Enterprise Nation

Rachel Sweeting left a fast-paced job with Red Bull in London to start her own fast-paced PR business back home in Yorkshire. This home based entrepreneur has no need for energy drinks as she’s buzzing on the adrenalin of building a roster of impressive clients.

When did you start Sweet Marketing?

In January 2007, after moving back to Yorkshire from London.

How does it feel setting up back at home in Yorkshire, after 8 years in the London PR world?

Setting up your own business is both exciting and frightening in the same breath, and I think there are a lot of opportunities in Yorkshire which perhaps aren’t recognised by the London crowd. For example, contacts here are really strong and that can help when it comes to finding new business or getting good results for clients.

I went from working for a hugely successful business at Red Bull energy drinks, driving a company car with all the benefits, in a trendy Soho based office to working on my own and starting in rural Yorkshire. The change was massive but the thing is, I’ve never looked back as there’s nothing as motivating as doing it for yourself.

One of the other benefits is that my clients are also entrepreneurs so whilst I give them expert advice and do great work for them, I also get to learn from their own business experiences.

Does your partner also work from home? If not, does he help you out with the business?

No, he works in Leeds in the property world. He’s an invaluable source of good advice when I need a sounding board as he’s also used to working with clients to get results. He’s also extremely honest so I never worry that he’s just saying things to make me happy!

How did you win your first client?

My first client was actually my brother in law who runs an agricultural seed business in Lincolnshire – Phillips Seeds Ltd – and it’s funny how things start to open out once you get the first client – after that I won a new soft drinks company contract which came from contacts at Red Bull. Another client is Sweden’s biggest children’s wear retailer – Polarn O Pyret which means ‘buddy and the little one’ in Swedish. It’s a gorgeous brand and so far we’ve got them rave reviews in The Times, The Daily Telegraph and in the parenting magazines, so it’s been a good start but there are always opportunities to be worked on in this job!

You have a great company name (we can see where it came from!) – do you plan to develop your website as a route to building your own brand?

Thank you – and yes definitely – in fact it’s something that I need to do asap! Online is definitely the way that a lot of consumers and clients like to find out information and the growth of online marketing is massive – I don’t intend to miss out on that area. And as some of my business is helping clients with their own websites, I really must practise what I preach!

What is the one thing you are enjoying most about running your own company?

The freedom to go with my gut instinct. I had an amazing grounding by working in a big PR consultancy and a lot of freedom at Red Bull but I think you can truly come alive when it’s your own concern – it’s all about ownership really.

Rachel Sweeting talks to Emma Jones   

• Sweet Marketing