| Ainslie Waller is an artist who was drawing and designing in the early
1980s when she was inspired by the idea that these images would
be transformed if they were rubber stamps. After researching the idea,
she was awarded an Enterprise Award to start the business in 1985,
initially from her front room at home, and then at small craft fairs. After meeting Nick Witt, who came from a publishing background, they
decided to set up the business from a small shop in their home town of
York. The building they chose was in Walmgate, and comprised a retail
shop, living accommodation and a small workshop at the back.
Both worked in full-time jobs while renovating the timber-framed
medieval building, working evenings and weekends to restore the
property, and keeping the rubber stamp craft stalls going. In 1987, the shop opened, initially on a part-time basis because
a baby daughter had also just joined them. Once the stamps started
selling and the orders were coming regularly, it was possible to take
on an assistant in the shop and open six days a week. Ainslie and Nick were glad to have got the business started, but neither
realised what was going to happen next. In 1988 the first catalogue
was produced on a photocopier, stamps were being made at all hours,
orders were coming in by post, and they had booked a season of
visits to craft fairs and shows around the country . On learning that the next addition to the family was going to be twins,
due in March1989, Nick gave up his full time job in order to work
in the business. The next two years were hectic to say the least,
and sleep-deprivation was the norm. The business also had
to support more people, invest in equipment, and develop, but
there was no going back now. At this time, Make Your Mark began working with a wide range of artists
to produce new stamp designs, published new catalogues, went to
hundreds of shows, and soon found it could not produce enough stamps
to keep up with demand. Local companies and schools were also
discovering that there was an excellent rubber-stamp making service
for their specialist work on their doorstep. By 1991 both the business and the family had outgrown the little
medieval building, and reluctantly had to move to a rented shop and
workshop premises more central in York, while finding somewhere else
they could call home. The shop at 61 Goodramgate, was a huge
success because it is a busy street in the centre, and had the space
to stock and display all the stamps, plus new things that people had
never heard of, like rainbow ink pads and embossing powders, and
"Rubberstampmadness" magazine. Unfortunately, the building only had a short lease, and Make Your Mark
was forced to rethink its future. In November 1992 it moved into
72 Goodramgate close by, and decided to focus on the retail side of the
business, and only deal directly with the customer. The limited
wholesale side of the business finished in 1993, while the tours of
craft fairs grew wider because new people were always so pleased
to find our stamps. There was also a new phenomenon
- the stamp show - and Make Your Mark went to Stempel Mekka in
Germany, many shows in America, and all the early shows in the UK. Over the last ten years there have been regular new catalogues with
hundreds of new designs, more stamp shows, and a growing network
of contacts with people using our stamps all over the country and the
world. As time has gone by, some of the technology has changed,
many great people have worked with us and moved on, and the rubber
stamp market is now filled with suppliers aplenty. After such a rollercoaster ride, we're now heading off into the next stage
with this website and online ordering - but one thing about us hasn't
changed: we have the expertise and the skills to offer a unique service
for YOU to Make Your Mark. | |
