The Lighthouse

Model Business showcases three creative enterprises that completed the Starter for 6 business and investment programme between 2010 and 2012, Model Business documents the journey taken by these entrepreneurs as they turned their creative ideas into fully formed business propositions. 

Jill Boulton followed the Starter for 6 programme in 2010 and secured investment to develop Visorcat®, the first product to be marketed through her Visual Products company. With additional private funding Jill has now been able to gear up to take Visorcat® to market. This innovative device enables motorcyclists to clean their visor whilst riding. Jill will show an example of Visorcat® in the exhibition alongside a video demonstrating how the device works.

Belinda Goldsmith and Christine Manson followed the Starter for 6 Fast Track programme in 2011 securing investment to develop FitSip. This innovative sports product is designed to solve a problem faced by millions of recreational runners across the world. A product with global potential, FitSip will be launched on the market in the coming weeks. Belinda and Christine will exhibit FitSip and the range of consumable products connected with it, along with the packaging and marketing literature created for the product.

A former Young Designer of the Year nominee in the Scottish Fashion Awards, Jamie Tetsill established Shapes of Things In 2012. He has created a range of unique, limited edition products across fashion, home and accessories which are targeted at the modern, high end consumer, and is also promoting innovative production techniques to other businesses within Scotland’s design community. Jamie will present finished products and plans for his early stage business.

For each of the companies a development timeline will show the key moments in the journey from the point at which they had the initial product idea to market identification and development, and launch.

“In these tough economic times businesses need to innovate, to identify new markets and to create new products and services.” says Bob Last Chair of Cultural Enterprise Office “Starter for 6 demands creativity, realism and excellence from its participants, all of which are vital if they are to meet the challenges of developing their businesses in today’s market conditions”.

“The three businesses featured in this exhibition highlight the breadth of talent within Scottish creative enterprise and illustrate the pathway that any new start will need to follow in order to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses. ”

An associated free event, Realising a Creative Business: Model and Product, will take place on Thursday 7 March 2013 at which the three companies will each provide an insight into the challenges they faced in launching a creative enterprise.

Cultural Enterprise Office is Scotland’s specialist development agency for the Creative Industries sector supporting pre-start, start up and growing businesses. Its particular focus is on supporting and encouraging micro businesses and cultural practitioners that are the bedrock of a successful creative industry sector. It offers targeted, specialist support to raise entrepreneurial skills and support the development of sustainable businesses in the sector. 

Image: Jamie Tetsill