LIZZIE SELBY Managing Director, Peachy Digital
What were your career ambitions growing up?
As with every young girl, I wanted to be about everything under the sun! I almost went to university to study Business Accounting & Finance (which for those who know me well, is highly amusing) but opted instead to just get out into the real world and get some experience. Marketing came about by happy accident and nearly 13 years later – here I am!
Tell us about your current role.
I founded the business and am the Managing Director. No two days are the same and that is just the way I like it – I can go from standing in a racing yard taking photos of jockeys, to helping plan new product development in food businesses, to interviewing famous chefs, and all sorts in between.
What was the impetus for forming Peachy Digital?
On being made redundant in January 2021 and finding very few job opportunities available that were local enough and would suit my family life, my previous employer encouraged me to just take a leap of faith.
What is your proudest business achievement?
I would struggle to choose just one! We have made it to two years, successfully at that and also during a global pandemic. Having our press release included in Delicious magazine was a great coup, and seeing a client on live TV.
What are you currently working on?
We focus heavily on professional development and I’ve lined up a new programme of training for our team, and we’re also in some exciting discussions with potential new clients. There is a massive campaign going live in February for one of our clients which could be a game changer for their business and being involved with that quite literally gives me butterflies every time I think about it!
Tell us about the team you work with?
Lindsay is our account executive and creates a lot of content, looks after day to day work with clients and brings a wealth of agricultural expertise to our team. We also have Chloe who works remotely 99 per cent of the time and is on a very flexible working pattern to suit her Fibromyalgia and the fact that she is also studying a Masters degree. She writes most of our blogs and press releases, and is a super star researcher too.
What is the best piece of business advice you have been given?
Don’t take things personally! When you don’t win a piece of business, or if a client wants changes to some work you thought was spot on, it can be hard not to feel like it’s aimed at you personally. But while the business is like my baby, I have learned to see all of those things as a learning opportunity. No one wins 100 per cent of the time, but it’s what you do with those times you don’t win that set you up for success.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Most definitely running and growing a business while home schooling! That was not just a challenge, it was mentally and emotionally draining. My children needed my support while also dealing with their own emotions over lockdown and so on, but our customers needed more from us than ever before because there was so much reliance on digital marketing.
Who are your heroes outside of business?
Outside of work, I adore Gordon Ramsay. He’s an acquired taste for sure but he’s come from a family with next to nothing to building a successful business empire, having his own family who are able to enjoy opportunities he never had, and I find him hilarious too. Plus, I probably own most if not all of his cook books.
Where would you like to be in five years time?
Still doing what I’m doing, still working with amazing clients, and hopefully in a position to have offered great opportunities to new people. My youngest constantly says she wants to work with me – in five years’ time she’ll be coming up 13 so maybe we’ll be considering GCSE options to suit a future marketeer!
How do you unwind outside of work?
I can usually be found in the kitchen when I’m not at work. I have three dogs and love to be active, and my husband and I have four children between us so there is never a dull moment! If it’s been a tough day, a soak in the bath with some acoustic music, a glass of rioja and some cheese (sorry, weird I know) are a sure fire way to chill me out and help me hit ‘reset’.