops in Liverpool; including a one-day session (Etsy Educators: Become an Etsy Seller in a Day) for new shop-owners as part of the official Etsy Educators programme.

Copying is crap, there’s no two ways about it.  Seeing something that you created – that came out of your head – pop up on your Facebook feed, in an Instagram story, or in a private message from a friend or customer.  Yes, a word might’ve been changed, a layout tweaked slightly, but essentially there it is, your own creation, bastardised and ready to make money for someone else.  I genuinely get a physical reaction when I see it - I shiver and go all cold.
 
Nothing is truly original – it’s a simple fact.  Humans have been around for some six million years.  There have been over 100 billion human beings in that time.  Even if each one only ever had one creative idea in their whole lives, there’s bound to be some considerable overlap there.
 
We’re also now living in an age where we’re exposed to loads of different ideas – if the average person spends around two hours a day on social media that’s a heck of a lot of things we will see and – sometimes inadvertently – be inspired by.
 
I’d say that 99% of people in the world are good, honest souls, who would never intentionally copy anyone.  I will stand by that completely.  My initial reaction whenever anyone says “this is a copy of your work” is to question myself – “have you seen this before, did you inadvertently copy it?”.
 
I’ve been alerted to goodness knows how many Dinosaur Alphabets.  I didn’t invent dinosaurs - or alphabets - and although I didn’t find any others online when I completed mine, it’s definitely not to say I was the first person to draw one.  There are loads of other folk out there doing them and it’s no problem if it’s genuinely their own work.  I actually love seeing other people’s take on different alphabets.  I’m a proper alphabet nerd.
 
Over the weekend I saw a good friend of mine attacked on Social Media because she had created a design, which – by her own admission, when confronted with the original – was very similar to another local artist.  She’d definitely not copied it; it was a genuine coincidence.  She was really upset by the vitriol and abuse directed towards her by the “original” artist, and a group of her friends.  It was pretty distasteful, nasty name-calling - and totally unproductive.  At the end of the day, why the heck would anyone publicly share a work in progress if they’d willfully copied someone?
 
Which draws me to the main point of what I feel about copying – it’s not the being copied, it’s the way that you deal with it that really counts.
 
Coincidences happen.  And people will have the same ideas, at the same time.  Artists will also draw similar subjects – food, alphabets, skylines.  That’s been going on for centuries.  That’s not copying.  Heck, I’ve been accused of it myself – so I know how utterly distressing it can be if an unfounded accusation is made.
 
But when you see someone copy the exact wording and layout of a bestselling card design, you know damn well that it’s a copy.  So my general strategy in this instance is to deal with it quickly, privately and discreetly.  I think that causing a big fuss on social media just isn’t very dignified, and it’s going to cause ultimate distress for all concerned.

It’s also very telling, how someone who has copied you responds.  Some are very gracious and remove the product in question immediately.  I have, however, had a number of copiers argue with me “well I re-drew the cheeses, so it’s not a copy”, or “someone asked me to copy it” or – my favourite - “I’m just a sole trader trying to make a living”, are just a few that spring to mind.  Great, thanks for that guys, maybe just think of your own ideas in future, huh?
 
I have seen blatant copies of my designs in several high street stores – which really really hacks me off.  But if I am honest I don’t have the time or energy to pursue a lengthy and stressful campaign against the big boys.  I’d rather spend my precious time drawing new things, cos, well, that’s what I like doing.
 
I’m also not going to name and shame, it’s just not me.  I don’t want these ratbags to get any more publicity than they already have.  But even I have limits, and there are certain high street stores I keep a close eye on, especially round Valentine’s Day.  But I’m not going to be consumed by negativity.  My time’s more important than that - and I hate the drama and outrage that comes with it all.
 
So, copying.  In conclusion.  It’s not flattering, its downright bloody rude, and it’s stealing.  But, I have the capacity to come up with new ideas – out of my actual brain – so basically, I win.

I’ve been offering advice to small businesses – by means of workshops and also Shop Reviews – for years; and the one thing I get asked about most is titles.   They're also the most frequently misunderstood aspect of selling on Etsy.
 
Here’s a super-brief guide to getting to grips with your titles:
 
1. First things First
 
The first word in your title is most strongly weighted on Etsy, and then the second is the second most important etc., so bearing this in mind try to choose the most important and descriptive word/s to go at the beginning.
 
Avoid using really broad terms such as “large” or “set of four” at the beginning of your title – they’re just not descriptive enough.  Likewise, don’t use anything too niche as no-one will find your items!

Sounds obvious, but don't use the fancy titles which you have given to your artwork - as unless someone has already seen the art they won't know to type in "Deathly Days no 7"; you'll be much better using a term such as "Green and Red Skulls Art Print".
 
2. Use the Space
 
You have 140 characters – so use them!  You can use little searchable phrases and split them up using punctuation (I use hyphens as I find them more visually appealing, easier to read, and it’s what Etsy have recommended to me).  Think of the various phrases someone's likely to type in when looking for a product like yours.
 
So, for example, for a Silver Wedding Anniversary card I would use a title along these lines:
 
Silver Anniversary Card – Personalised 25th Anniversary Card – Twenty-fifth Anniversary Card – Personalized 25th Wedding – Silver Wedding Card

I stick to UK English in the first instance, but using American spellings can also help.  Etsy do recognise both UK and US spellings for common words, in their search, but for less common words/terms it's good to use both.
 
3. Finding the Words
 
The words you use for the title and the keywords can and should be influenced by what you get if you start typing into the Etsy search bar.  This drop down will show you the most commonly searched phrases on Etsy.  Bear in mind that you might not want to use all of these, you may wish to go a little more niche, but this can be a great starting point.
 
You can also ask friends or customers, pose it as a question on social media (“what would you call this?” - great for some interaction and reach) or use an online thesaurus.  It's so easy to overlook words or phrases that people might commonly use when looking at your product, specially when you are so close to the object yourself.

This weekend I went to Batfest in Shropshire.  I shared a few photos on social media and had a few questions - "what on earth is Batfest?"!

Well Batfest is no big secret - it's just that it's a private event, so you won't find details about it anywhere!

It all started in 2015 when I'd arranged to go to a fancy industry event in London with a group of my online small business buddies.  The event will remain nameless, but just to say it was the biggest waste of £160 ever.  We were all thoroughly dismayed by the whole thing, and started a jokey conversation about creating our own event... which would be much better, much more fun, and much much better value for money.

From an initial joke, somehow it actually became a reality, when we found a campsite in Shropshire with all the prerequisites; a nearby pub, glamping, B&B accommodation... and as an added bonus a lake with a boathouse!  We hired the whole site, in the grounds of a stately home, arranged a marquee and a fish and chip van, and in July 2016 flung open the gates to over sixty friends and their family members.

It was a total leap of faith - and amazing that people actually got in cars and drove for eight hours to get there, not knowing quite what to expect!  Fortunately (thank goodness) it was such a success we did it all again this year.

Batfest 2017 saw rain, wind and - fortunately - sunshine, rowing, walking, a sports day, SUP action, an epic pub quiz, wild swimming, lots of macrame and an entirely inappropriate game of Cards Against Humanity... among other things!

We're all small creative businesses, which is how we all met each other - but we come from all over the UK (in fact one Batfester this year flew in from Singapore); it's a great chance to get together with kids, dogs, tents, beer and food!  Business is very much on the back burner for the weekend - helped no end by the lack of 3G onsite; it's basically four days of friendship, laughter and fun.  Everyone goes away with a little grin, and a warm feeling inside, thoroughly content with a lovely weekend spend with like-minded folk.

Roll on 2018 - the campsite is already booked and I can't wait until it's Batfest time again!

If you want to put on a similar event then the campsite we use is at Walcot Hall in Lydbury North.  To enquire about the campsite visit www.thepowisarms.com, call 01588 680254 or email enquiries@thepowisarms.com. Say Becka from Batfest sent you!

Pretty much every small business owner I’ve ever met has the propensity to work way too hard, and finds it near-impossible to switch off.  It's one of the reasons we're successful at what we do; it's one of the reasons we can suffer from burnout too.
 
Running a small creative business it can be super-difficult to draw the line between work and leisure, specially when you love drawing/sewing/knitting, or whatever it is you do.  But it is so important to switch off completely every now and then.
 
I’m no exception; and despite choosing to do what I do so that I have the ultimate control over the way I spend my time, it can be all-consuming, especially at busy times of the year.  I make no secret of the fact that I’ve struggled with bouts of stress and anxiety at various points throughout my adult life, but I have worked hard to work out coping strategies for myself.
 
Drawing is genuinely really relaxing for me – which is pretty lucky.  However it is still work – and, to be totally honest, I don’t get that much time to spend drawing in a normal week.  I’m working hard on carving out time each week to draw, but admin and general “stuff” does take so much time it can be difficult.
 
So, here are my six top activities for relaxation.  Handily most of them are super-simple; I can do a lot of them without much preparation, and it’s easy enough to fit one or two in most days:

Swimming
I’ve loved swimming since I was a child.  I used to swim – fairly badly – for a local swimming club.I don’t swim as much as I should these days, but during the summer I try to get down to Liverpool Watersports Centre for a dip in the docks at least once a week.  I first tried open water swimming last summer, and was instantly hooked.  I hate swimming in a wetsuit, and I don’t much like putting my head into the salt water, but I do get a huge amount of enjoyment from tootling round the docks, taking in the gorgeous view of the iconic Liverpool skyline.  45 minutes of no internet access does me a lot of good.

Yoga
I did Pilates for years – first introduced to it by a friend when I lived up in East Lancashire – I though that yoga just wasn’t for me, it was all a bit airy fairy.  Well, Louise at White Wolf put paid to that theory, and I started doing yoga regularly with her about two and a half years ago.  I still go a few times a week, my current regular yoga haunt is Yogacita, for convenience; but I get over to White Wolf when I can – and I’m off to India in November with the White Wolf lot too.  Again it’s a full hour of not checking my phone – it’s so good for the soul.

Cooking
I’ve always loved cooking, but over the past three years it’s become more and more important to me.  After years of health issues I realised that what I eat actually made a real difference to my wellbeing; I mostly eat a plant based diet these days – and I absolutely love experimenting with food and adapting recipes.  I feel so much healthier for it, and I find that I can lose myself in cooking for hours when I have time.  I love preparing food for the whole week on a Sunday afternoon, making sure I am super-organised for the week ahead.  I reckon if I’d not been an illustrator I’d have become a vegetarian chef.  There’s still time…

Walking
I got a Fitbit a few months ago and discovered the pleasure of walking.  It’s great. Spurred on by a little group of small business friends we are all making huge strides in getting fit and meeting our daily step targets.  Walking in the park is a complete pleasure when it’s sunny, and it’s not so bad even when it’s a bit grey too!  I’ve found myself wandering around lots of different places, some really close to my house – that I’d never been before.  It’s ace what you can discover when you go exploring!

TV
Watching TV doesn’t always work as a relaxation strategy for me – my mind can often be really busy and it can wander – before I know what I’m doing something else and the TV is just background noise.  But my guiltiest of pleasures is Coronation Street – I find it so easy to switch off that noisy brain, put my phone in another room, and watch an episode or two of Corrie.  Yep, I know it’s a bit naff, but I blooming love it!

Reading
Again, there are times that I really struggle to keep my concentration on reading, but if I run a bath – ideally with something nice from Lush in it – and get in there with my Kindle I can generally while away half an hour or so.  I really enjoy reading books which aren’t too complicated – my main requirements from a book are that it has to be set in the current day (or at least partially) and there can’t be anything supernatural or magical in it.  Specific, huh?I love a bit of crime or mystery, even a bit of tragedy – my favourite authors include Jonathan Harvey, Emily Barr and Dorothy Koomson.
 
Nearly all of these activities involve me not being able to keep checking my phone – which is pretty telling!  Cutting down on screen time is something I definitely need to work on.
 
How do you find time to relax, and what do you do?

So, you've made the decision... you want to move your business out of your home (read more about when I made that decision here).  Now the fun starts... you can look around some workspaces.  But how on earth do you decide which one is - or isn't - right for you?

Here is a whole heap of things you might want to consider when you've had a look at a potential workspace.  I'd always recommend taking someone you trust along with you too - they might be more critical and spot things you don't!  Gut feeling is important - and don't ignore that - but you also need to take into account some practical considerations:
 
Access
This is your number one concern - can you get there?  I'm super-lucky, I live a ten minute walk from the thriving Baltic Triangle in Liverpool, where there are so many options for studio and office space.  It may be you're in an area where there are less options, but do your research - chat to other creatives (join an Etsy team perhaps), check out listing sites (try Gumtree as well as local arts-based websites) and look out for local creative Facebook groups too.

• Is it easy to get to from your home?
• Is there suitable parking and/or public transport?  Are there any parking restrictions?
• Do you know anyone else in the area?
• Are there any access restrictions or can you come and go 24/7?
• Will deliveries or postal collections be an issue?
• Is there a lift (if it’s upstairs)?  Who else uses this lift?
• Is the entrance safe, well lit etc?  Will you feel safe letting yourself in in the dark?

 
Money
Rent varies throughout the country - I'd make sure you've looked at a few different options if possible, to make sure you are being charged a fair amount for your rent.  It's probably the number one reason why people put off moving into a studio space - your rent has to be affordable for you, even at quieter times of the year, otherwise you will just be stressing about paying it each month.

• Is the rent affordable?  Think about if your profit goes down at all, is it still affordable?
• Does it include any bills (internet, gas, electricity etc)?
• Is it a fixed term contract?  Are you able to terminate the contract if you need to?  How much notice do you need to give?
• You may need to get legal advice before signing a binding contract.  How much is this going to cost?
• Do you need your own insurance or is this included?  Get an insurance quote if necessary.
• Are consumables like toilet paper, hand soap, bin bags included?
• Is there a kitty for milk, teabags etc?
• What extra furniture will you need to buy to make it workable?
• How much will it cost to move there?  Will you need to hire a van or pay anyone to help?

 
The Space
There's no point moving into a space that you won't fit into - it's just going to cause you stress and will probably not last long.  Make sure that the basic space is adequate and that it is suitable for the forseeable future - moving is a stressful business!

• Is there enough space for all your equipment and stock?
• Is it secure?  If not can you add any extra security?
• Is there heating?  Try and visit on a colder day and spend a bit of time there to check how the temperature is.
• Is there a window (if you are a hot person like me)?  Likewise, try and visit on a sunny day – what’s the temperature like?
• Is it suitable for what you do (eg is there ventilation?)
• What are the arrangements for postal deliveries and collections?
• Would you be able to expand in the future?

 
Light and Power
Daylight is super-important to me.  I didn't realise until I'd spend three years in a space with no natural light, getting gradually grumpier and grumpier.  If you are out and about going to meetings and visiting clients it may not be so important to you, but it's worth considering.

• Is there daylight?
• If not, are there enough lights, or will you able to light the space adequately?
• Will you need to supply blinds or window coverings yourself?
• Have you been to have a look when it’s dark too?
• Are there enough power points?
• Are the sockets in the right place for you?

 
Noise
I'm pretty sensitive to noise - but other people like a bit of chatter going on around them.  Have a think about your own tolerance and what you can and can't put up with.  There's nothing worse than being in a space you struggle to work in because of your neighbour's noisy power tools.

• Can you make a noise if you need to (meetings, chatting, machinery etc)?
• Is there anyone else likely to be making a noise in the vicinity?
• Do you have privacy for making phone calls if necessary?
• Can you play your own music if you want to?

 
Facilities
Sometimes it's easy to overlook really obvious things; make sure you are happy with the toilet arrangements in particular, specially if you are going to be spending all day at work!

• What’s the bin situation?
• Are there recycling facilities?
• What are the toilet arrangements?
• Do you have access to a kitchen (is there a microwave, kettle, toaster etc)?
• Is there a private meeting area?  Who else uses this, and how is it booked?
• What is the wi-fi like?  Ask other residents, is it reliable?  Is it fast enough?  Take your laptop and give it a go?

 
People
I've always worked in spaces which are - at least in part - shared.  It works well for me as I like to have a bit of company from time to time.  However you might decide you need privacy and you don't want to share your space... it's worth looking at both options before you make a decision.

• Is there a communal area?
• Who are you sharing with?
• Have you met them?  Do you like them?
• Do they work similar hours to you?  What do they do?
• Would you still be okay if the people you share with changes over time?
• Do you have friends nearby that you can meet for lunch if you wanted to?

 
Landlord
Having a good relationship with your landlord is really important.  I prefer a landlord to be pretty hands-on and present, so you can ask them about niggly things as and when they arise.

• Is the landlord on site?
• How has communication with the landlord been so far? Are they easy to get hold of?
• Does the landlord seem proactive?  Are they listening to your questions?
• Do you like the landlord?

So that's the kind of think I'd look at - and so far I've been really lucky and have had largely good experiences with my workspaces.  There's definitely that added element of "does it feel right?" - very much like when you buy a house.

Is there anything else you'd recommend looking out for when you've been looking for a studio space?

Moving out of my house into a shared studio was one of the best things I did – for my sanity and my business.  It shifted my work-life balance and made everything work much better for me.
 
Until I gave up my day job it made perfect sense to work from home.  It was cost-efficient and saved me time in commuting.
 
However once I’d taken the plunge and was doing this thing full-time it became apparent that there were a few massive down-sides to this arrangement.
 
Firstly, I was lonely as hell.  I live on my own, and I was going for days without seeing anyone.  The lady in the post office really doesn’t count (although by the end of my first month working from home, she knew all about me).  When I did see people I’d do this crazy jabbering thing, talking about a million miles an hour.  It’d take people a good half an hour to get a word in edgeways.  One of my main reasons for keeping the day job for so long was because I know I’d miss having human company!
 
Secondly, I wasn’t getting any exercise.  At all.  It’s easy to forget about the kind of incidental exercise you get simply by walking around an office, or from your car to your desk, in a day job.  I was literally opening my bedroom door and walking ten steps to my desk.  I’d have a trip to the Post Office most days, but I found a Post Office with parking right outside – those sacks are heavy, and I didn’t fancy lugging them down the street.  I put on so much weight in those first few months.
 
Thirdly, I was working ALL THE TIME.  Like from 7 or 8am until 10pm every night.  There was no cut off.  And if I did decide to finish at 6pm, it was only too easy to nip back into the studio to look at something, and realise three hours later that I’d accidentally started working again.
 
Finally, I didn’t have an actual spare room as it was full of my work stuff (the bed had been moved out of there a few years previously to make more space for shelves).  All my immediate family live at least a 2.5 hour drive away, so if they were going to come and see me they’d normally stay over, and I could only offer them the sofa.  Which is less than ideal, really.
 
It became apparent after about six weeks that my situation wasn’t working, and something had to change.
 
I’m often asked “when do you know it’s the right time to get a studio?” - I think that anyone asking that question is close to knowing it’s the right time!  If you’ve thought about it, you’ve maybe done a bit of research, and you’re weighing up the pros and cons, then you’re ready to move.

Once I’d made the decision it was pretty straightforward, and I was lucky enough to find a nearby shared studio that was reasonably-priced - I’ve written more about finding the studio space that's right for you here.
 
Whether it’s to give you extra space, to create separation from work, give yourself a routine, or simply to have some human company, it is a big decision.  But – in my opinion – it’s absolutely worth the hassle of moving everything, coupled with the extra expense of renting another space.  It made me so much more productive.  No more doing the washing up in the middle of the morning, no more friends popping round for an unannounced cup of tea, and absolutely HAVING to get dressed every day!

Are you struggling with knowing when to make the move?  Or have you recently taken the plunge?  I'd love to hear your experiences!