In 2015, after cutting her teeth in the corporate world, Nicola Ashe went solo. Nowadays, she’s helping small, medium and even big businesses answer their big questions.
How did your business start?
Ask Ashe was established as a blog in 2008, but in 2015, when I started my own consultancy, the name was already a well-established brand and fit.
Why did you choose this area to set up shop?
We live in Morningside, so I’ve set up a home office, which allows me to keep overheads down. I’m most often found in the area’s coffee shops and networking spaces. Morningside is central to pretty much everything and is home to a wide array of businesses, restaurants and creative hubs.
How did you find your premises?
I had always wanted to own a house in Morningside and had been trawling the property section for months. We fell instantly in love with ours – it needed masses of work, but that’s half the fun!
Why are the premises ideally suited to your business?
Working from home allows me to dictate my own hours, but our location is what makes it most useful – I’m a mere two minutes away from Station Drive where I can either meet clients for coffee, shop for local designs, or stock up at the weekly food market. Many of the businesses I collaborate with are based there too, so it’s perfect for my business to be here.
Who are your neighbours?
We live in a very friendly road that is home to many small-business owners who are also raising families, so it suits my business and us very well!
Do you have any expansion plans?
We’re planning to extend our renovation plans, opening up the space and creating a client-friendly zone where I can host meetings.
Do you operate online as well?
My blog and all my social media platforms are what I use to share my work and the brands I work on. I live online and love sharing stuff about my city and the places I visit, especially anything local.
What’s your most popular item?
My one-on-one consults are the most popular service I offer, as they take the form of an informal meeting. Clients get to pick my brain on a myriad subjects relating to their business, from design, social media or finding great suppliers. It’s the best way to Ask Ashe!
Words: Cath Jenkin | Images: Supplied