Decorator Profile
terrified. But over the next few weeks and months I got better at it, one trick was singing a certain song to myself just as I was walking up to the building. This gave me a spring in my step and I walked in more confidently. The song, for those who want to know, was ‘Walking on Sunshine’ by Katrina and the Waves,” he explains. One other way that Brian built his client base was through the Merseyside BNI networking organisation. Members are encouraged to promote their services and products to others within the network to help each other grow their businesses. “Being in that room each morning, I likened it to doing 20 to 30 cold calls each time I presented my services. With the weekly meetings I grew in confi dence and business experience. Without BNI’s help I doubt I would have lasted 20 years in business,” says Brian.
Some of the customers that Brian picked up during those early days still regularly order from him, which is testament to the service and quality of product that he provides. And the customers he has picked up over the years have all come to him as a result of referrals and word of mouth, without a single piece of advertising or social media promotion.
“My first customer was a printer in a small unit, about the size of a garage. He has grown over the years and now employs around eight or nine lads. As he’s grown, it’s helped me to grow. I’ve got another customer who I met through the BNI network who is a roofer that started as a one-man band. Now he’s got 20 lads on the staff and I provide them with all their trousers, bodywarmers and the rest,” explains Brian.
Still going strong
Not only has Brian maintained relationships with these customers over the last 20 years, but his very first embroidery machine is still going strong. Over the years he has expanded his equipment portfolio, which now extends to two Happy single-head machines, a Brother four-head machine, a sublimation printer and a plotter/ cutter. “The best piece of advice I was given when I started my business was to build it up year-on-year by adding a new piece
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk You can’t sell
headaches. I learnt that working with Johnsons. Don’t sell something that is going to come back to you. I’ve always advocated selling quality products only. Don’t sell the cheap rubbish stuff
– Brian Quinn, Q-Apparel
of equipment, which is exactly what I have done,” Brian says. Along with the expansion in equipment, Brian has also expanded his workshop from the garage at home, to his own unit. “It got to the point where I had boxes absolutely everywhere! Spilling out from the garage into the hallway. My poor wife was very understanding!” laughs Brian.
Moving into his own unit allowed Brian to take his business to the next level. Also helping him to separate his working life from his home life. Brian stayed in his first unit for eight years and moved into his most recent one back in February.
“Even though I was only working in the garage I put on a shirt and tie to go to work. It was about five years into the job where I thought ‘why are
you wearing a tie’!” Brian laughs. “It helped with the mindset.”
Being your own boss sounds like the ultimate dream, but it can come with its own perils. You have to be disciplined and manage your own time. It can be lonely at times – after all humans are social creatures. But if you are dedicated enough and willing to put the hard graft in, you can end up running a successful business just like Brian. He says: “There have been hard times. There have been stressful times. But on the whole, I have enjoyed every second of the last 20 years. It’s been a laugh and I’ve met some good people.”
Perfect business advice As someone who has successfully run his own business for the last two decades, Brian is in an ideal position to offer advice to those looking to get started in the world of garment decoration and become their own boss. “You can’t sell headaches. I learnt that working with Johnsons. Don’t sell something that is going to come back to you. I’ve always advocated selling quality products only. Don’t sell the cheap rubbish stuff,” he says. Brian is now reaching the point in his life where he is beginning to think about retirement. As such he is looking at increasing the value of the business now to leave it in the best place possible for someone to purchase within the next few years. Being self-employed is no picnic. There are many aspects and factors to take into consideration before you set out. But if you have the same work ethic as Brian, you will be able to make it work for you.
Some examples of Brian’s embroidery April 2023 |77 |
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92
