Ditch your day job or set up your side project with this ultimate guide to starting and running your own creative business. From two successful entrepreneurs who share everything they wish they they'd known at the beginning.

'Together, these two have created a flourishing business' - Vogue

The Art of Starting guides you from the first step right through to the everyday running of a successful creative business. Whether your passion is in craft, photography, food, fashion or design, this book is full of indispensable advice.

Iona Mathieson and Romy St Clair are two entrepreneurs who learnt the hard way. Their practical advice helps you to use what you already know and develop future proof skills in a fulfilling job that works for you.

In The Art of Starting you will:
- Discover your strengths, foster community and create meaningful client relationships
- Learn how to value yourself, your product and negotiate fees
- Find out what school didn't teach; from tax and accounting to social media management and developing community

Iona and Romy started their floristry business SAGE Flowers with no formal training and less than GBP1,000. In a few short years, they grew a floristry empire, have been lauded as London's go-to florists, and have an enviable client list including Mercedes, Nike, Glossier and Fenty. In The Art of Starting they share tips and secrets from experts and entrepreneurs so that your creative business will succeed too.

Ditch your day job or set up your side project with this ultimate guide to starting and running your own creative business.

About the Author

Iona Mathieson and Romy St Clair are the founders of SAGE Flowers in Peckham, the cult floristry business that has taken London and the industry by storm. The pair are advocates for young female entrepreneurship, diversifying and decolonizing floristry and sustainability, and use their platform to progress these topics. Iona and Romy started SAGE with no formal training, less than GBP1,000 and a couple of wooden pallets in a South London car park.

Fast forward a few short years and they have grown a floristry empire, regularly being lauded as London's go to florists and leaders of the young floristry movement with an enviable client list including Mercedes, Nike, Glossier and Fenty. As outsiders to a traditional business, they have disrupted the industry by giving back to their local community through their Future Flowers scheme which offers funded placements to diversify and decolonize floristry. In their first book, The Art of Starting, they share tips from a range of experts and entrepreneurs and the secret to success.

Reviews
Together, these two have created a flourishing business. * Vogue *
This guide will advise you on how to start your own creative business or simply take up a new side hustle * i-D *
The Art of Starting is such a powerful statement. The first step really is as simple as that. What Iona and Romy have provided is a much needed and important resource to building and running a creative business that honors integrity, people and passion. * Diet Paratha *
An honest and demystifying manual full of insider wisdom for modern day entrepreneurs - brilliant! * Hazel Gardiner *
Love what the girls are doing. . . It's amazing what they've built together, boss moves * Seapa *
Iona and Romy are the true trailblaizers in the creative world. The Art of Starting is a must-read, this is the book you needed yesterday. Refreshing, educational, and beautifully curated. A real reflection of what SAGE has become. * Jaya Nila Aziz, Aesthetician & Founder of Sifali *
Unlike many business owners - change doesn't scare them. * Evening Standard *
They know a thing or two about launching a successful business and it's all detailed in their very first book . . . think of it as a start-up handbook. * The Face *
This guide will advise you on how to start your own creative business or simply take up a new side hustle * i-D *



Book Information
ISBN 9781529077575
Author Iona Mathieson
Format Hardback
Page Count 256
Imprint Bluebird
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Weight(grams) 370g
Dimensions(mm) 204mm * 159mm * 25mm