Who are you?
Allistair Burt

What does your business do?
I design and sell my own ranges of greetings cards, mugs and other gifts for the high-end contemporary gift market. My work is bright, bold, and humorous with a lopsided charm that makes excited children out of the most serious of adults.

My work is sold directly to customers through online retailers and wholesale to approximately 45 boutique stores, museums and Galleries including the Southbank Centre in London, Glasgow Museums and the National Galleries in Edinburgh.

I also illustrate books, create art exhibitions, take on design commissions and occasionally make short films.

Where are you based? 
The studio is based in the Southside of Glasgow overlooking Queens Park. 

How did you get started?
I first started working on art and film projects under the banner of Hole in my Pockets in 2002 but didn’t start making products for retail until 2012. 

What is your background?
I studied Architecture at Strathclyde University and at the ETH school in Zurich. After qualifying, I worked as a project architect on numerous large commercial projects throughout the UK for 14 years whilst simultaneously carrying on with my Hole in my Pocket projects.

At the start of 2016 with the growing popularity of my gift products, I made the decision to hang up my architect’s hat.

What is your top tip?
Always try to do work you enjoy and can be proud of. Don’t be afraid of taking risks but always remember that if a project doesn’t feel right, its fine to turn down work.

How long has your business been running?
I consider the company to only be starting now that I am working on it full time.

Has anyone helped you get started and how? 
We’ve had wonderful advice and collaboration from our stockists. We also found there to be great support for any specific business related queries from the business support system in Scotland through Business Gateway, the Cultural Enterprise Office, Scottish Enterprise and the Entrepreneurial Spark business accelerator programme.

What was your biggest mistake/or what would you do differently?
I’ve had what I thought was a brilliant idea for a product and rushed into production only to discover it hasn’t worked as well as I’d expected. 

Who was your inspiration?
When I was younger I always wanted to work for Beano, Aardman Animation or Smallfilms. 

Where do you plan your business to be in five years’ time?
I anticipate Hole in my Pocket will have substantially grown. I hope to have published a few of my own illustrated books. I would also love to get back into making short films.


www.holeinmypocket.com/shop
Scottish products website – www.eathaggis.com