1) What is your Creative Practice?/ What exactly do you do?
QT is a marketing and design agency focusing on anything that is to do with ‘communicating’ a company brand, product or service. This can be anything from print and website design/development to advertising and press relations.
2) Do you make a living from your creativity?
Yes – but it was hard in the beginning. QT is now 5 years old and it’s been more famine than feast so far. However, we now have a good selection of clients and our hard work is starting to pay off.
3) What route did you take to get where you are now? (i.e. placement, unpaid , volunteer, jobs through a friend etc)
Any business will benefit from the novelty value of ‘being new’ – but it’s often the second and third year that takes the hit as you’re still seen as having less experience. There are lots of ways to handle this, such as taking those lower profit jobs just to get the name – but at the end of the day it is really down to attitude and marketing.
4) Do you supplement your creative job with other jobs?
No – there is simply no time! I put 100% into QT!.
5) Describe a typical day in your life
What I like about my job is that no two days are the same and there’s no particular routine. So this is really difficult! I guess I’ll describe a typical Monday!
I get into work around 8:30, after dropping off my daughter at nursery. The first part is to read my emails with a cup of coffee – I generally have quite a few to get through! I have a weekly schedule and daily plan that I have to get ready and then I have a meeting with my staff at around 9:30. We spend about an hour going through the current project activities and update each other on events and actions needed. It is also the time to talk about what we want to do for QT in terms of our marketing and PR and also to bounce ideas around.
The rest of morning would involve updating our intranet, contacting any freelancers, updating our board with project details and managing any specific tasks that need doing. (ie. Website updates, follow up press contact, check status of any print jobs etc) I would also review my week schedule and divide into the days’ tasks.
Although I do a lot of design and development, my job has evolved more into project management and liason/customer service. So I spend a lot of my time in meetings with clients or on the phone. I would often have at least one meeting on a Monday afternoon that would involve discussing and going through a project. This is the part of my job I love. For any business, their marketing company is like a good pal you can bounce ideas off with or take an ‘hour out’ over a cuppa. It’s like a bit of ‘business therapy’ and I enjoy brainstorming with my clients and listening to their ideas to see how we can help to get their message out.
After a meeting, I would follow up any calls or emails as required and then start tackling my day’s list again. A typical list of tasks may include going through some ideas with one of our designers to pick out some to present to a client, going through or writing a press release for a client, designing a screen for a website or implementing into HTML an approved screen, preparing a report on search engines or e-marketing etc.
At 5:30 we all lock up – but generally, if I haven’t completed everything on my day’s list, I will pick up again at home. I have a home office set up with two machines and I can link up to our intranet there. This is especially the case if I have had a lot of meetings or follow up calls as I find that this can prevent me from doing everything I need to do.
I generally work until I’m finished – but the time varies. I love my job so I can easily stay up in my home office all night!
6) Do you have relevant qualifications? If so what and have they helped?
I have a degree in music and a master’s degree in ‘Interactive Multimedia Production’. I guess they must have helped in some way – but I’m not an academic and I find the ‘academic approach’ a little bit out of touch. Certainly, the experience of working has taught me a great deal more than any lecture!
7) Anything you would have done differently if you could?
I would have been more ruthless in certain situations. Unfortunately, business is not always easy and there are definitely people who will try and take you for a ride. I never thought it would be the case – but it really is. As long as I work with integrity and honesty, I know that karma is on my side but it’s also very important to cover your back with contractual agreements and be strong with people that try and get more and more out of you!
8) Do you/did you have a mentor or someone whose work/career inspired you? If so who and why?
I have come across various people I respect and admire. But there was one person who had made his millions (but didn’t act like it) and said something to me once that has stuck with me. “Work with integrity and people will always respect you. And don’t try and be your own accountant/solicitor/HR manager etc – stick to what you’re good at and trust other people to do those things”
9) Any company/ website/service/recommendations/ words of wisdom to make?
I have five key points which I follow and refer back to. They may seem pretty much common sense but they have helped me:-
1. Take all the advice you can – don’t be proud
2. Don’t give up – you never know what’s round the corner
3. Take risks – don’t be afraid to change and adapt to the market
4. Integrity – be a real person and tell your clients the truth (people know a wheeler dealer when they meet one!)
5. Re-invention – this keep you and your business fresh!
10) What are your plans for the future?
I have a long term strategic plan – but it has taken me a while to get the right staff to support this. Now that I have them, I intend to build the business up slowly – but to keep it small and friendly.
Thank you Clare for your time.
10 questions for Clare Quartermaine