Nicole le Cornu
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Love Casting started following Nicole’s decision to train in the art of life casting. Since then, she has created many personal and unique keepsakes for families. Treasured moments in time of little hands, tiny toes and precious paws along with other life casts marking special occasions.
“No two keepsakes are the same and I love when someone wants to explore something a little different."
Tell us about your path to setting up your business and what motivated you?
Growing up I remember being quite creative and have always been hands on. It’s probably why I started a career in the hospitality industry as it was a new challenge every day. However, I spent the last 15 years in office-based roles where creativity was limited, and days began to be the same. Starting a family motivated me to do something different and fulfil the need to be creative again. After my first training session in 3D casts, I knew I wanted to create beautiful keepsakes for families.
How do you work and what is a typical day like for you?
What’s typical? I have Love Casting, a job, another business adventure in the works, and a family. Life is busy but I have always been good at juggling. Depending on the day, after the dog is walked and my son is off to school, I am either headed to an office or working from home, welcoming families for their casting appointment. Once moulds are created, it’s a start, stop process of plastering, refining, sanding, painting and displaying. With this you have the consultation, admin and accounts. It’s pretty much full on days of multi-tasking.
What are the best parts about your business?
Having the opportunity to be creative, working with families, unveiling a cast from its mould for the first time and sharing the end result with the family. Each is very exciting and rewarding.
What has been your greatest struggle as a business owner so far?
Self-promotion does not come easy for me and I find it daunting. The advertising and marketing, especially on social media is a big part of the business and a learning experience and can be time consuming to photograph each piece, size them for each different social platform and be creative with wording on posts, etc. This and balancing a family is challenging.
What has been your biggest a-ha moment so far?
That this is not something that can be rushed. I have always been one to work at a fast pace and with life casting, you need to take a breath. No multi-tasking; focus on the step that you are completing and ensure it’s done right. The moulds taken are one-time use, and although I will ask a client to come back if I am not pleased with a result, I’d prefer not to.
Do you have any advice for other small business owners?
Being an entrepreneur is no easy task. Be prepared to work even harder and at times longer as you are doing it for yourself. Set goals and targets but don’t be so hard on yourself if you don’t meet them in a set time. Remember why you chose to do this - more flexibility, time with family, those are the goals you really want to achieve.
What currently inspires you?
Creating something new which is exactly what I do, each and every time. No two keepsakes are the same and I love when someone wants to explore something a little different. I also get inspired by sculptures and enjoy seeing what other life casters are creating.
You can contact and find me here
