Google Digital Garage: Finding confidence as a founder

Sherie Potter never set out to be an entrepreneur. Her business Frankie Doodles was born from a deeply personal experience: the premature birth of her son Frankie 12 years ago.

"I couldn't find clothes that fit him," Sherie says. "The high street didn't sell incubator-friendly clothing, so I had to approach wholesalers and buy from them. I sold the extras to other parents."

What started as a practical solution quickly turned into something bigger. Friends and fellow parents began requesting items and, as her son grew, so did the product range.

Named after Frankie's nickname, Frankie Doodles organically evolved from a passion project into a fully fledged business.

When the pandemic changed everything

For years, Sherie balanced her small business with employment, selling clothing seasonally and on online marketplaces.

But when COVID hit, she was made redundant – and like many others, turned to entrepreneurship full time. She explains:

"COVID changed everything. Only essential shops were open. I was literally setting up a rail of clothes on the street so people could socially distance and shop.

"That's when I knew I had to build a website, set up social media and take the business seriously."

Sherie expanded into girls' clothing and began offering personalised and custom-printed items, especially for parents who wanted matching outfits for their children.

The challenge of driving website traffic on a budget

Despite the growth, Sherie faced a major obstacle: getting traffic to her website – and doing it affordably.

"I spoke to a company that told me I'd have to pay £1,000 a month for social media ads. I thought, there's no way I can afford that. There's got to be another way."

That's when she stumbled across a social post promoting a free Google Digital Garage event. It felt like perfect timing – and she signed up immediately.

Transformative moments at Google Digital Garage

The event was an eye-opener. Sherie described it as a complete mindset shift.

"So much of the advice I'd seen online was protected by gatekeepers or tied to expensive coaches. But Google was just giving it away for free. I couldn't believe it."

She learned that:

• AI tools like Gemini could support her marketing, copywriting and social media efforts

• effective SEO and product descriptions could help drive organic website traffic

• social media success isn't all about posting every day or chasing followers

Sherie adds:

"It was comforting to know you don't need thousands of followers. The training reminded me that what matters is real engagement and clear communication."

Applying the learning

After the event, Sherie immediately began applying what she learned:

• She upscaled her website – improving layout, descriptions and product photography

• She used Gemini as a personal content assistant – helping generate hooks, captions and ideas

• She reframed her marketing mindset – understanding that visibility and reach don't require constant posts or expensive ads

• She optimised her Google business listing – after realising outdated info could confuse customers

Sherie says:

"Gemini's my executive assistant now. It's just so efficient. I love everything about it!"

Real results with engagement, time and sales

Since the event, Sherie has seen a clear difference:

• A 25% increase in website traffic within six to eight weeks

• More qualified customer enquiries turning into first-time sales and then repeat customers

• A shift in social media performance – more meaningful engagement, fewer spam messages

• Greater confidence in launching new products and experimenting with content

Sherie comments:

"I used to work late into the night, seven days a week. Now I'm working normal hours and spending more time with my son."

Sherie also saved significant time by using AI to speed up repetitive tasks like writing product descriptions and creating social media captions.

Perhaps most importantly, though, she now feels empowered.

"Everything I thought I couldn't do, I realised I could. I used to think online advertising was beyond my budget. Now I know it's within my means and I don't need to hire people to do it for me."

She's also stopped feeling pressure to follow every trend or constantly chase growth for the sake of vanity metrics. Instead, she focuses on what works for her business and her customers.

Advice for fellow entrepreneurs

Sherie is now an enthusiastic advocate for the Google Digital Garage programme. So, what advice does she have for other small business owners?

"I'm constantly telling people, if you can find an event near you, definitely go. Don't hesitate, if you're serious about growing your business. It's free. It's local. And it could change everything."

Sherie is even planning to bring her son along to a future event so he can learn about digital marketing too – keeping the Frankie Doodles legacy growing.

Ready to grow your business? Join a Google Digital Garage event near you and unlock the tools, insights and skills that are helping entrepreneurs like Sherie to adapt, grow, and thrive – no matter the season.

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