Every creative professional needs a good team behind them.
Happydesigner has grown and evolved significantly since its inception in 2007. It all began very simply with Sarah working from her bedroom with a laptop, and now we have a fully equipped, state-of-the-art design and illustration studio, utilising the very latest in technology and software. Sarah used to manage EVERYTHING herself, but this ultimately meant that she was working seven days a week, spending more time dealing with emails than drawing, and having little or no time for herself. So, in order to avoid a complete burnout, she made the decision to create a small team of people to help Happydesigner develop into the friendly, professional and approachable business it is today.
So here are the people you will meet along the way:
Sarah-Leigh
Illustrator, Designer & Company Director
I’m a happy, positive and well-driven person, with a big love of the 60s! I love music, and a pot of yoghurt raisins on the go. I have now been in business for over 16 years, and Happydesigner is my passion. Work isn’t a chore for me; it’s my driving force. When I’m not illustrating (which I find hard NOT to do) you can find me sat in my armchair needle felting crazy little characters. Or I might be out enjoying the views on a nice walk. Then again, you may even find me in my rocking chair writing my own books! If you wish, you can find out more about me here.
Barry
Studio Manager & Gourmet Tea-Maker
I have known Barry for several years, and when I decided that it was time to employ a studio manager, he was undoubtedly my first choice (well, that’s what he told me to write!). He has worked for various major UK companies such as North Sea Ferries & Swift Caravans, in both customer care & managerial positions. Because of this, he has a wealth of experience to call on. He also ran his own, very successful business for 12 years and has the patience and understanding necessary to keep a tight control of my studio admin. Every day, you can find him beavering away in front of the computer screen, answering emails, formulating quotations, and organising my diary. However, one of his best attributes is his ability to brew some of the finest cups of tea you could ever imagine! He has a good knowledge of the English language and has, in the past, carried out some proofreading for me. In his spare time (when he manages to find some!) he is a bass player, vocalist, songwriter, recording engineer, and operates his very own micro-recording studio.
Erik
Quality Control Officer & Security Guard
We had wanted a cat for years… Well, he arrived in March 2020, and the studio wouldn’t be the same without him. His eye for detail is mind-blowing and he’s also a great listener. Occasionally he may decide that some sections of the studio need ‘rearranging’, or he may wish to move his office to a different location in the room, but that’s fine! In fact, he has claimed several areas of the studio as his own, his favourites being on top of the bookcase and behind the computer, and regularly stakes his claim to these by snoozing in them! He also has his own children’s brand Oh Erik! (that mum’s busy working on!) so pop over for a peep.
Ernie
The Over-Enthusiastic Apprentice
This is Ernie – Erik’s little brother, and he is the newest addition to the Happydesigner family. Full of beans and eager to please, Ernie is the most loveable apprentice you could ever wish for, although he still has to get fully to grips with his role in the studio! Whilst Erik has the final say in many things studio-related (obviously!), Ernie has plenty of important things to do, too. These include providing moral support, cuddles and leg rubs, and his purring ability is second to none! However, his insistence that the studio has to close when HE says so can be a little annoying. He does this by using ever-increasing vocal attempts to gain our attention, along with climbing over everything he knows he’s not allowed on, which we do our best to ignore, but we forgive him as he’s only trying to look after us (so he says…!). Erik sometimes intervenes and tries to sort things out, occasionally causing a little mayhem in the studio, but this is not a problem as it all just adds to the fun here!
Other professionals we work with…
Bookvault offers a complete self-publishing package. Simply upload your titles to access a publishing experience that will set your books out from the crowd. Bookvault offers six unique binding choices and a range of various paper options to make your book suit many different formats and give them something special for readers. Their quoting tool is seamless, allowing you to chop and change your proposed book design, and access their unbeatable value!
Bookvault can open your titles to readers with their distribution network, including Amazon, Gardners and Alibris. They also allow you to list your titles and sell through The Great British Book Shop in a few clicks. TGBBS has royalty rates of up to 90% royalties, earning you great profit margins on the books you sell. They also pay out these royalties in as little as 15 days.
Bookvault also has an industry-leading range of direct sales integrations allowing you to sell from your personal site, cutting out the middleman and netting unbeatable profits. Bookvault’s integrations allow your books to be sold on your site and automatically printed and shipped direct to customers. With the sales funnel on your author site, you have a great deal of marketing control and the ability to directly drive sales with the ability to build mailing lists from previous customers and build a rapport with your readers.
YouLovePrint are a environmentally-conscious UK based printers. They are part of the Pureprint Group, and are wonderful to work with! A CarbonNeutral company, that offer quality, sustainable printing and the best customer service.
FSC certified | CarbonNeutral company | Sedex ethical supplier | Carbon Balanced Paper programme member
Word Heroes Ltd is a leading digital content agency specialising in creating engaging blog content, dynamic videos, and social media posts. Our team of UK writers and editors delivers SEO-optimised content designed to enhance your online presence, drive traffic, and generate leads. We focus on delivering targeted messaging across digital platforms, helping businesses worldwide to elevate their content strategy and achieve their marketing goals.
The Stardust Experience is the UK’s leading children’s writing-for-hire service. We understand that having a good idea and writing a good book are two totally separate skills — and that’s why our experts will write your children’s book for you. All we need is a basic idea and we’ll take that from concept to outline to manuscript to the final edit. We love children’s books, too, and we’ll give your idea all of the love and nurture that it needs to go from a tiny seed to a mighty oak! Also, our writers have written for the very best in the industry, so you know that you’re in safe hands.
The Book Network is an online community for book lovers. They organise Online Book Tours, which involve recruiting readers and reviewers to share their thoughts about your books for their online audiences. They also offer featured books and book reviews that are shared weekly with their audience of over 10,000 book lovers.
Jo Smyth started her career in journalism, working in newspapers and then freelancing, before she moved into public relations. She runs Word Worker, specialising in PR and copywriting for small businesses. Jo writes everything from press releases, web copy and case studies, to award entries and newsletters. Oh, and she writes lots of blogs, including ours here at Happydesigner! In her spare time, Jo loves open water swimming, playing bridge, growing veg, looking after her hens and walking her dog.
Tracey Rickard, is the nicest person you could wish to meet! She is a web designer and developer based in Somerset, UK. Tracey is a master at creating bespoke WordPress websites. Making sure you are completely mobile ready, Google friendly, and have a website that’s manageable and all under one roof. Tracey is our developer and we couldn’t recommend anyone else!
Jericho Writers began in 2004 when bestselling author, Harry Bingham, set up a new kind of company offering writers expert editorial assistance. Today, we’re a worldwide team of writers who offer everything you need to help you write, edit and get your book published. From tutored video courses; online and in-person events; one-to-one mentoring; filmed masterclasses and expert editing services, to interviews with publishers, agents and authors – we’re with you for every word.
We’re Proud Members of…
We have been member of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) for many years. It is a global community consisting of illustrators, writers, publishers, librarians, translators and other industry professionals working together to provide and encourage a more inclusive and imaginative world through children’s literature. The society was founded in 1971 and has become the most distinguished membership organisation for children’s book creators. Over the years, the society has grown from strength to strength and now has over 22,000 members worldwide.
We are proud members of the Association Of Illustrators – the foremost professional body supporting and advising illustrators in the UK.
The AOI has been championing illustrators and the illustration industry as a whole in the UK since their inception in 1973, with education, promotion and campaigning to achieve a thriving and successful industry to benefit everyone.
Members of the AOI include illustrators, agents, colleges and creative companies, and they offer support in several areas, including legal advice and general professional guidance.
We are delighted to announce that we are professional members of the Federation Of Children’s Book Groups – a self-funded, voluntary organisation aiming to encourage and promote interest in children’s books to all. First established in the 1960s, they work with many different local book groups from around the UK and operate on a national basis to help bring the enjoyment and availability of reading books to children of all ages, from very first, simple picture books through to young adult reader books.
We are proud to be members of the Alliance of Independent Authors, a professional, non-profit organisation with a mission of ethics and excellence in self-publishing, specifically set up to provide help and support for authors who choose to publish their own work.
Consisting of a worldwide team of professionals, they work with advisors and ambassadors to give trusted, best-practice advice and information to the self-publishing author community.
We support…
Did you also know that when you work with Happydesigner, you are supporting worldwide climate projects and dedicated reforestation projects in the UK with Ecologi? Here at Happydesigner, we are committed to being a low-carbon business, and Ecologi allows us to track and offset our carbon emissions, enabling us to be a Climate Positive Workforce and achieve our sustainability goals. You can visit our Ecologi profile & track our low carbon business progress: ecologi.com/happydesigner
Love Paper is a global campaign promoting the sustainable and attractive attributes of print, paper and paper-based packaging.
Run by not-for-profit organisation, Two Sides, the campaign seeks to tell consumers across the world all the positive stories about paper, print and paper packaging from its environmental credentials to its ability to improve mental wellbeing, learning and enhance creativity.
Discover more about the campaign here: www.lovepaper.org
