What We Love About Our Business!

As Valentine’s Day approaches and February is known as the month of love – or historically a month of ‘new beginnings’ – we’re asking business owners in our community to share why they love their business.

Today we're talking to Paul Eagles, of Midwinter Web Design. Paul and his team have been building websites for businesses across the South West and even in Europe for 18 years. Paul has worked the tech sector since leaving school and his team pride themselves on listening to clients, offering sound advice, excellent service and then hosting, maintaining and updating websites on an ongoing basis. 

What do you love about running your own business? 

Being flexible with who and how we help people, we like helping charities and not for profits and I can choose to do this without having to be authorised or having to ask permission from anyone else! 

Being able to provide that personal touch so that no customer feels they are part of an IT process. 

Using the digital space to empower a person or a team in business and to ensure their personality, products and services are visible and easily accessible in the modern world. 

What do you love about your business community? 

We all support and help each other, I believe if you want to do well within a community you have to be active and support that community.

In Swindon, Wiltshire and the South West this is the over-riding ethos of the SME community, we support each other and look to encourage each other. 

What do you love socially/geographically about your community? 

Hackpen Hill and Barbury Castle are great places to go for a walk and watch the sun set, in the early evening. The Cotswolds are close by and there are lots of lovely cycling routes.

I have been known to do the odd triathlon and marathon so I'm get to know the best running and cycling routes. From Swindon there are so many wonderful places to embrace when keeping fit. 

While we are locked down – name any business you have ‘loved’ and bought from in your community over the last few months? 

Crumps the Butchers in Royal Wootton Bassett is a favourite as is Rays Ice Cream in Old Town, Swindon (for deliveries of course recently). 

February 17 is Random Acts of Kindness Day – have you carried out any  random acts of kindness (business or otherwise) over the last few months? 

We often support charities and not for profit organisations with very low cost websites to help them present their offering in as professional manner as possible. 

Has anyone shown kindness to you? 

I am involved in lots of Whats App groups, were we all motivate and support each other - this has been very important during Lockdown 3. I'd particularly like to mention my colleagues in business referral group BusinessWise and also in the Swindon & Cotswolds Business Focus group. 

In the yearly cycle of your business – what do you expect during February? 

February is always a busy month and we work hard to service all of our clients with realistic time scales. This year it's been heads down to deliver for our clients. 

What would your advice be to a business owner who is feeling ‘flat’ in February? 

Make a plan and then break it down into small manageable steps, then before you know it, you will have reached your goal. Don't be afraid to take time out when you feel overwhelmed or exhausted. Often the best course of action is to walk away for a few hours and distract yourself doing something you enjoy.  

And finally: 

A huge thank you to the supportive clients and business friends who have kept myself - and my team - going over the last 12 months. We can get through this together if we all keep faith with each other. 

For more information visit https://www.midwinterwebdesign.co.uk