Enterprise Nation

Simone Brummelhuis has got a lot going on. She launched a successful start-up in the Netherlands, moved to the UK and is now working on two new online ventures. She offers a glimpse into her background and advice for those starting out.

What were you doing before starting your first business?

I was an attorney for about 9 years. My first business was a publishing house of non-fiction, restaurant guides, city guides and website guides. My first guide was favourably published in the Wallpaper which was great profile. I then partnered with another publishing company of restaurant guides and we grew from 2 people to a team of 10 with 25 freelancers. We became the number one user generated content restaurant guide in The Netherlands with 3.2 million unique visitors coming to the site last year. I then moved to London but stayed on as Managing Director until January 2008. I’ve now appointed a CEO but am still one of the owners.

Are there differences in running a business from home in the Netherlands, versus the UK?

In the UK, there is much more choice than in The Netherlands, so it takes you more time to find things out. Also, a lot of services in the UK have computer-touch systems and call centers which drives me mad. For everything you must have a password, or pin, or have to pay directly by credit card. In Holland they just send you an invoice, there is no trust here.

In Amsterdam I have a favourite place to meet for business, it's called Dauphine, a huge restaurant where internet is freely available. Here I am still looking for such a place.  (note from Editor – try One Alfred Place – it’s great for such a use!) Also, in Amsterdam I know all the press, and they know me. Here I have to start again with building up PR contacts.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am working on a relaunch of the europeanmuseumguide.com, an online guide to museums and exhibitions. It will become a unique online guide for museum visitors, who can search and review exhibitions and do things like upload their own photos of the mona lisa. It will also be a show case for museums. Experts and amateurs will be able to contact each other for guided tours.

I am also working on a business magazine for female internet heroes. See it as a female side of FT.com and the business side of Red.  I’m also on the jury of the Innovation Awards in the Netherlands. I would like to be on a couple of advisory boards in the UK, because it makes sense with my experience.

How do you promote your websites?

For the european museum guide, we are in contact with the artnewspaper, museums, we do emailings etc. For the business magazine, we are organizing offline events in Amsterdam, Berlin and in London for women with partner freshideasevents. And I need to find a good pr partner and SEO partner to assist me to get traffic to the sites. I am curious to know what your readers think about thenextwomen.com

What one piece of advice would you offer to someone starting an online business from home?

Write down your plan, keep your job for some time because you can do a lot in free time, and if possible hire someone as soon as you have some cash flow for things that are not your strength – start them on a low risk 6-month contract. Go networking, meet as many people as you can, and think about how you are going to make turnover. Submit speaker proposals, go for startup awards etc. Get an advisory board or mentor for things which you are afraid of, you can learn a lot by doing and by taking courses and advice. Believe your gut feeling, but also get some leadership courses. And look to the financials!

Simone Brummelhuis talks to Emma Jones