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Laura Comer, 26 Founder of Social Gremlin Twitter: @SocialGremlin Facebook.com/SocialGremlin


1. Tell us about Social Gremlin


Social Gremlin provides social media and marketing strategy, and service, to small businesses.


2. How did your entrepreneurial journey begin? Social Media is something I slipped into by accident, and I love it. Twitter is such a powerful tool, and there are so many platforms out there to cater for a wide range of businesses. I really get a kick when I know I’ve helped a business. There are a lot of companies who have little faith in Social Media because they don’t understand how to use it. It’s a gap in the market that I’m


happy to fill! My marketing experience is diverse and I have a keen eye for what strategies will suit a business.


3. Where do you see your company in 5 years? I want people to have faith in what I’m offering. I believe that Social Media is instrumental in keeping companies alive and kicking during hard times. Businesses need to get involved in the online community spirit. Social Media is a friendly, influential, and effective form of marketing. In five years time I’d love Social Gremlin to be a recognised name amongst small businesses.


4. What is the best advice you’ve been given? My Dad, rather liberally, throws the phrase “go with the flow” around. It used to really annoy me when I was younger, especially when it was in relation to a “can I have an ice cream?” sort of question. However, in the past decade the phrase has got me through some tough times. Whatever happens just “go with the flow.” C’est la Vie!


Steve Lowy, 30 Founder of umi Group Twitter: @stevelowy www.umigroup.eu


1. Give us an elevator pitch for your company


The umi Group is a collection of services and products aimed at helping the sales and marketing functions of businesses in the hospitality and travel industries. Our services range from a branded hotel marketing consortium to design and marketing services and a booking software for accommodation providers. We create custom ‘packages’ to help businesses in these industries to increase their direct business.


2. How did your entrepreneurial journey begin? I came up with the first part of the business, umi Hotels, when backpacking around South East Asia after university. The warmth and hospitality from the teams working at the guesthouses there (and only costing $1 a night!) was far greater than the experience of staying at mid-range hotels across Europe (I had inter-railed in my gap year before university). I felt there was a gap in the UK hotel market to offer great service within the mid-range/budget hotel industry, and have that as the focus. Upon returning from my travels I ran a 500 bed backpackers hostel in central London and from there started formulating ideas for creating what would become “umi Hotels”.


3. What has been your biggest achievement so far?


The first umi Hotel in London has grown its bottom line every year of the five years since its inception so I guess that, combined with many of the original senior staff still working there, is a real achievement.


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