Imagine being a foreigner in a country where you have no contacts or knowledge of the business laws and how things are done? Imagine being half way through your first pregnancy and deciding to start up a business? This was Debbie O’Connor’s situation when she set up her graphic design studio, white river design, as a part time venture to keep up to date with the design industry while on maternity leave.
white river design is named after the small South African town of White River that Debbie and her three siblings grew up in. The town is only 20 minutes drive from the world famous Kruger National Park and is where many of her family still live. Having moved to Australia after marrying her Australian husband, Debbie felt that this was a little reminder of home that she could have with her everyday.
Since starting white river design, Debbie would see an opportunity and would seize it. Sometimes she got what she was after and other times she didn’t, but this attitude lead her to gaining one high profile client, which in turn began the growth of the business. Debbie worked very hard at nurturing relationships – even if they weren’t her clients. By the time her ‘maternity’ leave was up, she was making a better living (and having the flexible lifestyle) than if she was employed.
By mid 2005 white river design won an award for Outstanding Professional Services and has been winning awards every year since. Debbie had her second child in November 2005, so took on her first employee.
In 2011 the white river design team (now consisting of 3 graphic designers, an office manager/bookkeeper, a receptionist and 2 contract web developers) moved the business out of the O’Connor home and into premises.
white river design is very exicted to have been part of the rebranding process for the Penrith Is Here brand and the roll out of the concept which was commission by Penrith City Council. The business continues to grow from strength to strength and has become undoubtedly one of Penrith’s leading graphic and web design studios that specialise in branding and corporate identity.
white river design is named after the small South African town of White River that Debbie and her three siblings grew up in. The town is only 20 minutes drive from the world famous Kruger National Park and is where many of her family still live. Having moved to Australia after marrying her Australian husband, Debbie felt that this was a little reminder of home that she could have with her everyday.
Since starting white river design, Debbie would see an opportunity and would seize it. Sometimes she got what she was after and other times she didn’t, but this attitude lead her to gaining one high profile client, which in turn began the growth of the business. Debbie worked very hard at nurturing relationships – even if they weren’t her clients. By the time her ‘maternity’ leave was up, she was making a better living (and having the flexible lifestyle) than if she was employed.
By mid 2005 white river design won an award for Outstanding Professional Services and has been winning awards every year since. Debbie had her second child in November 2005, so took on her first employee.
In 2011 the white river design team (now consisting of 3 graphic designers, an office manager/bookkeeper, a receptionist and 2 contract web developers) moved the business out of the O’Connor home and into premises.
white river design is very exicted to have been part of the rebranding process for the Penrith Is Here brand and the roll out of the concept which was commission by Penrith City Council. The business continues to grow from strength to strength and has become undoubtedly one of Penrith’s leading graphic and web design studios that specialise in branding and corporate identity.