From Hobby to Small Business – Amazing what a year can do

I’ve recently had the pleasure in working with the lovely Justine from Coven, an artisan cook, based in Bozeat, Northamptonshire. I wanted to share with you her journey and how branding strategy, identity and beautiful photography can really make a difference to an Artisan business.

Justine loves to cook and has been told for many years by her friends and loved ones that she should do it professionally, but it wasn’t really made possible until this last year. I’m sure the pandemic has made a considerable difference to a lot of people, in terms of having focus in their lives, driving their passions and wanting the so important work life balance that we dream of.

Justine, a local hairdresser understood this feeling all too well. With the lack of hairdressing business during the lockdowns and requests for tasty treats and catering for local residents and events, the demand for beautiful cakes, chocolates, afternoon teas, delicious hot dinners including curry and beouf bougingnon took over and Justine was overwhelmed by the amount of interest she got for her food. Which backed up what her friends had been telling her all along.

The Coven name was created after a catering event last year, where Justine and her helpers for the day were sitting around the table with a cuppa relaxing after their day’s cooking. Coven meaning a group or meeting of witches. It had kind of stuck and now the business name was born. I just love the strapline ‘The Witch in the Kitchen’, you can imagine Justine cooking away in the kitchen, creating another gastronomic feast for someone. Although the witch’s hat was created for vouchers and other materials, there wasn’t any consistent branding to bring all of Justine’s passion for cooking together and to elevate it from a hobby to a business.   

This is where I came in. I wanted to help Justine show off her new venture and make the artisan and bespoke catering business come alive. After several discussions about the branding ethos and personality of the business, we soon realised that Coven had a winter personality, with a touch of Autumn. I could then help create a brand identity. The love of black, grey and a pop of orange that Justine had comes alive in the new branding style.

It didn’t stop there. There’s nothing better than beautiful tempting photos for an artisan food business to really show the food off as they should do. Due to Valentine’s day and Mother’s day coming up, it was very apt to create a portfolio of photos of the handmade truffles that Justine makes. They are very tasty and stunning to look at. ‘Our very own Bozeat Chocolatier’. The brief was dark and moody, darker the better, with the contrast of light and white.

After Justine dropped off the chocolates, kitchen utensils and props, I couldn’t wait to get going, so I locked myself away in my studio and just had so much fun, composing different shots. Creativity overload with the smell of chocolate, I was in my element. I was very tempted to have one, but I used my willpower and my hubby and I didn’t enjoy them until I was done, I promise.

After having fun in the studio, I then spent the next day editing the photos to create the dark and moody effect that Justine wanted. Then brought it all together and created a facebook cover photo for Justine to bring all the new branding and beautiful photos together so that friends, family and customers can see Coven, see how beautiful Justine’s food is and tempt them to order some food to make their day smile.

I wish Justine all the best in her new venture and looking forward to tasting more delights moving forward.