Enterprise Nation

Nikki Relffe-Arnold runs Mantra Magazines with her cousin and her niece. Together they operate from a lovely looking garden shed. But with the company growing at such speed, they may soon have to look for alternative (out of home) office space. Oh no! Can we do anything to dissuade them?

When did you start Mantra Magazines?

We launched our first issue of RH10 Uncovered in May 2006.  Initially we had a distribution of 5,500 copies per month in a small section of the RH10 postcode area. Once a month a team of six family and friends used to deliver the magazines door to door.  Within 2 years we had launched a second magazine, RH19 Uncovered and increased the distribution to 38,000 homes and businesses every month and had entered into a contract with the Royal Mail to deliver them – 38,000 for us to deliver on our own was just a bridge too far!

What were you doing before becoming your own boss?

I worked for 20 years for BAAplc in a variety of roles from PA, Management Training, HR Manager and finally IT Customer Services Manager.  Matthew, my business partner was involved in property development and previously worked in flight operations at Gatwick Airport.  Nadine is our essential sales person and has a fantastic manner with our customers and prospects.  She formerly worked in sales for TNT Express.

What do the magazines cover and who are they aimed at?

The magazines are community magazines and business directories.  We saw a gap in the market for homeowners to find reliable local services and knew that the magazines would give the local community the opportunity to use the services of local people running their own businesses.  We cover everything from monthly articles on Health and Wellbeing to Gardening and Motors. We also give free space to charities and local non-profit organisations to publicise their events. We are also launching a Biz-Biz Hub section of the magazine in October specifically for business to business products and services – all local of course!

Do you earn income from subscriptions and advertising or just one of these?

We earn our income from the local businesses advertising in the magazines. We don’t charge readers for the magazines – they are delivered free.

I hear you run the company in a big garden shed – did you have this built specially for the business, or was it already there to move into?

The shed was already here, but it needed a bit of a revamp to turn it into an office!

Can you tell us a little about the office… what is your outside view, what kind of furniture/computer do you have/how do you stay warm in the winter etc?

Our view from the office is wonderful – to the side we overlook our courtyard garden and to the rear our back garden.  We also have a wonderful view of the underside of the planes, as we are on the flight path into Gatwick, immediately before the planes land so it can get noisy!!
Our furniture ranges from kitchen units and worktops in the design studio to second hand desks and computer equipment in the sales office.  We have only used the office for one winter and used electric heaters but we are looking into more efficient means of heating for this winter!

Are your family involved in the business?

Yes, my cousin Matthew is my business partner and my niece Nadine works for us and mainly concentrates on sales and customer service.  We also have an office dog who covers all other roles at board meetings!

What are your future plans for the business?

Since launching our second magazine 6 months ago, we are now starting to think about launching another – the only problem being that we may have to leave our wonderful shed and find alternative office accommodation. We are also about to revamp our website and will let you know when we have!

Nikki Relffe-Arnold talks to Emma Jones

• Mantra Magazines

Over to you, Enterprise Nation readers, to try and talk Nikki out of her impending move ..!