Small business heroes: Jane Means
Direct Line for Business spoke to author, presenter and designer Jane Means about why she decided to start her gift wrapping academy.
Small Business Case Study: Jane Means
Jane Means started her company back in 1995 when she decided to turn her hobby of cardmaking into a business, with only a small budget and a kitchen table available at the time.
But with a mind full of creative ideas, a strong determination to prove her critics wrong and a lot of hard work, Jane’s business has grown beyond her initial expectations.
Now known as the ‘Gift Wrap Guru', Jane’s extensive portfolio includes services for Harrods, House of Fraser, Lakeland, The Queen Elizabeth Foundation, Meadowhall, WHSmith, O2, Philips, Marks & Spencer, American Express, Crabtree and Evelyn, and Claridges to name a few.
And with clients now travelling from around the world to attend her workshops in the UK and Singapore, Jane Means has grown from a hobby to become a truly global business.
How did Jane grow her business?
When Jane first started out 20 years ago, she spent much of her time making bespoke cards and wedding stationery. Her work soon gained a reputation for its high quality and attention to detail, and Jane became very successful.
So successful, in fact, that she was commissioned by the Crown Estates of Somerset to make a card for the Queen (which later went on display in Buckingham Palace Mews) and soon became a regular supplier to Harvey Nichols.
By the late nineties Jane realised her true passion was gift wrapping and after finishing her teaching training, she decided to start offering gift wrapping courses in her parents Lincolnshire watermill.
These courses have become one of Jane's most popular services, with clients travelling from as far away as Bermuda and Australia to attend.
If you're planning to follow in Jane's footsteps and sell your crafts for all occasions, you need to make sure that you have the right insurance in place to cover your stock and equipment should the unexpected happen. Find out more about our Craft Insurance.
For more tips on starting and running a small business, why not head over to our Small Business Heroes video hub?