A Durham couple are proving they have the fabric of a successful business, after launching an online company with support from Business Link.

Elizabeth and George Clouston set up Atelier Maison, a home furnishings business, last year, and have steered the company to healthy growth after employing an innovative marketing strategy. With the help of support company Business Link, the couple have managed to grow their customer base, and now have clients from as far afield as Germany and Australia. The business sells bespoke linens and home furnishings, specialising in fair trade and ethical products, and started trading in June 2009. With guidance from Business Link adviser, Sandra Hobson-Tate, Mrs Clouston began looking into ways of promoting her business, and driving traffic to the company website. She has managed to use social networking sites such as Linkedin and Twitter to great effect, to help market Atelier Maison to a world-wide audience.

She said: “Like most new businesses, we did not have an infinite pot of money to invest in marketing, but we knew that it would play a crucial role in getting our company off the ground. “After meeting with our Business Link adviser, who has helped at every stage of the business’ growth, we started to explore search engine optimisation (SEO) and began looking for ways to improve our search rankings, and give our business the best chance of being noticed by potential customers. In doing so, we started to test out social networking platforms, like Twitter, Linkedin and the results have been excellent.”

Elizabeth has also joined a number of online interest groups and forums that have helped her to speak directly to potential customers, and at no cost. She added: “Thinking outside of the box about your marketing is very important, and it was our Business Link adviser who highlighted this early on, allowing us to investigate ways to improve our SEO and get Atelier Maison off to the best possible start. “Through Business Link we spoke to an adviser who specialised in SEO, and he talked us through what would help and hinder our search engine rankings, which is of huge importance to an online based business. Our adviser, Sandra, helped to point us in the direction of a range of resources to help the business, and her guidance provided a great starting point for us, as a new business, in need of as much support as possible.”

Sandra Hobson-Tate, of Business Link, said: “Elizabeth has shown that with time and determination, it is possible to complete your own effective online marketing, and not have to pay vast sums of money for search engine optimisation. Her sheer hard work is already beginning to pay dividends, and I wish the business continued success as it develops and grows.

“I look forward to working with Elizabeth and George in the future, and helping them to explore further ways of exploiting opportunities and unlocking the vast potential that exists in Atelier Maison.”

Business Link has a team of expert advisers who offer advice, help and information to individuals and companies across the region, giving them access to the ‘business brains’ who will help to get their business idea off the ground, or grow their existing company. For further information about Business Link visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/northeast or call 0845 600 9 006.