The Founders Series: December’s Entrepreneurs Turning Creative Ideas into Purposeful Businesses
As the year draws to a close, we take a closer look at five inspiring entrepreneurs who are making a meaningful difference in their industries. These founders, from diverse backgrounds, have built businesses rooted in creativity, practicality, and a strong sense of purpose. Whether it’s sustainable fashion, mental health advocacy, or innovative design solutions, each of their ventures offers a glimpse into what it takes to bring an idea to life. What drives these founders to persevere through challenges and stay true to their vision?
By Emily Chambers
Published December 16, 2024
In this week’s Founder Series, we meet five entrepreneurs whose businesses reflect the creativity, determination, and purpose driving today’s most impactful ventures. These founders, hailing from various industries, share a common commitment to solving problems and creating meaningful connections through their work. Elizabeth Hewitt uses her art to promote mental health awareness, combining her talent for portraits and landscapes with a deeper message. Niall Greenan’s Smart Bunker offers a straightforward solution to an age-old problem with innovative storage design. Tanya Rodgers empowers passion-led businesses with bespoke branding through Me & Spirit Creative. Bill Strohacker is redefining design education with a hands-on approach at his independent school. Finally, Hannah Attalah’s artisanal swimwear blends sustainability and style, offering a unique take on slow fashion. Each of these founders has overcome challenges, stayed focused on their goals, and demonstrated the resilience required to grow a business in today’s world.
Strohacker Design School
Bill Strohacker
In a business where innovation is key, one founder is creating a new approach to design education. ‘Strohacker Design School is a forward-thinking, independent design education hub that bridges the gap between traditional education and industry demands,’ he says.
Bill Strohacker’s background
Bill grew up in Worthing, West Sussex. He has over 30 years of experience in design and education, having worked as a creative director, designer, and educator. He has also developed and authored unique courses in graphic design and fashion media.
More about Strohacker Design School
Strohacker Design School is a design education hub that specialises in providing hands-on, practical training in graphic design, branding, and creative communication. The school addresses the problem of outdated or overly theoretical design programs by providing personalized mentorship, industry-relevant projects, and a focus on creativity, adaptability, and professional readiness.
Key challenges
One of the biggest challenges Bill has faced is the COVID pandemic, which has affected the school’s ability to provide in-person training. ‘I overcame this by developing a highly successful online course, which not only maintained the quality of our teaching but also expanded our reach, attracting new students from around the world,’ he says.
Successful highlights
Bill’s proudest achievement is seeing his first student sign-up land a job as an in-house graphic designer at Pfizer’s London office just three months after completing the course. ‘It was incredibly rewarding and a testament to the power of determination and the right guidance,’ he says.
Lizzy Hewitt Artist
Elizabeth Hewitt Aka: Lizzy Hewitt
In a business where trust is as valuable as the art itself, one founder is making a name for herself with her unique style and commitment to promoting mental health. ‘I specialise in portraits, landscapes and buildings, and illustration for children’s books, all created in a distinctive style,’ she says. Her main mediums are oils, watercolours, pen and ink, pencil and experimenting with digital colour.
Elizabeth Hewitt’s background
Elizabeth grew up in Leicester, UK, about 100 miles from London. She has been encouraged by several key mentors that have supported her throughout her journey, which she feels is really important, as they can see your potential and can pass down their skills. She’s had help with building her first blog site promoting her Art, writing about her work and dealing with people.
More about Lizzy Hewitt Artist
Lizzy Hewitt Artist is a boutique art studio that specializes in creating unique and meaningful art pieces. The studio’s main focus is on promoting mental health and people’s understanding of various mental health conditions and the problems they face. ‘My biggest desire is to promote mental health and people’s understand of various mental health conditions and the problems they face,’ Elizabeth says.
Key challenges
One of the biggest challenges Elizabeth has faced is selling her pictures throughout a variety of outlets, which isn’t always easy. ‘Doing it on your own is difficult, but you can usually find people around you on your side and will always be there to offer help and encouragement at your lowest times, even when you think you want to give up,’ she says.
Successful highlights
Elizabeth’s proudest achievement is gifting a painting to the late Queen with a letter of thanks from the lady in waiting. ‘The painting was called ‘A Right Royal Street Party’ and can be seen on my website at: www.lizzyhewitt.com and Saatchi online: https://www.saatchiart.com/en-gb/LizzyHewitt,’ she says.
Greenans products Limited
Niall Greenan
In a business where innovation is key, one founder has created a product that is solving a problem that has been around for centuries. ‘The Smart Bunker is a simple solution to an age-old problem,’ he says. ‘Until now, there has been no product that robustly addresses user ability and Health and Safety issues as well as the Smart Bunker.’
Niall Greenan’s background
Niall grew up in Castlewellan, Co/Down, N/Ireland. He worked as a stonemason and bricklayer before coming up with the idea for the Smart Bunker. ‘I was pulling pints when I was able to reach the pumps,’ he says. ‘Everyday is a learning day!’
More about Greenans products Limited
Greenans products Limited is a company that specializes in creating innovative storage solutions. The company’s first product was the Smart Bunker, an innovative storage bunker with a spring-loaded side lever that releases stacked product at the bottom of the container. It is suitable for storing coal, animal feeds, wood pellets, and more. ‘The Smart Bunker provides significant competitive advantages, allowing the company to meet growing demand, and explore new market opportunities,’ Niall says.
Key challenges
One of the biggest challenges Niall has faced is the COVID pandemic, which has affected the company’s ability to manufacture and distribute the Smart Bunker. ‘Brexit has been a challenge with higher cost and paperwork and rules, But like all business we pushed ahead,’ he says.
Niall’s proudest achievement is the recognition the Smart Bunker has received from various organizations. ‘The Smart Bunker has Endorsements and Approvals: HETAS: Approved for use with solid fuels, emphasising its safety and effectiveness,’ he says.
Me & Spirit Creative
Tanya Rodgers
In a business where creativity is key, one founder is making a name for herself with her unique approach to branding. ‘Me & Spirit Creative is a boutique brand agency that helps passion-led businesses and multi-passionate creatives express their unique spirit through meaningful branding,’ she says.
Tanya Rodgers’ background
Tanya grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She has a degree in Music and a Master’s in Composition. She taught herself branding and design, starting with £10 logo commissions for Etsy sellers to build her skills.
More about Me & Spirit Creative
Me & Spirit Creative is a boutique brand agency that specializes in creating authentic and impactful brands. The agency provides a blend of brand strategy and design services, offering everything from brand clarity sessions to bespoke brand identity packages. ‘I focus on the spirit of each client’s business, crafting bespoke solutions that reflect their individuality and values,’ Tanya says.
Key challenges
One of the biggest challenges Tanya has faced is overcoming her own self-doubt. ‘As a self-taught designer, I’ve often worried that I might not be as good as those with a formal design education,’ she says. However, she has learned to reframe her mindset and see her background as a strength.
Successful highlights
Tanya’s proudest achievement is completing the rebrand for 12 Bar Music and Social, a vibrant café and record shop in Exeter. ‘Seeing the physical space transformed into something that perfectly matched their vision was incredibly rewarding,’ she says.
Oceanus
Hannah Attalah
In a business where creativity is key, one founder is making a name for herself with her unique approach to fashion. ‘We design hand embroidered artisanal collections mostly swimwear and ready to wear,’ she says.
Hannah’s background
Hannah grew up in London. She studied fashion and business and has always been obsessed with vintage fashion and textiles. She started her business after deciding to turn her love for painting into a full-time pursuit.
More about Oceanus
Oceanus is a boutique fashion brand that specializes in creating unique and meaningful clothing. The brand’s main focus is on promoting sustainability and reducing waste in the fashion industry. ‘We don’t have any close competitors in the swim market due to our supply chain,’ Hannah says.
Key challenges
One of the biggest challenges Hannah has faced is finding the right staff and managing capacity. ‘I found better recruiters and also worked on my production team,’ she says.
Successful highlights
Hannah’s proudest achievement is launching with Harrods and debuting an article in American Vogue. ‘It was a huge moment for us,’ she says.
Final Remarks
These five entrepreneurs exemplify how creativity and perseverance can lead to impactful ventures. Elizabeth Hewitt uses her artistic talent to raise awareness about mental health, while Niall Greenan’s Smart Bunker provides a simple but effective storage solution. Tanya Rodgers shows how meaningful branding can transform businesses, and Bill Strohacker proves that education can evolve to meet real-world demands. Meanwhile, Hannah Attalah’s sustainable fashion highlights the importance of mindful consumerism. As these founders reflect on their journeys, they share invaluable advice: “Research is key, and the internet is a great place to start,” says Niall Greenan. “Embrace your individuality,” Tanya Rodgers adds, “and don’t feel pressured to fit into a predefined niche.” Elizabeth Hewitt emphasizes the power of collaboration: “You can’t succeed alone—find partners and supporters.” Their stories remind us that staying true to your values while adapting to challenges is the key to building a business that lasts.
Strohacker Design School offer courses in Graphic Design: Online graphic design course and in-class part time graphic design courses, plus a certificate full time graphic design course.
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