Can you tell us a little about yourself and your business? 

Bamsey Digital is a full-service marketing agency based in South Wimbledon, and we’ve been going for about six and a half years now. My route into marketing wasn’t exactly the usual one. I actually studied Forensic Science at uni, then went travelling, first to Australia, then on to Thailand where I taught English for over 6 years.

I’ve always loved filming and taking photos (I did Forensic Photography as part of my degree), so while I was away I was always capturing images and taking videos. Eventually, a mate and I started a YouTube channel just for fun. Our very first video went viral overnight from zero to 90,000 views, and over time we grew to over 180,000 subscribers, travelling around Thailand, creating content, and basically having the time of our lives.

When I came back to the UK, I freelanced for a bit before setting up Bamsey Digital early 2019. At first, most of my clients were friends and family who’d seen me build my own brand and wanted the same for their businesses. Fast forward to now, we’ve got a team of 7-8 people covering everything from paid ads and websites to photography, video, design, and social media. We work with all sorts of businesses, from a burrito stand in central London to a fertility clinic in Epsom and we’ve even built a separate marketing business which focuses on the property sector.

What challenges have you faced since starting the business? 

When I first started out, I was lucky to have a lot of personal connections that I’d made whilst living in London which meant I could reach out to them for work. The downside was, it made me a bit too trusting in the beginning. I didn’t have proper processes in place, I’d invoice at the end of the month, which sometimes led to chasing late payments. It was a valuable lesson, and we’ve since tightened up how we work so that it’s fair for both us and our clients.

Another big lesson has been around hiring. You can teach someone technical skills, but you can’t teach them to generally be a good person with a can do attitude.

Having the right people around you, people who share your values and genuinely care about the work makes all the difference.

What is your advice to other SMEs? 

Networking is huge, talk to people, be approachable, and build genuine relationships, because you never know when someone might need what you offer. That casual chat today could mean that the next time they need some assistance for their business, you’re the first person they think of. 

And once you’ve done a great job, they will come back for more and you can help them grow from there.

I’d also put a big focus on who you work with. Surround yourself with a trusted network and a strong, reliable team. The right people not only make your life easier, they help your business thrive.

What’s next for Bamsey Digital?

Over the past few years, we’ve been growing two sister companies alongside Bamsey Digital. The first is The Open House Group, which focuses exclusively on the property sector. We created it because we noticed estate agents often struggle to find marketing partners who truly understand the unique challenges and opportunities in their industry. Having that specialist knowledge makes all the difference. We’ve been focused on this for about four or five years now, and my goal is to grow The Open House Group to be just as strong and successful as Bamsey Digital.

We also launched The Content Quarter, a creative space connected to our office. It’s a flexible spot we use for podcasts, photography, and videography, but it’s open to local businesses and creatives too. Whether you want to hire the space to work, film, or create, or if you’re an artist looking for a place to get inspired, The Content Quarter has you covered.

The space comes equipped with professional lighting and high-quality podcast microphones, plus we offer support with filming, editing, and posting if you want it or you can simply hire the space and do it all yourself.

What do you like about being a member of the Chamber? 

Being a member of the Chamber has been fantastic for networking. As a sole founder, it can sometimes feel a bit isolating without anyone to bounce ideas or challenges off. Having access to experienced business owners who’ve been through it all and can share their insights has been really valuable. I also enjoy working with other local companies, so it’s great to connect with fellow businesses based here in Merton.