Meet Amy Newton, of Amy Newton Interiors. Amy, what made you start your own business?
I’ve always been academic. I’ve also always been creative and loved home interiors, but never thought I could make a career out of it.
I’d been pondering a change of career for years, but never felt brave enough to do it. I had worked in the Criminal Justice field for 16 years after leaving studying Law and Criminology at university. However, I had fallen out of love with it due to the demands of the work and the trauma that I was faced with every day. At the end of 2018 I knew I couldn’t carry on as I was and in early 2019 I went back to studying in Interior Design. That same year I set up my business and started working on projects alongside my career in Probation and by November I was so busy that I handed my resignation in and went full time with Amy Newton Interiors.
What do you enjoy the most about being an entrepreneur?
I love the freedom and flexibility that it brings – I can work on my own terms to suit the needs of me and my family. It’s also great for my children to see the business that I’ve worked hard to create and to know that this is something that they could do if they wanted to.
I also love the connections that I have made with other entrepreneurs and believe that this is vital to my sanity and pivotal to my success. It’s important to find other like-minded people who support you and who you can confide in when needed and The OEC has been fantastic for this.
Who or what helps you to stay organised?
I am quite a naturally organised person, but with multiple projects on the go at once, my organisational skills are often tested to the limits! In the last year I have realised that I don’t have to do everything myself and I have begun to outsource some of the my admin tasks to Elaina of Clear Day, as well as using project management tool, Trello. My coaching with Helen has also helped to keep me organised and focused throughout.
I use FreeAgent to organise and manage my business finances and I’m forever grateful to my accountant, Caroline for her support with this as anything finance-related scares the life out of me!
Rank these 5 business activities in the order that you find them the most enjoyable:
1 – most enjoyable – Business planning
2 Putting plans into action
3 Marketing
4 Admin
5 – least enjoyable – Finances
What do you enjoy most about being a member of The OEC?
The sense of community and the connections that I’ve made. I know that I can reach out in the group for help and/or support and that there will be a group of people waiting to help and willing me to succeed. I obviously have the support of wonderful friends and family, but I think it takes someone who runs their own business to truly understand the challenges we face.
I also enjoy the networking and social activities that Helen and Caroline arrange, which I otherwise may not take the time out to do.
How has being a member of The OEC helped with your confidence in business?
It has helped me to become more visible and to celebrate my successes and by doing this on a regular basis it has helped me to grow in confidence.
What is your top tip for maintaining a healthy business mindset?
- Focus on what you’re good at – outsource the rest if you can!
- Ask for help
- Expect to make mistakes and learn from them
- Believe in yourself and manage the inevitable negative self-talk
How do you help your clients?
I help my clients to transform their home into a place where their eyes light up and their shoulders loosen when they walk through their front door. I help them to create a home that suits their lifestyle, meets their needs and brings them joy.
Whether you just need a little guidance and inspiration, or you need a complete re-design, I can be on hand to help.
What have been your biggest business wins over the last 12 months?
The sheer number of clients that I have helped to transform their homes – it always gives me such a buzz seeing them fall in love with rooms they’ve previously over-looked.
Being shortlisted for the Best Creative Business at the Altrincham and Sale Chamber of Commerce Awards was also a highlight of 2022.
Who are you looking to work with and how can people get in touch?
I am looking to work with clients who value their homes and want to invest money to improve their aesthetic or function. You can book in a free Discovery Call with me to find out more about my services:
You can contact me via my website, Instagram or Facebook.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I once served breakfast to David Beckham!