[Interview] Georgina Fihosy, Founder, Special Touch Designs, UK

British-Born Nigerian Georgina Fihosy is a UK certified pharmacist, founder and editor of lifestyle blog ThatHealthyFeeling.co.uk, and the creative entrepreneur behind the African inspired greeting cards company, Special Touch Designs. Her gift for designing and hand-finishing greeting cards, which merge bold African wax print fabrics and quality textured boards, was realized in the summer of 2015.

Her interview with Africa Business Communities:

Would you please introduce Special Touch Designs?

Special Touch Designs is a new and exciting greeting cards business that which fuses African and Western cultures through its contemporary designs.

The business is a new contender within the greeting cards industry and aims to promote diversity and celebrate African culture through all of the card ranges.

What are the USP’s of your business?

Our cards are truly unique, in that they are all individually hand finished with bold and vibrant Wax print fabrics. I have carefully sourced the best board and hand-picked each fabric to give the customer a truly one of a kind greeting card. You won't find cards like these anywhere else.

Why did you start Special Touch Designs?

I remember trying to find a card for a Nigerian friend who had just had a baby. Cards are so personal, so I wanted to give her a unique card that upon opening she could really identify with. I searched for a card that had images of black families or a newborn black baby, but could not find anything in the major mainstream card retailers in the UK.  I was so disappointed that I decided to make the card myself and that was basically how the business began, out of pure frustration for the lack of diversity in the British card industry.

What did you do before starting Special Touch Designs?

I actually have a science background; I'm a qualified UK based pharmacist with over 12 years’ experience working in healthcare. I currently run the business alongside my full time pharmacy career. It's definitely a challenge, but I love what I do. My business is an extension of my personality and expression of my creativity; it is one of the marks I hope to leave in this world as the part I played in the promotion of diversity.

What other companies/organizations/activities have you started?

Aside from the card business, I'm founder and editor of ThatHealthyFeeling.co.uk an online natural hair and lifestyle blog that aims to be a resource for women of colour striving to make healthier lifestyle choices. It offers general beauty and skin care information and also provides advice on women’s healthcare issues.

I am also the communications lead and trustee of a charity called Relieve and Care which supports children and their families in West Africa living through the devastating effects of cancer and kidney diseases. The charity provides money for much needed chemotherapy and dialysis.

What can be done by entrepreneurs and governments to see more businesses of this kind take off?

I think entrepreneurs and the government need to invest more into promoting innovation and creativity within educational institutes, particularly primary and secondary schools. Alongside academia I think children need be able to embrace business skills and have an understanding of entrepreneurship.

Do you think women entrepreneurs typically have a harder time accessing loans through traditional bank channels?

I don't believe so. I think if you have a solid and viable idea with a well thought out and comprehensive business plan, obtaining finance should not be a problem.

What can you say about the targets, plans and ambitions of Special Touch Designs in 2016?

I'd like to expand the trade side of the business and see my cards in larger retail outlets within the next year. I'd also like to source global distributors and embark on creating an international business.

How would you assess the UK’s economic performance in 2015?

Although economic growth in the UK was slow last year, the services industry did well and according to the Greeting Card Association, the latest Market Report shows that the UK greeting cards market has a value of over £1.6 billion in retail. Despite heavy competition from social media and digital communications, the sales of greetings cards are doing extremely well.

Which African countries do you predict will perform best in 2016?

I am by no means an economist but purely based on GDP, I would have to say Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt.

www.linkedin.com/in/georginafihosy

www.specialtouchdesigns.com

www.thathealthyfeeling.co.uk

 

Want to be part of our Founder/CEO interview series? Send an email to andrea@africabusinesscommunities.com!