Enterprise Nation

What a great name for your business – Gabriels Angels – when your name is Gemma Gabriel! We speak to Gemma, who started her home business in January 2008, and has found Google to be her most heavenly route to customers. 

Factfile

Age: 30
Home office location: Malpas, Cheshire
Business description: Virtual Assistant

When did you start Gabriels Angels?

Gabriel’s Angels is a new business and was set up in January 2008

What were you doing before becoming your own boss?

Before becoming my own boss, I worked for a large manufacturing company for many years, before deciding to gain experience in other sectors by taking on Temping PA and secretarial positions within a number of sectors including recruitment, engineering design, education, accountants, travel and many more. 

How did you win your first client/piece of work?

My first client found me through searching for a Virtual Assistant on Google

What is the most popular line of work you are asked to do? 

My most popular request, is to create and maintain databases for clients who want to send out marketing mailshots. Or they can leave the whole process from creating the database to sending out the mailshots to me, so my client can get on with what they do best. I also have a lot of adhoc requests for one off jobs.

What has been your most effective marketing activity to date?

I have gone down a few avenues of marketing my business, from emails and flyers to advertising online (through free listings websites) and a Google adwords campaign. The Google adwords has turned out to be the most successful.            

Are any of your family involved in the business?

My husband, who works for a marketing agency in Chester, helped me by designing and creating the company logo. He and his staff also set up my website, which was a great head start for me.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m planning some more marketing campaigns, to increase my client numbers.

What is the one thing in your home office you couldn’t do without?

I couldn’t possibly live without my mobile phone, I have no idea how we survived before they came along. I remember my first mobile was the size and weight of a brick and now I have a really slim, small phone; it just goes to show how fast technology has changed! 

Gemma Gabriel talks to Emma Jones

• Gabriels Angels