OUGD502 PPP - Studio Brief 02 - Taking care of business - Initial Notes

PPP – Taking Care of Business

Initial Meeting Notes 21/01/2014

1. Company Structure:

We are going to be a LTD company with 3 shareholders and 3 directors of equal equity (33% each). The benefits of doing this are:

-       Keep money within the business

-       Be more tax efficient

-       Can offset costs more efficiently through the business

-       Save on personal tax liability’s

-       All owners are treated as employees by the company as opposed to self-employed

-       In future if needed shares can be sold to outside investors.

2.  What skills and services do you have to offer?

We offer complete design solutions for our clients, which take a multi-disciplinary approach covering all aspects of a design brief. Services include:

- Visual identity

- Logos

- Brand strategy and development

- Communication strategy

- Corporate and brand name

- Brand applications

- Signage & wayfinding

- Packaging design

- Typography

- Digital material design

- Printed material design

- Web design & development

- Motion graphics

- Print management

- Exhibition & enviromental

- Books & publications

- Printed communications 

3. Who is your target market?

At first we will target small to medium size business in the Leeds / Yorkshire area and after establishing ourselves locally we will be looking to expand across the UK. Using an online and offline presence we hope to expand our services across the world.

4. Who is your competition and how will you compete?

Our competition is local design studios and freelancers in the Leeds / Yorkshire area.

-       Quality

-       Service

-       Wide network of freelancers available

5. What are your costs, charges and financial considerations?

-       Studio rent

-       Mac’s

-       Business internet

-       Business phone line

-       Web hosting

-       Cloud storage

-       Printers

-       Office stationary

-       Office furniture

-       Marketing budget

-       Professional expenses (accountants / solicitors)

-       Adobe Suite

-       Business cards

-       Insurance

-       Food

-        

6.    How will you structure your studio?

To start with there will be 3 people working within the studio. We will work together for forming ideas and concepts and then adapt our roles in relation to the briefs and our individual strengths. We will work democratically and create a healthy culture of competition within the company.  80/20 split of time (commercial / creative)

7.    Who will be responsible for what?

We will adapt our responsibilities to tasks and assign roles based on individual’s strengths.  

8.  How will you promote your services? To who? Using what media?

-       Word of mouth

-       Referrals

-       Direct mail to studios

-       SEO

-       PPC Advertising

-       Creative projects shared online

-       PR / Interviews