hello - I’m joanne.
Down-to-earth Northerner, wife, mum, stationery addict, psychology graduate turned multi-passionate business owner.
I live in Glossop in the High Peak and I know exactly what it’s like to juggle ambition, mum life, deadlines, creative chaos and the constant pressure to do it all.
I’m also a small business visibility specialist, helping independent businesses across Derbyshire, the UK and internationally get seen with simple, effective SEO, newsletters, PR and done-for-you marketing support.
And did you know?? My 6 year old daughter took most of the photos of me on this page!!!
At 27 I launched my handmade stationery company, Vintage Twee with nothing more than a hot glue gun, a tiny budget and a big dream. Over the last 15+ years I’ve gone from working in my old childhood bedroom at my parents house to thousands of sales worldwide, being an established seller on Etsy and Not On The High Street and getting my work featured regularly in local & national press.
I learned everything the hard way: late nights, trial-and-error SEO, “why isn’t this working?” weeks and the thrill of seeing your products resonate all over the world.
Then, in 2017 I lost my best friend and biggest business cheerleader of all - my beautiful mum - to breast cancer. It was hard to keep Vintage Twee going without her and things were never quite the same.
2 years later, I became a mum myself and, whilst pregnant with my daughter, I found out I carried the BRCA2 gene mutation. I decided to undergo major preventative surgery to reduce my risk of getting breast and ovarian cancer and right in the middle of that chapter — full of fear, uncertainty and massive change — I created Her Handmade Hustle. I knew I wouldn’t be able to physically make products during my recovery but I still wanted to help other people grow their own businesses.
Since then, life has thrown more curveballs than I can count — supporting my sister through her own cancer journey, navigating grief, rebuilding, rebranding, starting a podcast and becoming stronger (and louder) about helping small businesses get seen.
And that's why I do what I do.
Not because it’s trendy.
Not because I'm “good at marketing.”
Because storytelling is my superpower. I know how to help you share who you are in a way that connects with your people. Plus I understand what it takes to hold a business together while holding yourself together too.
my story: From Handmade Stationery to Business Marketing Support
why my approach is different
Because I’ve genuinely been in the trenches.
I’ve built businesses from scratch. I’ve had to figure out websites, SEO and Google without having a clue where to start. I’ve spent hours researching keywords, rewritten pages that weren't working, pitched myself to the press, sent thousands of emails and tried plenty of marketing ideas that turned out to be a complete waste of time.
And that's exactly why I work the way I do now.
I'm not looking at your business from the outside and handing you a textbook list of things you should be doing. I've spent over 16 years figuring this stuff out in my own businesses — and now I use that experience to help other small business owners work out what will actually make a difference to theirs.
Sometimes that's a new website. Sometimes it's sorting out why you're nowhere to be found on Google. Sometimes it's improving what you've already got. And sometimes it's simply having someone take a proper look at everything and say, “Right. This is where I'd start.”
I like the practical stuff. The figuring-it-out stuff. And, most importantly, actually getting it done.
When you work with me, you'll get:
Me, from start to finish. No account managers, departments or being passed from person to person.
Straightforward advice. If I don't think something is worth your time or money, I'll tell you.
Hands-on help. I won't just give you a massive list and send you away to figure it all out yourself.
A proper understanding of your business. I'll ask questions, do the research and get to grips with what you're actually trying to achieve.
No unnecessary jargon. SEO, websites and Google can get technical. I'll explain what matters in normal human language.
Someone who genuinely gives a shit about getting it right. Because I do.
My promise to you
How I Can Help You Now
Over the years, the work I do has evolved alongside the businesses I work with. These days, most of it comes back to one thing: helping good small businesses become easier to find online.
That doesn't mean doing all the marketing. It means working out which bits are actually going to make a difference — and helping you get them sorted.
Website Design
I build straightforward, good-looking websites that make it clear what you do, who you help and why someone should choose you — with SEO considered from the very beginning.
SEO & Google Visibility
From keyword research and website SEO to Google Business Profiles and local search, I help make sure your business has a much better chance of appearing when somebody is actually looking for what you do.
AI Visibility
Search is changing. I can help make your website and online presence clearer and easier for search engines and AI tools like ChatGPT to understand, so your business is better placed to be found and recommended.
Marketing & Visibility Support
And sometimes you just need another pair of hands. I can help with things like newsletters, social media templates, content planning, PR, website updates and other one-off marketing jobs — without you needing to employ an entire marketing department.
A few things I’m proud of
Some of the highlights from my journey so far — the things that remind me why small, independent businesses deserve big visibility.
Top 100 Female Entrepreneur
Named one of Small Business Britain’s ‘Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs’ 2025.
20,000+ Product Sales
Across marketplaces Etsy & Not On The High Street and my own website.
local & national Press
Featured in local Glossop & High Peak publications, as well as national press.
International Client Base
Working with clients worldwide — still from my desk in the Peak District!
RIGHT THEN. YOUR TURN.
Enough about me — tell me about your business.
Maybe you need a new website. Maybe you're wondering why everyone else seems to appear on Google before you. Or maybe you just know your online presence isn't doing your business justice and you're not quite sure where to start.
You don't need to know exactly what you need before you get in touch.
Tell me a bit about your business, what's currently driving you mad and what you'd like to change. I'll have a look and we can work out what would actually be useful.
I'm based in Glossop in the High Peak, so if you're local, I'm always happy to meet over a coffee. If you're further afield, virtual cuppas work just as well.