Meet Helen Garfield... The Creative Desk
May 27, 2024
I’m Helen from The Creatives Desk. I help businesses simplify the content creation process with graphics and Canva templates for their social media and marketing.
I run my business from my home in Somerset, UK where I live with my lovely husband, son, two stepchildren and our two dogs.
What kind of work do you do?
Essentially I design social media Canva templates for small businesses to use for their social media and marketing efforts.
Available in my shop is a growing range of templates including Instagram templates, story templates and Pinterest templates. There are also a number of templates in various niches, including coaching, wellness, lifestyle and small business.
My mission is to make professional graphic design and ready-made content accessible to businesses, no matter their budget. Many new and growing businesses can't afford to hire graphic designers or social media managers. That's where The Creative's Desk comes in. We offer an affordable solution for social media content and strategies, helping businesses create high-quality visuals and effective marketing without breaking the bank.
What inspired you to get started as an entrepreneur?
I quit my job and started a business in 2019 after I realized that if I wanted to work in a creative field, then I would have to create my own opportunities in which to do so.
Since then I have pivoted several times. I started The Creatives Desk in 2020 initially as a virtual assistant business, then became more of a social media management agency.
In 2022 I changed my business model again, from offering services to offering templates as digital products. I realized that so many small business owners could simply not afford a social media manager but still sorely needed help with their graphics and marketing content.
That brings us to today, and I’m so pleased that The Creatives Desk has already helped thousands of business owners and bloggers.
What was your biggest struggle to get things going for your online business?
I am terrible for trying to do too many things at once. I have to keep in mind the following, that working on many things at once means you grow a tiny bit in all directions. If you focus on one main thing, then you rocket your growth in one direction.
This comes from a famous quote, I don’t remember who said it but going by this philosophy has helped me a lot when it comes to moving the needle - and more importantly, being able to really see and measure my growth.
Was there a time you thought about giving up? What kept you from quitting?
Yes! But I pivoted instead. Where I live there are not any good career opportunities in graphic design or marketing - unless you start your own business.
What have you learned since beginning?
Keep pivoting or changing things up, until suddenly, making sales becomes much easier. As I mentioned, I pivoted several times before I started to actually make sales.
Also, it helps if you build a business around your personality, I’m an introvert, and trying to be a social media manager exhausted me so much! So instead I built a business that was much more fun and easier for me to work on.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
To take breaks, even if you take a few days off your business can still grow. People can still find your business on Google, discover your social media posts and they can still sign up to your email list.
What advice would you give someone just starting out?
If you're just starting out, my biggest tip is to build relationships and collaborate with others whenever possible. Doing this can help you get in front of their audience gaining more visibility and opportunities for your business.
Another I recommend doing is to pay close attention to feedback from your customers and from the reviews that your competitors or other similar businesses receive. These insights are invaluable and can guide you in creating and improving your offers.
What’s the professional win you’re most proud of?
I’m proud of the fact that thousands of people have downloaded my template designs for their businesses. Knowing that my work helps to lessen people’s content creation workload and improve their social media presence is a wonderful win!
Which book(s) would you recommend to help entrepreneurs with success and personal development?
The books I have read that stuck with me are ‘Who Moved My Cheese?’ by Spencer Johnson and ‘The E-Myth Revisited’ by Michael E. Gerber.
Do you have a routine that you attest to your success? If yes, what is it?
Yes, after getting up and doing the school run, I usually take my two pugs for a walk. Getting outside for a bit every morning is a lovely start to my day.
How has social media played a factor in your success?
Yes, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest have allowed me to showcase my skills and promote my Canva templates to a worldwide audience. I also use paid ads on social media for my new product launches and to help grow my email list.
What are the biggest social media mistakes you see commonly made?
The most common mistakes I see are people guessing what content their audience wants to see instead of conducting research. Another thing I see is people posting randomly for a few days and then stopping for weeks instead of being consistent and posting content as part of a plan.
What is the business tool that’s been most helpful?
Asana, tend to I use Asana like a digital sticky note task board and calendar.
I used to write all my tasks in a notebook and then rewrite the ones not finished for the next day. Sometimes tasks would be forgotten and big ones were usually put off.
Instead, using Asana means I don’t go through tons of notebooks and I can easily see an overview of my week.
I break big goals down into little tasks spread across days or weeks. It’s easy to move tasks over to different days. Overall, I find I work much more efficiently and I get more things done.
Is there something you wish everyone knew?
I wish more people understood how impactful good design can be for their brand and business. Well-designed visuals improve people's perception of you and your business, your credibility, and ultimately help you get better results with your marketing efforts.
What’s coming up for you in the next few months?
I will be designing and adding more content template kits in the following niches, travel, wellness, business, and lifestyle!
What has being successful taught you?
That running a business can be fun! I’ve learned that being passionate about what you do fuels your motivation to keep going and to keep showing up. This in turn makes the long journey to growing your business easier and more enjoyable.
What are some fun facts about you?
My favorite color is purple, I collect plant terrariums and I prefer visiting the ocean in the winter!
How can our readers find you online?
You can visit me on my:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativesdesk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecreativesdesk/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thecreativesdesk/
Website: https://www.thecreativesdesk.com/
*Some clickable media, usually the book recommendations, are affiliate links, and should you choose to buy through using those links then The Infinite Power of You Inc. may earn an affiliate payout commission. This is at no additional expense to you, and helps keep this blog going.
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