Editor's Note: Following our article on CURB, we decided to find out more about what Anthony's currently working on, tips for young entrepreneur and his journey so far.
I am a creative entrepreneur passionate about sustainability. I started CURB (curbmedia.com, the natural media company) from my parents basement 3 years ago and have grown to a (projected 2012) £1,000,000 business. Along the way we have worked with most of the world's leading agencies and won many industry awards. Personally I am a member of the RSA, Future 100, Future 500 and have won or been in the final of numerous awards including the Smart 100, Startups Hot 100 and Shell Livewire.
I have wanted to be an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember (except for a short spell when I was 13 when I saw Dantes peak and fancied volcanology). I originally started CURB as one day early 2008 I was sat outside a pub with my fiancee and I saw an advert for Innocent drive past on the side of a bus.
"Why on earth are they preaching the all natural matra to us on what is probably non-biodegradeable pvc on the side of a massively polluting vehicle?" The response " I guess there isnt a natural media" from across the table started a thought process that culminated in the launch of CURB six months later. Our first piece of work was hand burning Barack Obama's portrait using the sun and a magnifying glass which is now in the White House (good job he didn't know it was just me in a bunker at the time).
More and more clients were asking how we could translate the amazing sustainable engagement from the core piece we were delivering into something consumers could take away and engage with. We had dabbled in seed paper but (although loving the product) had never been confident enough in a supply chain to sell it under the CURB brand.
We decided in late 2010 to build a top notch supply chain and create the UK's first growable print company, our first client was creating thousands of flyers and posters for the RSA. We are now the leading growable stationary company in the UK with expansion into Europe planned in the next 6 months.
Ensuring you have a quality product and a good supply chain takes time. We went through a number of supply partners who did not deliver what we had hoped, we had to be very conscious that the first partner who supplies you is not always the right one. Spotting where things were growing (couldn't resist) wrong and acting fast helped us quickly establish the best offering on the market. You have to get it right first time at top quality for the agencies and with the clients we work with.
-Be passionate about your brand and product, it opens doors and if you aren't no on else will be.
-Business is about the ups and downs, learn to experience and expect both. You will get knocked down it is how you get back up that counts.
-Listen to your customers, you will build you product and brand much quicker if you listen to what people tell you.
We are now thinking about the future. Seed paper has astronomic potential, we are developing new print types and seeds. My next set of business cards will grow into strawberries, all we have to think about now is how on earth we sort the cream out! I wont reveal the grand plan for the business but we will be looking to develop Seedpaper into one of the coolest print brands in the industry. For anyone who is looking for a challenge and wants to be part of the team send us an email.