Corban & Blair Giveaway!

Last week i was lucky enough to be able to ask Gillian Corban, the co-founder of Australian Stationery company some questions about how Corban & Blair was created. I love stationery and am also really inspired by Australian women who go it on their own & grow amazing businesses!
Here are a couple of my fav Corban & Blair items.....

Leather warp Journal - great colour too!

Love Birds range - would be cute as a wedding guest book i think!

Recipie folders - i have a few of these!

And here is my chat with Gillian.....

When & why did you start Corban & Blair?

We started in 1988. We had an interest in stationery- 20 years ago stationery and stationery needs were very different to now. We were the first Australians to do stylish, eco concerned designer stationery collections. We still create 2 collections a year but the nature of the collection has changed. We started it as a bit of fun and then decided if we were going to do it as a business we needed to approach it properly. That is business plans, strategies, understanding materials and techniques, customers etc. We did courses, got support and had a steep learning curve to build a strong foundation that we have continued to build on.

What was your background before this?

I was in education- art, media and curriculum development. I am very interested in learning, curious about new knowledge and seeing what is happening in the world especially in new technological opportunities

What advice would you give to others starting their own small businesses?

Have a realistic business plan, know that your service or product is something people want or need. Understand your customer. Be adaptable, curious, flexible and be prepared to learn every day and change.

What do you see in the future for Corban & Blair?

We are in the business of solutions- gift and marketing type solutions. We alway strive to find better and more interesting ways to be meaningful, stylish, useful and recyclable. We have developed a sustainable business model that we work hard to maintain- ie our size and position in the market place.

The lovely folks at Corban & Blair have also been nice enough to provide me with a few goodies to giveway to my readers! Ill be giving away 2 sets of prizes! The first one is a gorgeous silver a5 leather journal & a bright orange leather luggage tag and the second is another gorgeous leather a5 journal in apple green & fun box of food themed 'conversation cards'.

All you need to do is become a follower, then go & 'like' Corban & Blair' Page on facebook (while your there you may aswell 'like' the once.daily.chic page too!) and then leave a comment on this post to say you have! Extra entries for mentioning it on your blog or facebook page! I will announce the 2 winners next monday! Good luck!