With a title like that it had to be big news didn’t it? I’m delighted (and enormously emotional) to announce that as of this morning, Flourish is under new ownership.
You may be aware (and it’s certainly becoming more obvious by the day) that I am expecting my third child, due at the end of February.
With this in mind I’ve been searching for someone with the energy, drive and most importantly, the time to continue to grow the business and I am delighted to announce that I have found him. As of this morning, I have now officially handed the reins over to Jason Chappel.
I’m confident that this step will bring exciting new opportunities both for Flourish and your business and I’m really looking forward to seeing how Jason builds on what we’ve created. During the handover period work will be continuing as normal.
Jason has a strong background in digital design and development, online marketing and search engine optimisation and so his skills will really compliment the creative Flourish team. And whilst I’ll be stepping right back from now on, Jason has invited me to return and run the Branding Masterclass for him so I’m delighted that I can still be involved at a really small (and very family friendly) level.
It’s going to be hard to give up something I love so much
I’m lucky enough to have spent the last few years in particular doing work that feels much more like play than hard graft. I’ve blogged often about how much we enjoy the projects we work on and the lovely clients we work with. And of course, the creative and inspirational team who are so much fun and supportive to work with. There is no question, I’m really going to miss it.
But this pregnancy was really the catalyst to accepting that if I’m pretty much at full capacity now, I need to make some tough decisions about where I want to focus my time and energies, because I can’t do it all.
I’m aching to spend more time at home with my family, who I’m conscious are growing up faster by the day. My youngest starts school in a September and my eldest is nearly nine. And I want to focus on them with no distractions. I’m lucky enough to have reached a point where, thanks to the success of Flourish, I can take some time out to do this.
When I think back over the fun I’ve had and the friends I’ve made during this time at Flourish I’m incredibly sad to be moving on. I genuinely love what we do and I can’t think of any work I’d rather be doing. But running a business is tough. However well you try and balance work and home life there’s no denying that it brings with it certain pressure and compromises.
I’m one of those people who strives to do her best at everything she does. I put a lot of pressure on myself. And I’m not certain that running a business of the size Flourish has become, and with the potential it has right now is conducive to being the mum and wife I want to be – especially when we throw another child into the mix.
Reflecting over more than seven years of creativity
The last few years in particular (since setting up Flourish) have been full of inspiration and it’s wonderful to be leaving on such a high. We’ve enjoyed some really challenging creative projects, things that have both played to our strengths and encouraged us to push boundaries.
I’ve also had the pleasure of working with a really inspirational bunch of Branding Masterclass students as well as seeing the team grow and develop as people. I’m genuinely proud of what the business has become.
I was thinking that I might put together my top ten projects or highlights, but looking back over the past seven and a half years I’m not sure that I can pick out specifics. I’ve genuinely loved each one – exploring the creative possibilities, setting a strong vision and seeing the team pull it into shape.
Working with our wonderful clients and challenging them to dream bigger and helping them see the strength they have in their existing businesses or make a startup seem tangible has been such a thrill.
And it’s a feeling that never gets old, however many projects you work on. Instead can I just say that I’m grateful to have worked on so many projects that have helped me grow as a person and feed my creative passion.
Thank you…
So very briefly some thank you’s. First of all, thank you to the Flourish and the Guildford printing.com clients who’ve made all of this possible. Thank you for your enthusiasm, your support and for giving us such fantastic projects to work on.
Thank you lovely blog readers who have shared your thoughts, voted on your favourites, given your opinion and inspired us to raise our game with every project.
Thank you to the Flourish team, both past and present who’ve been so much fun to work with, such an inspiration and the reason this has worked. I’m really going to miss working with you every week.
Ian I will miss your knock’em dead illustrative and artistic skills, your passion for good design and your ability to always make me laugh. Chloe you consistently produce beautiful work with such a sense of style and understanding of trends that reliably takes my breath away. And James, your creativity and ability to push the boundaries is a constant inspiration. A heartfelt thank you goes to Caroline Dann who has been my business rock, there from the start and just as passionate about Flourish as I am.
Thank you to my family, friends and neighbours for their love, support and the kicks up the backside I needed (you know who you are) as well as practical and hands on help on too many occasions to mention.
And most of all thank you to my wonderful husband Pete, who has been there through thick and thin and is supporting me once again with this next phase of our lives. Thank you. X
I do hope that you can understand why I’ve made my decision and I hope that you’ll continue to show Jason and his team the support that I’ve been so lucky to benefit from.
I’d love to stay in touch via Twitter and I’m just debating whether now is the right time to set up that personal blog I’ve been talking about for the last three years or whether I need a complete switch off – time will tell!
Either way I will be here to run the Blogging workshop on 22nd November and also running the Branding Masterclass in January so you can’t get rid of me quite that easily!
I wish you all the very best with your businesses. With love,
Fiona x
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