Parents in Business featuring Lid Project

This week I’m delighted to introduce Gemma and Dan to my Parents in Business series with their business; Lid Project, an agency that operates as a “plug-in” sales and marketing team to support other businesses when they need it!

Oh my gosh what an amazing business this is, and what an amazing ethos there is behind it. Gemma and Dan sound like two of the hardest working people I’ve come across with such passion and determination for the business to succeed, yet at the same time know how to balance the business with family life and are not afraid of bringing their child into the work place. So please all have a read of this interview and I promise that it will leave you feeling inspired…..

Tell me a little bit about you, your background, and your business?

Dan and myself are like chalk and cheese, friends, family and work connections often comment on our contrasting styles of operating, personalities and parenting techniques. Nevertheless, Lid Project has gone from strength to strength, and we’re immensely proud of what we’ve created so far. We joined forces officially in 2015, I brought an international fashion sales background to the table and Dan came with extensive events industry experience. Together we began our quest to build an agency that operates as “a plug in sales & marketing team”.

Lid Project has evolved naturally; the initial concept was about promoting a series of complementary businesses to an end user / buyer. As we have strengthened our team, and client base, our services and projects have developed too. We pride ourselves on being a strong plug in sales & business development team – allowing businesses to access high levels of sales experience, without needing to bring employees in internally. The Lid Project team learns about it’s clients products and services, who their ideal buyer is and then gets to work on bringing these opportunities forward. We network on our clients behalf, become the sales team at client event’s, lead internal sales departments and account manage our clients key customers for them. 

What were your motivations for setting up your business?

I was looking for more, Dan was looking for unconventional. 

My motivators while I was employed by corporate businesses (Folli Follie, Supergroup Plc, Bestseller) was to bring on a new account, visit a new territory, have a bigger team, go after the promotion. My expectations of myself were, (and continue to be) very high. I realised that I could push for that more, and continue to strive with Lid Project. 

Dan was developing quite a reputation for himself, and wanted to be able to deliver and win more than he could as an independent – he recognised that I would be much better at his reporting, negotiating terms on contracts and bringing in a team. He’s been described over the years as “the missing piece” “unbelievably good” and “way too much (energy) to have in the office for a full day”

How do you balance the business around your family and childcare?

Since setting up your business what has been your biggest success to date?

We consistently take things into our stride, we are building an international business, and it’s all through hard work and doing things that feel right, rather than having a comprehensive plan upfront. I am most pleased with our decision to start working internationally, and applying what we have been doing in the UK for the past 3 years to an international audience. We began expanding into international territories in August 2018 and now have projects and clients in; USA, South Korea, UAE, and The Netherlands.

If you like what you’re reading and would love to be part of my Parents in Business series just drop me an email: thepramshedblog@gmail.com. Or have a nose at some of the other businesses I have featured in the series: Parents in Biz, Mojo Yard, and KIH Products.

Claire x