OK, so we had had the idea and found a name but how were we actually going to execute this grand master plan? As I have mentioned, I had a background in IT but not actually using it, just flogging the idea of it to other people. Luckily, I had a plan.    

I knew someone from school, Craig, who was still in the local area (funny how a lot of people are actually). When I moved back to Leicestershire after years in the big smoke, it seemed strange to me that all these people I knew of old were still here – don’t know why as I think that that is probably more common than my scenario.

Anyway, Craig had spent a long time as a printer and had subsequently set up his own print and design business. Before the idea for an online greetings card business, based on retro/nostalgic content, was even a twinkling in my mind’s eye, Craig had contacted me to work for him on a freelance basis writing some websites for him and some brochures for large clients that he had. This was a result.

When we moved back home, I have to admit that a major reservation I had was that all my business contacts were in the south east. I was concerned I would never work again – and I always liked working – or that I would have to reinvent myself, drawing on my new understanding of postmodernism courtesy of my MA in English and become a lecturer in English Literature (this is still what my Mum thinks I will end up doing by the way; either in that subject or in PR and marketing).

At the time Craig approached me, I had not yet seen myself in the lecturing role my Mum had chosen for me. Tess, our middle girl – no baby Sam as yet – was at the local village pre-school and Isabel was at big school so I jumped at the chance of a flexible but interesting job; near to home and enough money to allow me to go into Topshop once a week, it couldn’t have been better.

So, you see, bingo! I had no clue about printing – although I did understand some of what was necessary to build an ecommerce website – but I knew a man who did. Craig was interested and we set about establishing how Mulberry Square could develop the www.Timecarpet.com website for us and find a printer that was able to help us in this venture. More next time….