Angela Gidden
Angela Gidden
Attic 2 Ltd
In a nutshell:
Design Consultancy company specialising in furniture, textile, and product and fashion design
Sectors:
Creative Services
Region:
Cardiff

We are a Design Consultancy company specialising in furniture, textile, and product and fashion design. Founded in 1999, we are a British born furniture brand with strong Welsh roots and a passion for design and creating hand-made quality furniture. I'm a committed champion of design and business in Wales. I was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) by the Queen in her new year’s honours list in 2007 and I have recently been made Chair of the Fashion and Textile Industry Forum Wales.

It's not impossible to turn a crazy idea into a real commercial idea so don't be too quick to bin the crazy or big ideas. Be focused, harness what you know, and stick to what you do best. Managing the business is one thing, managing 'you' is another. Businesses succeed with passion. 

Angela Gidden - Attic 2 Ltd 

My first barrier was being a woman going into business. I was in the thick of a very male dominated industry and knew it would be a challenge breaking down barriers. One thing I established very early on in my business is that the key to being successful and sustainable in business is to be adaptable, flexible and highly responsive. My first year in business was one of my toughest ever.

Fundamentally, I think my greatest inspiration is my unstoppable high level of creative energy. It's the buzz I get from taking an idea and turning it into a real commercial product. Understanding the power of design for me is infectious, it's knowing how to apply it in order to problem solve and create better products for the markets, globally. I am enormously passionate about design and creativity and love the fact that I have turned my creativity (once a hobby) into business.

My session is about my journey, the ups and downs, the successes and failures, the highs and lows. I deliver a very real and honest story to the students as well as demonstrating passion, commitment, focus, energy and vision within my businesses. At the very least I feel it is crucial to engage, empower and inspire them to explore.

Website: http://www.attic2.co.uk/