Meet the Member: Groves Creative

Meet our member Sam from Groves Creative. Having recently rebranded (formerly Gab Design) she tells us more about her business, her highlights & challenges of running her own business, and answers our Local Biz Quickfire.

Briefly tell us a bit about yourself and what your business offers.

Hi, I’m Samantha – a 30-something mum of two boys, living in beautiful Buckinghamshire. I’m a graphic designer with over 15 years’ experience, and I work with small to medium-sized businesses to create beautiful, consistent design that helps them show up with confidence. From branding to websites to social media graphics, I support businesses in making sure their visual presence feels aligned and professional.

How and why did your business get started?

I’ve always worked in marketing, and for many years I had freelance projects on the side. After having my first son, I realised I wanted more flexibility in my working life. I wanted to choose the brands I worked with, have the freedom to be more creative, and build a business that worked around my family. So I took the leap and haven’t looked back!

You’ve recently rebranded your business, can you tell us more about why you chose to do that and how you came up with your new brand? 

Yes! I’d actually planned to rebrand for a while, but then I found out I was pregnant, so it got bumped down the priority list. During my maternity leave, I really thought about how I wanted to shape my business going forward – what services I wanted to offer and how I wanted to show up. My client base had naturally evolved, and I’d changed too, so it felt like the right time to realign everything.

The branding process took a while – doing something for yourself is always so much harder than doing it for others! But the breakthrough moment came during a chat with Corinne. I showed her a few options I’d been playing with and she just pointed at one and said, “That’s you.” She was totally right. I tweaked it slightly, but it was there all along – I just needed someone else to see it! Thanks again, Corinne!

What’s been your biggest highlight of running your business?

Honestly, doing what I love every day still feels like a massive privilege. No two days are ever the same, and I love the creative challenges each project brings. But the real highlight has to be the connections I’ve made. So many of my clients have worked with me for five years or more, and quite a few have become really close friends. That’s something I’ll never take for granted.

What’s been your biggest challenge?

Me! Haha. In all seriousness, it’s been learning to back myself. Speaking up when something doesn’t feel right, or owning my role as the ‘expert’ – that’s been a journey. I’m a natural people pleaser, so it’s not always easy, but I’m getting better at trusting my instincts and sharing my opinion with confidence.

What are your plans for the future for your business?

This changes often because I’m a big ideas person! But right now, my focus is on becoming the go-to graphic designer for businesses and entrepreneurs across Bucks, Beds, and Herts. I’d love to grow the business enough to bring on one or two designers to work alongside me. And one day, I’d really love to speak at events and share more about my journey – especially around running a creative business as a mum and building something meaningful on your own terms.

What’s the best thing about being a member of Chiltern Biz Collective? 

The community – without a doubt. I bang on about it to anyone who’ll listen! Chiltern Biz has honestly been a godsend. When I moved back to Bucks three years ago, I didn’t have much of a network locally. Joining Chiltern Biz introduced me to so many amazing people – many of whom are now great friends of mine. It’s such a supportive space and the power of word-of-mouth within the group has helped me grow my business in ways I never expected.

How can people work with you and where can we find you? 

If you’d like to work together, head over to my website and fill in the new client enquiry form. Or feel free to come and say hello over on Instagram or LinkedIn – I always love a chat!

Website: www.grovescreative.co.uk
Instagram: @grovescreativeuk
LinkedIn: samgroves1/