When Michael Thompson first registered with If we can, you can in August last year, his start up creative company, Urban Giants, was beginning to make waves. Now celebrating its first birthday, Michael looks back over the company’s evolution.“When I was employed, I reached a stage where I felt I had a solid grounding in a vast array of creative disciplines, as well as absorbing the various managerial styles along the way, I felt it was time to combine my knowledge and passion to drive forward and create my own vision of what a design studio should be.
I wanted to change people’s opinions of the industry. Design should be seen as a vital commercial asset providing a solid platform with which to drive your business forward, and not an expenditure.
Design isn’t about making something look pretty, it’s a visual communications tool which provides the face of your business.
And how has the first year been for you?
“The first year has been incredibly hard getting our name out there and building up our reputation, but I have to say it’s all been well worth it.
I’ve recently secured contracts with Hartlepool Teenage Pregnancy Partnership, Story Homes and I’m also currently working with Philip Taylor from this year’s BBC’s The Apprentice.
The company’s success and client base is growing along with our reputation, and that has meant we have just moved into new premises on Scarborough Street in Hartlepool. Originally I launched the business working from home, but I’m keen to push the company forward and drive on to bigger and better things. My key aim is to help others grow their ideas and become giants within their discipline, whilst we in turn also become a giant in the creative sector.”
New premises – that’s a pretty big birthday present!
“It is, but it will provide Urban Giants with more confidence and flexibility, as well as preparing for future growth. I’m a firm believer in growing a company organically; you can’t live a champagne lifestyle on lemonade pockets. I think you should only grow when you realistically can, and not before.
Taking risks in business is commonplace, but (and especially in this current climate) they need to be calculated. The new Urban Giants HQ has just provided a catalyst for my determination to succeed and my passion for design. I’m excited about what I have achieved and what is yet to come, and I get a real kick out of providing others with the pride in their business and the vehicle to shout about it.
We’ve also recently re-launched our company website, www.urbangiants.co.uk for the sole reason that Urban Giants as a company has developed, and therefore our public face should reflect this. I always advocate that you can’t afford for your company image to remain static if you wish to inform and progress, so I’m taking myself at my own word and making it happen.
Through our development over the past year, the advice and assistance from other entrepreneurs has been invaluable. It’s provided me with the confidence to reach my first birthday and look beyond to the next.”
For more information about Urban Giants, visit http://www.urbangiants.co.uk/, and read more about Michael’s journey by viewing his profile on If we can, you can.
And how has the first year been for you?
“The first year has been incredibly hard getting our name out there and building up our reputation, but I have to say it’s all been well worth it.
I’ve recently secured contracts with Hartlepool Teenage Pregnancy Partnership, Story Homes and I’m also currently working with Philip Taylor from this year’s BBC’s The Apprentice.
The company’s success and client base is growing along with our reputation, and that has meant we have just moved into new premises on Scarborough Street in Hartlepool. Originally I launched the business working from home, but I’m keen to push the company forward and drive on to bigger and better things. My key aim is to help others grow their ideas and become giants within their discipline, whilst we in turn also become a giant in the creative sector.”
New premises – that’s a pretty big birthday present!
“It is, but it will provide Urban Giants with more confidence and flexibility, as well as preparing for future growth. I’m a firm believer in growing a company organically; you can’t live a champagne lifestyle on lemonade pockets. I think you should only grow when you realistically can, and not before.
Taking risks in business is commonplace, but (and especially in this current climate) they need to be calculated. The new Urban Giants HQ has just provided a catalyst for my determination to succeed and my passion for design. I’m excited about what I have achieved and what is yet to come, and I get a real kick out of providing others with the pride in their business and the vehicle to shout about it.
We’ve also recently re-launched our company website, www.urbangiants.co.uk for the sole reason that Urban Giants as a company has developed, and therefore our public face should reflect this. I always advocate that you can’t afford for your company image to remain static if you wish to inform and progress, so I’m taking myself at my own word and making it happen.
Through our development over the past year, the advice and assistance from other entrepreneurs has been invaluable. It’s provided me with the confidence to reach my first birthday and look beyond to the next.”
For more information about Urban Giants, visit http://www.urbangiants.co.uk/, and read more about Michael’s journey by viewing his profile on If we can, you can.
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