Success on the cards for Susie after green designs go global

Published on Monday 29 January 2007 11:52

A YOUNG designer from the Capital has netted contracts to supply her designs to stores in Italy and New York.

Susie Brown, who launched online eco-friendly craft and accessories shop susiemaroon just over a year ago, was approached by Manhattan green boutique Kaight and Milan store The Dodo and the Dinosaur, to ask if they could stock her cards and accessories.

And the art graduate, who currently works from her Marchmont home, but is due to move into a new studio in Leith, has also scooped a top industry award for eco-commerce from BT Scotland and the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT). Ms Brown, who was presented with the Best E-commerce award and a 500 prize at a ceremony in Glasgow, said she hoped to double the size of her business over the coming year.

She said: "I can't believe how well it has gone. I was looking for some way that I could make a living out of my creative side. I am also really interested in the environment, so it just made sense to go for it."

She added: "It seems to be the right time for the angle I'm going for. There are a lot of boutiques opening which deal in designers who are eco-friendly, especially in the United States and Italy.

"I was shocked when the shops in Milan and New York got in touch - they had found my website and liked what I do."

Now Ms Brown, who makes all of her products herself, is planning to use the reverse marketing technique to sell her work to more stockists overseas.

She said: "I've been looking at the internet an awful lot, trying to find shops which would be suitable for my work and I will be targeting them."

Ms Brown already sells handmade cards, accessories and screens at around 20 stockists in the UK - including Edinburgh greetings card chain Paper Tiger and the Red Door Gallery. She also supplies her work to Scottish online boutique stores Velvetboutique and Papastour.com.

And she is now moving into printed card designs, which she has made up on recycled paper sourced from rural communities in India and printed with vegetable dyes.

She added: "I'm absolutely delighted to win an award for my business. The Princes Trust are fantastic - I have a business mentor through them, who is really helpful."

Alan Bonas, head of communications with BT Scotland, said: "Online shopping and e-commerce is creating more and more opportunities for young people in Scotland to fulfil their dreams and set up in business.

"Our young e-entrepreneurs continue to find clever, interesting ways of reaching out to audiences as a means of growing their businesses and today's winners are a great example of that mindset."