Interview: Amanda Charteris, Gift Wrapped & Gorgeous, Leicestershire

 Describe yourself in three words…

Driven, Positive, Kind.

Tell us about your background…

I am a former airline stewardess married to an airline pilot and mother to two gorgeous girls, one 26 years old and one six years old. Yes you read that correctly, lol!

The eldest is about to have her first novel published by Penguin books and the little one is just simply gorgous!   I have worked as a sales training manager, responsible for a team of 40 salespeople and co founded a charity supporting  mothers with postnatal depression of which I am a director and trustee. 

This is when I first became involved in PR and found I have a natural ability in this area. More recently I have successfully developed a wedding design and planning company.  I loved making the organza flower garlands and pew decorations but have passed this on to another events company so I can concentrate on launching Gift Wrapped & Gorgeous.

Tell us about what you do! 

I market and promote creative designer makers to the UK media via ecommerce, press websites and PR.

What inspired you to launch your own business?

I love a challenge and wanted to be able to fit my work around family life.

What’s your proudest moment so far?

Apart from having my two girls, probably achieving over £30,000 funding for a charity.

And your greatest project?

Launching Gift Wrapped & Gorgeous.

Who or what inspires you?

Deborah Meaden and Rachel Elnaugh of Dragons Den  – both amazing women at the cutting edge of business.  Also looking at the sky – brings everything into perspective!!

What do you hope to be doing in five years time?

Seeing Gift Wrapped & Gorgeous fantastically successful and recognised as a household name.

When you aren’t running your creative business, you are…?

Knitting!! A great stress buster!! I also enjoy walking in the fields with my jack russell, Monty, and having a good girly night with my friends.  I am a workaholic though and am usually found reading business development books if I am not physically working or being a Mum.

Anything exciting ongoing or in the pipeline? 

Apart from the launch of Gift Wrapped & Gorgeous, we are moving to Cornwall to live.

Finally, any words of wisdom to other creative people?

Believe in your own worth. Your designs take time and emotional energy to create so don’t undersell yourself.  Just because you are not famous (yet), you are still a designer.