Rachel Ducker's story of doing business differently

With a keen passion for marketing and design, after finishing my education, I spent six years in various business industries. These include sales, design, online marketing and advertising.

By gaining the knowledge and skills from the various roles I performed, at the tender age of 23 years old, I saw a gap in the market for a ‘one stop shop’ creative agency. 

Despite my last name I have always been a highflying Eagle as opposed to another ‘quacking’ duck at the duck pond! I believe I was born to do business, but in my own way.

I will admit that I had no one to teach me how to do business; I quite simply made up my own rules. It is no secret that I am known to people for being a non-conformist businesswoman. I take the rulebook and stamp on it with my best high heels!

Most people who meet me see Rachel, not the businesswoman, but the person. They will find me in my skinny jeans, sipping a cappuccino at my favourite coffee shop, ready to have a casual chat about how I can help them.

When I started my business over a year ago I walked into the business community blind, from employee to director overnight, a big step up. 

Within seven months I am winning East of England Young Businesswoman of the year award. So I must have been doing something right and I want to share this with you. Being young and naive was probably my biggest advantage.

My vision was to create a company that stands out for not only providing an excellent quality service, but a business who really cares about why we are doing it, in order to help the client.

I believe very strongly that my twenty years of training in the Martial Art of Kuk Sool Won, is one of the catalysts for my success in business, and I see no reason why I cannot use this within my career, as it has taught me how to focus, persevere and reach all of my goals.

Combining these skills with my strong moral values and a caring personality is what allows me to help other businesses to grow and achieve results.

In the economic climate we are in, I think that it is important to give back and keep supporting the business community. I have always been a fighter both in my Martial Arts training and within my business career.

I have worked for many companies in the past who treat their clients as another number, a pound sign to rub the ego of their bank balance and who were disrespectful whilst doing it. 

This was why I would try and change this perception of a businesswoman, you know, the one that says I am a hard-nosed battle-axe – don’t mess with me or I will feed you to the lions. 

I hope that I can be a role model for others of my age who have, or are thinking of starting their own business. It is hard work but the results are so rewarding, especially when you can make a difference.

A year on I have my own weekly business column in the largest newspaper in the area and  I am working on a book launch for next year. By making the decision to start a business has brought me so much happiness and I feel very blessed. 

Rachel will be continuing to do what she does best, helping her clients by unleashing her passion and energy to make others more successful through creative marketing and design.

About Rachel Ducker and Apparition Marketing & Design Ltd.

Apparition Marketing & Design Ltd. is based in Suffolk, UK. It helps people, organisations and businesses to extend their presence both on and offline and to grow their business by creating innovative solutions that produce results. Apparition provides PR, Marketing, Web and Design services.

Apparition Marketing & Design Ltd. was founded in April 2009 by Rachel Ducker, the winner for the 2009 East of England Young Businesswoman of the year award. Rachel  was awarded this title, after just seven months into her first business. Rachel has been featured in various magazines and newspapers. She is appearing on Mark Murphys Radio Suffolk show as 'The Apprentice Guru' and writing her very own business column 'Water off a Ducks back' in a regional newspaper. Rachel has over 20 years experience in Martial Arts and comes from a successful Martial Arts family who are one of the most recognised families within Kuk Sool Won in the UK. As for her martial art career, Rachel has won countless tournaments and Gold medals and gained the level of 4th degree black belt in 2009

To learn more about Rachel Ducker please visit the website: www.apparitiondesigns.co.uk