“I love Nikki, she is truly exceptional in her dedication to understanding people and their business needs before taking any action. Her selfless nature is evident as she willingly gives her time and expertise without holding back. Not only is she an expert in product photography, but she truly excels as a brand marketing specialist. Through her guidance, she has empowered me to analyse my business with a fresh perspective and envision a clear and promising path for the future. Nikki’s passion and know-how are invaluable assets that continue to shape my growth and success.” Lou Wood
Lou Wood is one of the UK’s leading sugar flower specialists and owner of Lou Wood Sugar Flowers with her HQ in Tewkesbury. She’s way too modest to say this herself so I’ll just put it out there!
I’ve known Lou for many years and was really happy that she came to me to help her work through her next steps in her business and also to help her with work on her brand.
Lou came to Carlé & Moss HQ when she was at a crossroads. We had a full morning of discussion, business discovery, motivation, and above all we worked hard to remove away the overwhelm and to direct her business in a direction that would give her the best results both personally and in business.
A work life balance is incredibly important. And the phrase ‘do what you love’ is often used. Its a good phrase to follow for all business owners. Lou know what she loves to do and we worked through ideas, strategy and concepts to help ‘doing what you love’ become a profitable reality.
I’m thrilled that Lou is also now booked in for a brand photo shoot with me over the coming weeks.
In 2024 Lou will be offering tailored classes in the comfort of your own home for you and up to 5 guests. Lou will also be launching her Carefree Days of Creativity, which are booked to be held in some of the most luxurious Cotswold hotels.
A: “I am keen to improve my home business and make it into a more professional basis away from home now. I am in a position with home and family life to spend more time for myself building it into what I actually want but what that was, I didn’t know. I had no idea what a brand was or how to market it. I just didn’t know where to begin. Nikki has definitely helped me with that!”
A: “Definitely, yes. She is so dedicated to knowing you as the client first, talking everything through and really getting to know you and your business.
I have tried to work with others on what I thought was branding in the past but I have ended up with half-hearted efforts which have left me in the lurch and with not exactly what I wanted. Mainly because I didn’t know what I wanted and maybe they didn’t either.
Nikki didn’t tell me what to do, instead she guided me through the process of working it out. I just needed a map and some tools to find my way. My journey has begun and I have a clear direction (following most of Nikki’s advice) with the confidence to stride out and have a go myself.”
A: “Learning what a brand actually is and what it does. Quantifying things so I can actually target what I have to do. I like to know exactly what I need to do. The next step… Nikki was brilliant with this. Even though I really didn’t know quite where I was going to take my business exactly, she helped me work through my ideas and come up with strategies to help me get there. She suggested links and directions which in my insular home life, I hadn’t even thought of.”
A: “I had met Nikki through her brand photography work with The Vanilla Pod Bakery and got on so well with her I was totally relaxed in her company. She managed to take the only photographs of me that I have ever been proud to show anyone. When I decided to have photos done of my own products she was an obvious choice.”
A: “I discovered C&M through Nikki’s photography work and looking into what she was all about. I didn’t realise this was all part of it. At first I thought NK was just a photographer working for C&M but knew nothing about C&M how wrong I was.”
A: “I loved the flip charts with all the new inspiration and language on them. I used them to formulate my mood boards detailing who my target market might be and who my competitors are, I didn’t think I had any. I just needed to think in a different way.”
A: “It’s worth it’s weight in gold. I think I would like to do more especially with brand photography next.
So far I have identified what people think of me and how I appear as a business, subsequently what I would like to do to improve it going forward.
I have identified the people who might come to a different style of class, so what other options there are for the future.
She helped me with detailing how to cost my classes sensibly to match my brand.
She encouraged me to think of places where I might sell/advertise/collaborate etc. and changed my mindset about money and who pays what.
I now have the confidence to call and ask to book things for my business not feeling that they are doing ME a favour all the time. It has opened my mind to so much more than just my world in Tewkesbury.
I have gained more confidence in myself as a business person running a ‘proper’ business. Nikki’s network is also helping me greatly by introducing me to people, so it’s not so nerve wracking calling them cold.
As a result, in 2024 I will be offering tailored classes in your own home for yourself and up to 5 guests as well as launching carefree days of creativity, to be held in luxury Cotswold hotels. Two things I never knew I would ever do. Nikki is also helping me to develop how I share my skills with Chef professionals locally.”
“I love Nikki, she is truly exceptional in her dedication to understanding people and their business needs before taking any action. Her selfless nature is evident as she willingly gives her time and expertise without holding back. Not only is she an expert in product photography, but she truly excels as a brand marketing specialist. Through her guidance, she has empowered me to analyse my business with a fresh perspective and envision a clear and promising path for the future. Nikki’s passion and know-how are invaluable assets that continue to shape my growth and success.”
If you’re a small business, or a start up entrepreneur and you can’t see the wood for the trees and feel overwhelmed by your business as it currently stands please get in touch and lets make 2024 your year for change.