anne curtis - entrepreneurs - ifwecanyoucan.co.uk - inspiring entrepreneurship in the north east

-Member ProfileChallenge Finalist>

Media partner:

Name:: Anne Curtis
Business:: Shoo Fly Publishing
Web site:: www.shooflypublishing.co.uk
Years in business:
Number of businesses:: 1

Entrepreneurs' Forum Member

I was working as a freelance consultant in East Durham’s Education Act Zone, supporting the arts development of schools. The EAZ was an early...

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my background>

" Before I set my business up I was working as a freelance consultant in East Durham’s Education Act Zone, supporting the arts development of schools. The EAZ was an early supporter of interactive whiteboards in primary classrooms. I attended a demonstration by a colleague and just thought wow… what if I could create books that are the size of a blackboard that can move, talk, sing and dance? I wanted young people of all abilities to enjoy learning as well as teachers to be able to enjoy teaching. Plus, I wanted to build a company built on strong ethical and moral principals that represented the best for children in a changing world. Plus, I’ve enjoyed writing and drawing all my life and I love to make people laugh. I’m a very happy wife and mother with a great supportive family and wonderful friends so I have always been fortunate to take chances…some have succeeded and some haven’t, but my dad (who’s 85 but still offers me great advice!) has taught me that what some people see as failure is simply experience… so I can say I have plenty of experience! "

why i want to win>

" I think there’s an imbalance in the media, TV especially, about what makes a successful businessman or businesswoman. I worry about the effect this will have on people. I don’t agree that there’s only one way to make money... at all costs and at anyone's expense. I want to demonstrate that you can build a successful company by caring about the people you work with and the people you work on behalf of - by treating everyone, no matter what their age or position with genuine respect. It is not always about finding the quickest and easiest way to make money. I believe what goes around comes around. I would not do well in the Dragon's Den or on the Apprentice (although I enjoy watching the latter)! I want to show that there is an alternative way to be personally 'successful'. You need to look back on your life and be proud of what you do and what you stand for. In creating and growing our businesses - we need to carefully consider our ethics and the impact our company ethos will have, directly or indirectly on people's lives. "

why i'm sure i'll suceed>

" Young people are always at the heart of what we do. The products we develop in response to their needs as 21st century learners, are world class. They have been recognised as exemplar in the quality of design and education content in the UK ... and the UK leads the world in educational software. There is no doubt that we are raising the bar and when you do this, it will take time for your work to be recognised. We are attracting interest slowly but surely. This is giving us time to build our small company on very strong foundations. We hold onto our principles and believe in what we are doing. We know it is only a matter of time before our successful industry profile is matched by financial success, thereby allowing us to continue to push the boundaries of education technology on a world-wide platform. "