Noble Ink – The Beginnings Part 2:  From Market Stall to Shop

Getting up early on a Sunday morning to set up a table, with a hot flask of tea in hand, with the bitter winter chill hugging onto my skinny frame, was not my idea of a good time.

But my partner in crime (the reason I moved to Tasmania back in February of 2008) insisted I make some money and have a go at selling my art.

Having arrived in a Tasmanian summer without a coat, without a job, without money and in debt, I needed to get motivated.  I had left my home, my family, and a dark, wet, cold English winter with just a suitcase of clothes and a backpack of essentials.

I’d always been arty and had worked my hands into “inky” jobs. A screen printer, a graphic designer and a printing assistant were all environments I had cut my teeth into.

I had left school with just an A grade in Art and a C grade in Woodwork.

But destiny had other plans for me and so a career in wooden spoon design was not meant to be!

I then went onto complete a Graphic Design Diploma at College and then specialised in Illustration at Higher Education.

(at this point in my life I was travelling sideways, in fact I thought I would be a career musician).

There’s a further backstory as to why I didn’t end up with straights A’s at school and one that would make an interesting story.

But for now we will stay on track.

Needless to say with a fascination with art, I channeled my creativity into jobs that were art or print related and for the next 18 years I wandered through life in and out of various print related jobs.

The portfolio of artwork I’d been working on in the UK around 2007 was probably my most valued possession. Far more important than a thick winter coat!

I had been developing a style of art that used a Bird Feather cut to a quill and Black or Blue Indian Ink.

The logo for Noble Ink was in fact drawn in 2008 using this technique.

If you have ever wondered, as I am occasionally asked to explain….the name Noble Ink was born by my Surname Noble and the art medium I’ve acquainted myself with throughout my life, Ink.

To be able to sell my cards in the first instance, I would have needed to make them.

That’s where the my partners family enters the story.

Her brother in law had a photocopier at his office, and I asked if I could print some of my artwork into greeting cards.

Whilst my first few market stalls bore little or no money, on one occasion a lady came over to me and randomly asked if I printed jam jar labels.

Of course, without much hesitation as I felt a huge nudge in the ribs and a kick of the shins under the table from my partner, and with dollar signs bulging from my eyes and I said YES!

The when, what, and where could all be figured out along the way.

So, at that point onwards, the master plan for a printing business in Kingston was about to unfurl!

Now, whilst the occasional Sunday Market may have not have been the biggest get rich quick scheme going for me, the small and lonesome seed of a business plan was being watered and had started to bloom.

I had for as long as I can remember always wanted to own a printing business. Whilst working in other jobs, I would observe how managers and owners went about their business, thinking one day I would run one too.

That one offer of someone needing a service from me, lit an almighty big fire within my belly!

My partners family member had a business with a small shed that he had recently renovated to become a small office space.

He put it to me that I could in fact start something in there if I was serious enough.

I starting to dream big, think big and imagine what my life could look like.

But with no money to speak of I was offered a few handy man jobs, painting and decorating family friends homes and offices.

I made a few dollars, which I put aside, opened a bank account and on August 4th 2008 I registered the name Noble ink.

Now just to add momentum to my slow introduction to the world of self-employment, and with fortune on my side, a printing business in Kingston had just gone into liquidation and the printing equipment was being sold at auction.

Talk about being in the right place at the right time to start the business that I had always dreamt about!

I attended, bought and secured what formed the basis of my printing business.

A binding machine, a desktop laminator, and paper stocks.

The speed of all of this came together very quickly indeed.

One minute I was working a market stall, next minute I’d registered a business name and was about to move into a small office space.

In the lead up to opening the shop, I’d made a contact suppliers list, designed flyers, started to put my name out there.

My partner and I did letterbox drops all over Kingston and Blackmans Bay.

“Noble Ink design and print – “for all your printing needs”

Well the tag line was basic and horrid but served its purpose for the moment.

We parked up and walked and walked and walked!
The photocopier that I used to print my greeting card onto was now an official lease to me and formed the very backbone to my printing business!

On January 6^th 2009 I had officially opened the doors to the public.

The pure magic of turning over the open sign for the first time in my life! (my own business) my own shop, I am my own boss on my own terms!

And the customer that I first met on my market stall asking for jam jar labels?

Well, she came back and became my first official shop customer!

The benefit of having to sell something to somebody, enabled me to grow in confidence.

Finally I became the person I was longing to be and looking back now, I can see how I created my own path to success.

If you really believe you can do something, there should not be any excuse to stop you from doing it.
With a good support network, you have an even better chance of succeeding.

I crossed to the other side of the world with nothing, and started something I had always wanted to do.

That’s where I draw my strength from and when I visualise success the more I succeed.

So here we are in 2023.

This business has certainly grown from the early days.

The clientele too.

There are many fantastic local businesses who have supported me from a very early start and are still growing strongly.

Of course there are too many mention, but you will know yourselves that you have supported me throughout these years, and I am eternally grateful!

To date we have had orders from the mainland Australia, from North of Tasmanian and from King Island to Bruny Island.
Today, we print for countless big corporations, small and medium sized business’s and service walk in clients.

I wake up each morning with the mindset to show up and put the hard work in.

As my grandad once told me as a child “If you don’t do art for a living, you’ll need shooting”

Thanks for choosing to support Noble Ink.

Here’s to another 15 years and beyond!

Paul and Team