A CREATIVE business whizz has told how scrolling on his phone led to making a product that's now brought £1million.

Frankie Thorogood, 34, founded the now-successful business on his kitchen table during the COVID-19 lockdown and it's blossomed into the UK's number one home pottery kit.

Frankie, from London, has always had a creative mind, initially running a sportswear brand after graduating from university.

But after almost a decade of behind behind it, the gym enthusiast grew to realise it was time to part from his first adventure.

''The company I was with got quite big and that made it more difficult cause it was more about managing the staff and doing different things rather than being creative,'' Frankie opened up to Fabulous.

''I stopped enjoying that job quite a lot.''

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But then, a new idea came – and GetPott'd was born whilst Frankie was lounging on the sofa with his then-girlfriend.

Like most Britons and people across the world, the couple were stuck indoors and found themselves endlessly scrolling on social media and ''absorbing rubbish''.

In a desperate attempt to make the evenings more fun and memorable, the duo turned to crafts, such as origami, painting, as well as what would soon be raking them in money – air-drying clay.

Together, they discovered there was some potential for business and at first, the creative duo started ''very small'' working from their home.

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''Cutting bits of clay on the kitchen table, wrapping up and packing the boxes, shipping them off myself from the flat," he explained.

Initially, however, there was also some scepticism from his family, as those closest to him insisted the idea wasn't particularly ''exciting''.

The best way to be successful is actually is to try things and learn as you change as you go

He said: "I think that’s always the case – when you have a new idea that people haven’t heard of before I don’t think it ever sounds that good.

"But that’s probably like a necessity […] because if it was obviously great then everyone else would’ve done it already."

That wasn't the only hurdle – there were also some ''really hard moments'', such as losing a lot of money when the shipment went wrong or the brand not making orders when the website crashed.

But despite the obstacles, the duo never really felt like giving up – and it's paid off.

The small lockdown side hustle turned into a successful business – and last year, Frankie says the company raked in a whopping £1million in revenue.

Although GetPott'd has grown massively, they key principle has remained the same throughout the years: letting everyone tap into their creativity and working on something with their loved ones.

Whether you're a beginner, intermediate or already have a few clay projects under you belt, GetPott'dhelps tap into your creative side, offering a wide range of kits for all levels.

As well as having a new adorable mini planter or a favourite mug for a cuppa, the kit is perfect to ''encourage people to spend less time on their screens''.

Now, as the brand is eagerly working on a few exciting projects in the nearer future, Frankie has also shared the top three factors driving success.

Number one, he said, is simply ''having fun'' with it.

He said: ''There are so many brands out there which are taking everything just so seriously and trying to sell product all the time.

‘’For me, it’s all about having fun, getting creative.''

He added: ''I think those positive vibes just come through the brand and that’s why people really resonate with it.

''We’re not afraid to be quirky or try different things and try some out-there stuff.’’

A background in business has also been a huge factor, as has been experience.

''I’ve got some experience, it’s made it easier to focus on the really important things rather than getting too hooked up on the minor things.

''Cause a lot of stuff can happen, you can distracted by a million of things.''

Engaging with customers

But for Frankie, there's another aspect that's played a huge role, perhaps more than the other two – speaking to GetPott'd shoppers and listening to them.

Not only does this build a relationship, but also helps the brand, he explained.

''We just love to chat to customers and hear what they have to say and learn from them.

''I love chatting to them on Instagram DMs [Direct Messages] and asking what they made or how did they find the product,'' he noted, adding that no message on the platform goes unnoticed.

The business goes far beyond just making money – the 34-year-old Londoner also works with a number of charities across the capital, such as North London Cares, who offer socialising opportunities for the elderly.

Another name cause to Frankie's heart is the Mindfulness in Schools Project – a charity where ''being alive and knowing it'' is the main goal.

Just do it

It may sound cliché but according to the business whizz, to get somewhere you simply have to do it.

''My advice to those wanting to start a side hustle is very simple – stop thinking about it and start trying it.

‘’Because one mistake I made earlier in my life – not with this business but before – I wouldn’t do anything until I was sure I had the perfect idea or the perfect way to execute it.''

Sharing his top tips, Frankie insisted that oftentimes ''perfect is the enemy'' and it's the desire for perfection that will get in the way.

He went on: ''The best way to be successful is actually is to try things and learn as you change as you go.

''You don’t need to invest lots of money and time, but you need to get started as soon as possible.

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''Then you can learn what’s working and what’s not.

''But if you’re just trying to guess what’s working the whole time, it’s very hard to come up with the perfect idea.''

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