Silk Interiors

www.silkinteriors.com.au

1. Tell us about your business

Silk Interiors specialises in creating stunning feature walls for homes and commercial businesses. Beautiful, dramatic, warm and evoking; we offer an extensive range of quality silk wallpaper designs to complement any interior. We also provide superior wallpaper hanging services in the Melbourne metropolitan and Geelong area.

2. When and why did you start your business?

We started researching our business in 2009 after visiting several display homes and noting the poor quality and workmanship with the wallpaper they featured. We decided we could do it much better!

3. On a personal level, what have you achieved with your business?

My business is like my hobby, so I have a great time both working in and on my business. I absolutely love our products and am passionate about creating beautiful walls, so it has become so much easier to take on the sales person role in our business.

4. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in growing your business?

Our wallpaper designs are so beautiful, tacticle and textured, I've always known we have to get them in front of people to sell them rather than just through our website. So getting our wallpaper in front of people has been the biggest challenge to growing our business.

5. What activities have been successful in promoting your business?

We attended the HIA Home Show in Melbourne in April 2010 and this was a fantastic way to get our beautiful wallpaper designs in front of people. We have generated a lot of interest in our wallpaper and made a lot of sales through this promotion.

6. What activities were less successful for marketing your business?

Our website has been less successful than the Home Show in terms of generating sales, but it's an important tool to have. We need to come up a with a strategy to promote our business and attract people to viewing our sample wallpaper books.

7. Name your favourite thing about your business

The wallpaper! It really is so stunning and tactile - I never get sick of it. And I'm always finding a new favourite design.

8. Who or what other businesses or business people inspire you?

People who take big risks, leave permanent full time employment and take that big leap to grow their business - these people inspire me. Business people who have found a unique and innovative way of marketing their business also inspire me.

9. What are your plans for the future of your business?

In the future, we'll put together our range of sample books rather than use those our suppliers give us. We will also branch out into other states. Can't wait until the day we have 'Silk Interiors' vans driving all around Australia creating beautiful walls.

10. Share your best business tip with our readers.

Research research research plan plan plan and then do!

Visit us at: www.silkinteriors.com.au