Redundancy, Resilience, and a New Beginning: The Story Behind Zerenity Creates

Tracey Vince is owner of Zerenity Creates based in Kent as a freelance web developer and designer launched in May 2024. Websites is her main service to help small business owners to get their businesses online, whether that’s a landing page, templated website to a fully custom website. Alongside this she offers graphic design elements for businesses from logos to promotional leaflets.

About Tracey

➡️ What drives you – what’s your ‘why’?

➡️ What’s something you’ve learned about yourself since starting a business?

I am more capable and stronger than I thought I was. I was so use to being the person behind the computer coding but I have so many other skill set that I didn’t know about and also that I have the confidence in me to being able to step into a room full of people I don’t know and start conversations (it is still tough at time but that’s normal).

➡️ Do you prefer working alone or as part of a team?

I love to have a mix of this which I think freelancing gives the opportunities too. I have formed some great connections in the past year and currently in collaborations with them whilst still maintaining my solo work within Zerenity Creates.

➡️ Where abouts in Kent do you live?

I am based in Walderslade, Kent.

➡️ What’s a hobby or interest you pursue outside of work?

I have got a couple of hobbies/interest which some of them I am just starting to pick back up which is my fitness going for runs, completing a workout alongside the walks I love doing around country parks. Whilst out and about exploring I love to take photos sometimes videos. Again I am normally the one behind the camera not Infront of it. When I find the time, I love sitting down and reading a book too!

Can you tell I like to keep busy…?

➡️ What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?

I am blind in my right eye after being in an accident when I was very young so all I have none is seeing out of one eye.

➡️ How do you manage the balance between running your business and personal responsibilities?

I am still trying to find/manage the balance which is coming together bit by bit but I am learning that it is about setting those boundaries such as no responding to emails at the weekend or when away as I need that time to recharge for the time ahead.

About The Business

➡️ What does your company do? What products or services do you sell?

➡️ When did you start the business?

I started Zerenity Creates in May 2024.

➡️ What was your very first product or service, and how has it evolved?

My first service was web design and development, I have further developed this to offer a range of packages which help to offer businesses alternatives that suit their budget/needs. The packages range from a landing page, single page templated website based on 2 current templates, this can be added onto depending on your needs or a fully custom design and coded website.

➡️ What’s the story behind your business name?

It is a slight play on words as my daughter is called Serenity and she is a main element to my starting my business.

➡️ What were the biggest challenges you faced when starting out?

One of my biggest challenges when starting out was that I was learning new elements of running a business as I have not been through this before so as I starting my business I am learning on the job. I am learning that there will always be challenges to face but it is about seeking out a community to get the best support unit as you will find that they have also gone through the same situation or something similar.

Growth & Strategy

➡️ What strategies have been most effective in growing your business to the size it is today?

A huge part that has been effective in growing my business is networking. I was so nervous about going networking in the first place but I am so thankful I decided to push the nerves to the side and taking those steps through those doors. Networking has helped to spread the name of my business but it has hugely impacted the business owners around me and my business. I have created some collaborations with fellow business owner and some of them have turned into great friends who may not have entered my world otherwise.

➡️ Why do you think your customers/users choose you over your competitors?

I think customers/users choose me over competitors is being people by from people these days and it is about building that relationship up. Alongside this I offer affordable options for businesses and always open to having a discovery call to go through the client’s specific needs to give them the best appropriate quotes based on their needs.

➡️ What’s your top tip for building trust and winning new clients?

I have covered this above but I think that it is about being yourself and getting to build a relationship with the client first.

➡️ What’s the most rewarding feedback you’ve received from a customer?

My most rewarding feedback was from my first client as Zerenity Creates which was to create a website for a friend and personal trainer business owner as the website allowed her business to grow and she was receiving new clients from around the world which was bringing in a secured monthly income based purely on a Google search.

Challenges & Lessons

➡️ Who are the key figures that contributed to your success, and how did they influence the journey?

The key figures that have contributed to my business is my clients, they are the one who has allowed me to continue growing by business whilst showcasing what I can do whilst providing them with high quality website and promotional products.

➡️ What’s been your hardest day in business so far – and how did you push through it?

It is hard to pinpoint a single day that has been the hardest as I have found that I have had a couple of hard days in business where I have questioned whether I am doing the right thing for myself and my family. Then after having a talk to myself or support unit that I am good at what I do and I will get these days of doubt but it is about having those days and then I use these days to bounce back.

➡️ If you were starting your business today, what would you do differently?

I would do a lot differently because I was not fully prepared for this change. I felt that I was in a rush state to get myself prepared and organised to start to procedures with setting up my own business and spreading the words. I think if I was to do it differently I would not put so much pressure on doing it straight away and to give myself some extra time in the initial set up.

Advice & Inspiration

➡️ What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever been given?

I think a bit quote/advice that I have heard from a lot of people and also one that I give myself out to others is “Done is better than perfect”. It is better to put something out there that is done rather than being perfect because the most time you are sitting there trying to make it perfect in your eyes, it is only your eyes seeing it whereas if you have put it out into the world it is being seen by others and they may not even notice that it is not ‘perfect’ in your eyes.

Vision & Industry

➡️ How do you see AI shaping the future of your industry, and how will you adapt?

AI is definitely taking over in every industry and I think it is important to embrace it slightly and learn about how you can use it positively. I feel that there is a time and a place for it to be used but I won’t be using it for everything in my day to day business. I don’t want to be left behind so to speak with all of these upcoming changes.

➡️ How do you see your industry evolving, and how are you preparing for it?

I have noticed a huge change in the creative industry which was starting before I started freelancing as a there are a lot of changes happening based on the new software and technology being developed that allows individuals and business to do a lot of their own projects such as Canva etc. I am preparing for this by changing my processes and learning the new ways to being able to put these into my processes that will also help deliver more options for my clients.

Business in Kent

➡️ Why did you choose to base and grow your business in Kent?

I was born and have grown up in Kent that it only felt right. I have also noticed just how much things have changed and the opportunities available for long standing businesses as well as start up or small businesses.

➡️ What’s your favourite local spot in Kent?

My favourite spot in Kent has to be the walk at Cobham as I am surrounded by nature, I love it there during the autumn time the most because of the colours. It is a pretty special place as it is home to some highland cows which I could spend hours watching them.

➡️ What advice would you give to someone in Kent who is thinking of starting their own business?

 My piece of advice to someone who is thinking of starting their own business would be to give it a go, it is not an easy thing to do but as long as you keep pushing yourself you will be able to achieve it. One of the best things I would say to do is go networking, it is an uncomfortable thing at first but I has done wonders for my business and have given me a great support unit with the fellow business owners I have met.

Reader Perks

➡️ Any special offers or discounts you’d like to share with the Kent Business Newsletter readers?

I would love to share with the readers of the Kent Business Newsletter is to arrange a free call to talk about your website any ideas you have got based on your website or queries you may have which we can discuss how to help you achieve these whether that is for free or at a lower cost.

You can contact Tracey at Zerenity Creates here:

Website: www.zerenitycreates.co.uk
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/traceyvince-website-developer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zerenitycreates/

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