This "small" business has BIG dreams. It's amazing to think that I started Cosy Colouring in November 2023 with a dream of building characters in a village called Cosyville, that people would get to know and colour their world. Fast forward to April 2024 and the fourth Cosy Colouring Book has launched, and my Cosyville community over on TikTok has grown into something really special and amazing!
It warms my heart that so many find the Cosy Colouring books just the thing to unwind, relax, take a moment for yourself and quieten the noise of the world today.
As part of the process for applying for being considered for the UK StartUp Awards I was asked a series of questions. I would like to share some of them here with you today, so that you can get an insight into the idea behind Cosy Colouring and where I would love to take it in the future.
What inspired me to start my business?
I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and had a “side hustle” since my first ever job. Being a creative, I have had my fingers in many pies and have dabbled in many different creative pursuits but nothing has felt quite right and in alignment with my personality. I always felt driven to seek out my “thing”, and I am glad to say that after 30+ years of not giving up I landed in the business I have now which infuses so many different elements of what I enjoy. I knew I wanted to be creative, use my skills in graphic design and illustration and also grow a community. I also wanted to try self-publishing. Starting Cosy Colouring has given me all of these things, coupled with the idea that my colouring books can bring a ray of sunshine into people’s lives with their quirky characters that brings me so much joy!
What are your ambitions for the business?
Future Goals: I want to really make a brand out of the Cosy Colouring characters and branch out to other books such as puzzle books and cooking books, along with children’s books with stories based on the characters.
Growth Strategy: I also want to create a Cosy Colouring Club membership, and a course for other creatives who want to start in self-publishing. Pushing out to multiple sales channels too.
Impact Vision : Colouring books have been documented as having positive impact on mental health and wellbeing, and I hope to be able to continually provide books that promote mindfulness and relieve stress. I am also looking to create special edition colouring books with the Cosy Colouring characters where a portion of the profits would be dedicated to special causes.
What makes your business special?
The joy, calmness and creativity that it brings to the people that use my colouring books. It brings me so much happiness when I read the reviews, and when people reach out to me personally to say how my colouring books have helped them.
What’s the single most important lesson you’ve learned in business?
Have a good support network, people that will cheer you on and hold you accountable for the things you have planned. Sometimes it can be lonely being a solopreneur, and making sure that you have people who have your back when things are tough, but equally to share your wins with is such a blessing.