Danielle Holmes, of Black Nova Designs, has an exciting couple of months happening!

It’s April, the second month of Spring and does this mean April showers or will it be a time of sunshine end to end? We’re catching up with some business owners this month to see how things are looking for them during April.

Today we're talking to Danielle Holmes who is Sales and Marketing Director at Black Nova Designs, a web design and hosting company based in Calne, Wiltshire.

April is the first month with lighter evenings. How are you making the most of this?
The lighter evenings are such a tonic as I feel much more energised compared to the winter months. I run a licensed dog walking and boarding company alongside Black Nova Designs, and the extra light is wonderful for giving the dogs more time outdoors. The kids are thrilled to be able to go in the garden after school, and I unwind at the weekends by going for long walks. We just need some sunshine now to dry up the mud… please! 

How is April looking for you in your business? 
We have some space for website design clients, so if you’re reading this and you’ve been thinking about getting a website for your business, this is a great time to chat to us. There are hundreds of websites that we’ve designed and developed on our website (look for the portfolio page) if you need some inspiration! Think of a website as a very informative shop window that’s there 24/7 to help people learn about your business – essential in today’s digital world. We’re also busy getting ready for Badminton Horse Trials, which takes place at the beginning of May. It’s a week of manning our trade stand and living out of the van, so we need to be very organised. The staff in the office really step up when we’re out networking, which is invaluable. 

Are you taking part in any wider events or business collaborations this month? 
I’ll be going to my regular networking meetings in Wiltshire and the Cotswolds. I value this so much for the business and it really helps drive leads and awareness of what we do. Plus, we say that we are the human faces of tech so it’s important that I get my face out there as much as possible! 

Are you doing anything for charity or community this month that you’d like to share? 
Not this month, but the trade stand entertainment we’re working on for Badminton Horse Trials next month (a driving simulator) will be raising money for a mental health charity!

This month it’s Stress Awareness Month, what does stress mean to you? 
Well, we certainly know that IT can make people really stressed if it doesn’t work or they’re struggling to understand it. That’s why we say that no question is too small or silly – we’re here to help people make IT work for them! Tech should be making your life better or helping you make your business more efficient, not giving you a headache. We have a YouTube channel with lots of helpful how-to videos and we offer training on WordPress websites for our website design customers. 

More seriously, I’ve undertaken mental health first aid training so that I’m able to spot the signs of stress and anxiety and offer support if needed. We want to make sure our employees are able to speak out if they have an issue, and that our customers don’t have to hide it if they’re having a bad day. Kyle has been very open about his struggles with anxiety and ADHD so it’s a subject that’s close to my heart. 

Some key awareness days/weeks/months in April include; 

National Pet Month
Allergy Awareness Week – April 22 to 28
National Scrabble Day – April 13
World Heritage Day – April 18

There are many more – are there any awareness days/weeks/months which are particularly important for your business?
It’s National Pet Month and SO many of our customers at Black Nova Designs are animal lovers that it will be fun to see what images and videos they share online. I’m hoping for a lot less rain and plenty more sun for walking the doggies in my second business. Check out Holmes for Paws for lots of pet-based updates! 

Have you got any special offers for April or May that you’d like to mention?
Just to say that if you love horses or a family fun day out in the countryside then Badminton Horse Trials (Wednesday the 8th of May to Sunday the 12th of May) will be right up your street! 

We will also be exhibiting at Royal Bath and West Show 30th May – 1st June which is a super day out for all the family.

We’ll be there the whole time with the trade stand, so make sure you come and say hello if you’re there. 

For more information visit https://blacknovadesigns.co.uk