How one founder built a web design agency from scratch

In one line, what do you do and what is your most significant achievement?

Unleashing digital magic crafting exceptional websites to empower businesses!

Who are you and what business did you start?

My name is Tan Bo An, and I founded Stitch Interactive Pte Ltd, a creative agency focusing on custom website design and development. Our business is dedicated to creating unique and engaging online experiences for our clients, enabling them to leave a lasting impression on their customers.

What's your backstory?

The journey of starting Stitch Interactive began when I recognized a gap in the market for web design and development services that truly put user experience at the forefront. I had a 10-year experience as a co-founder of another creative agency previously and that has eased my way into setting up Stitch Interactive on my own. Having a passion for both design and technology, I set out to establish a company that would combine these elements seamlessly. With a strong determination to deliver exceptional results and a commitment to continuous learning, I embarked on this entrepreneurial adventure.

What should be the first steps to take to enter your industry?

To enter the creative agency industry for custom website design and development, aspiring entrepreneurs my consider these steps

• Gain industry knowledge and experience: Work for other agencies or in a related field for at least two years to understand the nuances of the industry and build essential skills.

• Financial planning: Save enough funds to sustain yourself and your business for at least six months, as it may take time to establish a client base.

• Passion and perseverance: Possess an undaunting passion for your craft and the determination to weather the challenges that come with starting a business.

• Innovation and adaptability: Continuously innovate and reimagine your business model to stay relevant in an ever-changing market.

How did you spend your First 100 Days of launching your business?

During the initial 100 days, I focused on laying a strong foundation for Stitch Interactive

• Market research: Conducted thorough market research to identify target audiences and potential clients.

• Website and social media setup: Created a professional website and established a presence on social media platforms to showcase our portfolio.

• Client acquisition: Leveraged my network to secure the first few clients and deliver exceptional results to gain referrals.

• Continuous learning: Invested time in refining my design and development skills through online courses and workshops.

Since launch, what has worked to attract and retain partnerships/customers?

The following strategies have proven effective in attracting and retaining partnerships and customers

• Exceptional user experience: Prioritising user-centric design has led to positive word-of-mouth and recurring business from satisfied clients.

• Online presence: Maintaining an active and engaging online presence through social media and our website has helped in gaining visibility and credibility.

• Testimonials and case studies: Sharing success stories and testimonials from happy clients has built trust and confidence in our services.

• Networking: Regularly attending industry events and networking opportunities has opened doors to new partnerships and collaborations.

• Referral program: Implementing a referral program for existing clients has incentivized them to recommend our services to others.

What has taken you from 0 to 100?

As an introvert, it is challenging to meet and let alone speak to others. But I knew that I needed to have a breakthrough in order to know other business owners. The breakthrough that took me from 0 to 100 was when I joined a business networking event called “Introverts Business Mixer” by “Introverts Network Asia”. I got to know about this event through LinkedIn, where I saw my ex-primary school friend posted that she would be hosting that event. I visited the networking session and knowing there were fellow introverts around, I felt really at ease during the event. My networking skills gradually improved over several sessions and I'm more confident and open to networking now. Today, I am comfortable to network in bigger groups!

What is one underrated thing in your industry that business owners should start doing/using?

One underrated aspect in the creative agency industry is actively seeking and listening to customer feedback. Gathering feedback directly from clients not only helps identify areas for improvement but also strengthens the client-agency relationship. Implementing client suggestions and addressing their concerns can lead to higher client satisfaction and increased loyalty.

What was one failure you had to go through that others in your industry should look out for?

As an entrepreneur and a frontend web developer myself, one failure is that I tend to do most of the custom website development work by myself. While it ensures the high quality work that we produce, it is also difficult for me to grow the team because most of the time is spent on doing the website development work. I realised that I should be doing more networking sessions to widen my social network with fellow entrepreneurs and hiring staff to train them, so that they can achieve or exceed the level of standard that I want for all our projects.

What platform/tools do you use for your business?

We utilize a range of tools to streamline our operations and enhance productivity, including Figma and Adobe Suite for design work, Visual Studio Code for development, Osome for finance management, Google Docs for collaboration, and PandaDoc for creating and managing proposals. To keep up with technology, we have adopted the JAMstack web development solution, to cater for better security, loading speeds, maintainability, scalability and web applications.

How are you doing today and what does the future look like?

Presently, Stitch Interactive continues to thrive, attracting new clients and expanding our portfolio. As we move into the future, we aim to scale our operations, grow our team, and explore opportunities to diversify our service offerings. With a strong focus on innovation and maintaining our commitment to delivering exceptional user experiences, we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.

Thank you for the opportunity to be part of the My First 100 series. We hope our story inspires other entrepreneurs and contributes to the Mastermind Community's spirit of sharing and learning from one another. We look forward to being a part of this amazing journey with you all.