Sophie Comas’ background includes working within blue chip leisure and tourism organizations for about 15 years. These are the primary sectors that helped her to gain insights in marketing. She is the founder of RIMU Marketing, a marketing company that helps passionate and committed small business owners who are ready to take their business to the next level. Sophie says, “It might not be just about getting more clients, driving more revenue or engaging more effectively with their clients, it could also be reviewing their brand image or expanding their proposition.”
At RIMU Marketing the team works with a diverse range of small business owners in their marketing approach. The team specializes in helping creative and lifestyle businesses, including personal fitness trainers, coaches, charities, boutique hotels, interior designers, nutritionists, florists and even a canine massage therapist. Sophie says, “We can pretty much work across the marketing mix but we really enjoy helping our clients to define their strategy, get their website right and plan content that will engage with their target audience.”
Below are the highlights of the interview conducted between World’s Leaders and Sophie Comas.
Brief our audience about your journey as a business leader. What challenges did you have to face to get where you are today?
I am also a Chartered Marketeer. Since setting up RIMU Marketing 7 ½ yrs ago there have been many ups and downs, not least over the last 18-months or so with the global pandemic. Some of the biggest challenges I have faced are similar to other small business owners and include:
- Lack of resources This is always a tough one, I think. When you first start out, working for yourself can be quite limiting. You no longer have a boss that you can turn to and say, “Can we just talk this through?” You have to work things through by yourself or enlist the help of supportive friends and family. One of the first things I did when I could, was to bring on board some resources to help me.
- Budget limitations. Budget is also a challenge. Coming from the corporate world where you have large budgets, it is very different for a small business owner. You have to be fairly creative and selective in what and how you promote your business and connect with your ideal client.
- This, without doubt, in the UK, has presented some big challenges for many businesses. Many have been incredibly brave and pivoted their businesses to respond, which has been inspirational to watch, but the challenges continue.
Enlighten us on how you have made an impact in this industry through your expertise in the industry?
The biggest sense of satisfaction has come from watching my clients succeed. Watching them blossom and grow, achieving the results they are seeking through the work we do together.
What are the challenges you and your team at RIMU Marketing come across in your day-to-day operations?
I love being my own boss, but there are challenges with this. They are truly reflected above, for example, a lack of resources, a budget, and, in current climates, a global pandemic.
What people, what books, what life factors have influenced and impacted you?
There are some great business books out there which have been interesting to read. Probably the best one I have found, which was recommended to me by someone in my network, is “Go Giver” by Bob Burg and John David Mann. I love the idea of collaboration that it outlines; I am constantly trying to live by this.
Taking into consideration, the current pandemic, and its impact on global economies, how are you driving your organisation to sustain operations and ensure the safety of your employees at the same time?
The pandemic has certainly impacted the way that we all work. We are really fortunate to be a team of associates, which means that we work remotely, so we are perfectly placed to be able to work together moving forward. We are also really lucky that we all worked from home anyway, so from that perspective, not a lot has changed.
Describe in detail the values and the work culture that drive RIMU Marketing.
One of the key values that runs across RIMU Marketing and all of our associates is the feeling that we genuinely all wish to help our clients succeed. It is a kind of an in-built drive to do the best that we can and ensure that the client is super happy. Whilst this is the primary driver, collaboration, professionalism and curiosity also play a big part in the way that we work – continually striving to learn and improve what we do.
Where do you envision yourself being in the long run, and what are your future goals for RIMU Marketing?
This is an interesting question. I am really happy with where the business is now and how it is growing. For now, our ambition is to grow organically.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs?
My advice would be to say “You can do it”. Building a strong support network around you is really important. That could be friends, family, or calling in professional resources, but build your team. You will have ups and downs, it is the nature of running your own small business, but if you have a team to turn to, it will make the journey that much better. My last piece of advice would be to do something that you love and enjoy!
