Kathryn Holloway - Gets her (promo)fix

In her final year at school, Kathryn was torn between going straight to university and gaining some work experience first. A work experience placement at Network PR would decide the matter for her – after just a week’s placement Kathryn was offered a job as a graphic designer as soon as she finished her A Levels.

Kathryn went on to found Promofix, providing companies with promotional items, after some of her design clients had problems with their suppliers. More and more clients started asking for different branded products, and Kathryn quickly realised that this could operate successfully as an independent business.

Kathryn’s boss at Network PR supported the new venture, even funding the start up of the company. “I produced a full business and marketing plan for the first year of the business and presented it to Roy,” Kathryn says. “He took a lot of time going though all the aspects of the business plan to make sure that the model would work and the business would be sustainable. It was like Dragon’s Den in the office!”

What was the biggest barrier in getting to where you are today?

I’m not from a family of business people who have been able to offer me advice on working in the professional sector. So I’ve never started out with any real business knowledge, which made me lack confidence when I first started out. I wasn’t quite sure who would take a 21 year old seriously when you’re pitching for large merchandising orders against established companies. But I’ve just always been myself and I think this has always been the best way to do business.

How would you encourage someone to ‘take the plunge’ and set up their own business?

There’s never really a right time to start anything, and if you keep looking for reasons why you can’t do something you’ll keep putting it off and it will never happen. Research and plan your idea and be confident about your business - give it 100% commitment and it will work out. Just go for it!