‘Living in a city that’s so positive about indie businesses is motivating’

“I never planned to be self employed – it was just an accident,” says Gabi Cox, standing in her cosy office in Filwood Green Business Park. Sunshine streams in through the window, illuminating Gabi’s desk and a bookshelf filled with notebooks in all hues. It’s from this one room that she runs her business, Chroma Stationery, creating personalised stationery for clients ranging from husbands-to-be to airlines, ably assisted by dachshund Toby.

“This started as my final project at university. We had to create a real project – a clothing collection, a magazine or a brand – and I decided to develop an idea around greetings cards and notebooks because I love stationery,” Gabi continues. “It took off, and while I was still at uni I sold 50 notebooks.” Seeing that there was a market for what she was offering, Gabi launched a Crowdfunder campaign in November of 2014 and with £5,000 in her back pocket, she bought stock and her first digital hot foil embossing machine, and began to create beautiful, sleek, personalised stationery.

Gabi adds the finishing touches to personalised notebooks, created for a workshop

Gabi has 20 notebook colours to choose from, in a variety of sizes, shapes and bindings – but it’s the colours themselves that are her real passion. “I think I’ve got synesthesia,” Gabi says. “I’ve always loved colour, and stupid things would remind me of a colour – days of the week and objects, but especially people.” Her range of colours are all named for the people they remind her of, including a sweet lilac known as ‘Doris’. “It’s named after my nan – she wore that colour a lot,” Gabi explains.

After choosing a notebook colour, clients can then send Gabi a design to emboss on the cover in metallic foil or bright clean white. When she first started, this embossing was done by hand, but the finish wasn’t always perfect. Her digital embossing machine now creates crisp lines every time, from personalised notebooks bearing a bride’s new surname, to bulk orders emblazoned with the logos of huge brands including American Airlines and Boots. “I still love to emboss by hand, but the margin for error is so high,” Gabi says. “Digital has broadened what I could do, so I have taken that forward.”

Gabi Cox started her creative business at university and now runs the company full-time at Filwood Business Park in south Bristol

The embossing machine whirrs to life, wielding a roll of gold foil. It moves to the centre of the dark grey notebook, lays the foil down quickly and then withdraws, leaving behind a perfectly sharp design that is heat-treated to make it hardy. “You can stuff it in your bag, stick sellotape on it – everything. That’s on now,” Gabi says. The machine can even emboss matching pens that go together to create stationery sets.

“Living in a city that’s so positive about indie businesses is motivating,” Gabi says, having moved the business to Bristol in March 2017. “Sales were up 67 per cent in January 2017 compared to the year before, and I really think it’s the community that makes the difference.” She’s also found a natural home in Filwood Green Business Park, surrounded by fellow small business owners: “It’s never felt competitive. There’s always a much more collaborative feel; we’re applauding each other.”

In recent months, Gabi has begun to take on freelancers and is now looking to establish a Chroma team – “moving it on from a one-man band”. While the business might change with the demands of clients, and may soon outgrow the space it currently occupies, Gabi’s commitment to the brand is unwavering. “I just find it so exciting to get a notebook and hand-write things, despite all the digital options.” she says. “I only ever use my own stationery now, and even though I could have everything, I find it hard to pick. I never give it as a present to my friends, though. That would be cheeky.”

See the whole range of Chroma Stationery at www.chromastationery.co.uk