Gemma Finch is the founder of Burford Creative, a boutique marketing agency based in The Cotswolds. She started her marketing career in the corporate and digital world, before becoming a marketing manager for a luxury travel company, spending two years developing and implementing their digital marketing strategy. Taking the plunge into self-employment in 2009, Gemma has now started and grown businesses in the equine, leisure and hospitality industries, before launching Burford Creative in 2020. She has a particular interest in film and photography and champions a strategic approach to marketing – making the best use of a client’s resources to grow their business. She has spent the last three years growing her agency which now enjoys a roster of loyal retained clients and a great reputation for customer service and innovative creative campaigns.
Thank you for interviewing with us today, can you introduce yourself to us?
I am Gemma, the founder of Burford Creative, which is a boutique marketing agency in The Cotswolds
Can you take us through your journey to where you are now?
I left school at 16, and have been working hard ever since! I have always loved marketing, and worked my way up through various organisations and industries before managing the marketing department of a luxury travel firm. This was just as social media and digital marketing was taking off so was a fantastic time to learn in a fast changing environment. I then decided to go self employed in 2009 and after working in the equine industry, took on a pub with my now husband in 2011. I continued to work in marketing on a freelance basis, and decided in 2020 I wanted to do more, so started up Burford Creative. Since then, I have been on a massive journey, working on my mindset, growing my team and setting up the agency to grow and develop.
Since starting, have you made any changes to your business model?
Other than expanding, not really! I work very much on a strategy first basis, so I always encourage people to work on a retained basis to get the most from our services.
Have you ever had a mentor? If so how has this benefitted you either personally or professionally? Not officially, but I have multiple people I look up to and inspire me – my dad was probably the first person who I ever asked for business advice, and I still go to him for his opinion today!
What outlets do use for marketing?
Most of my own marketing is done through networking and social media – I have built my entire business through this, but obviously in our work we use every outlet going depending on client needs.
What or Who has inspired you most recently?
My business and mindset coach Tara Best is my go-to for inspiration and good vibes and I make sure I get a top-up at least every six months.
What is the best piece of business advice you have received to date? ‘
Tough times don’t last, tough people do’. Being self-employed can often feel like challenge after challenge, and it is important to develop the resilience to keep going.
How do you create an evenly balanced work and personal life?
I always keep Sundays for us as a family to spend time with the children, and always take holidays even when you feel like you don’t have the time to.
Name a seminal point in your career so far?
Making the decision in the middle of the first covid lockdown that I was going to start Burford Creative – it is the best decision I have ever made.
What gives you ultimate career satisfaction?
Seeing my clients grown their business as a result of the work we have done and coming up with a creative idea that clients absolutely love.
Are there any leading entrepreneurs or SME leaders that you admire and if so, why?
Richard Branson – it’s probably a predictable answer, but reading his story made me realise how close to failure he came on multiple occasions but his ability to keep the faith and take risks ultimately paid off.
How do you define your own success?
I don’t – it’s never a finished task, you always keep learning.
Finally, what can we expect from you next?
More growth, our plan is to double our turnover and team at Burford Creative in 2024 and continue to help more businesses grow.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-finch-086b1562/
