Sue Anderson
Glasgow Herald, Friday 2nd February 2001. Picture Perfect.
by Harry Conroy
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A series of photographs taken 15 years ago for six
postcards for the postmistress on the tiny isle of Coll
has developed into an international business aiming
for a turnover of £100,000 this year.
More than one million postcards produced by Sue Anderson
and Island Focus have since been sold
throughout the Highlands and Islands and the firm is
now selling overseas on the Internet
Sue Anderson launched her own website in September
last year in order to combat falling tourist numbers,
and almost immediately received an order from Japan.
The story began when she was working as a secretary
on Coll, and the postmistress on the Scottish west coast
island said she was looking for postcards to sell to
tourists.
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"I was always taking photographs," explained Anderson,
"and when the postmistress asked if I would be willing
to supply her with a new set, I jumped at the chance."
The budding photographer, who came to Scotland from Worcester
28 years ago, cycled round the island and produced a set of
six postcards. "I then went to neighbouring Tiree,"
she said, "and persuaded local shops that I could provide
them with more up-to-date views."
With the help of a £40-a-week enterprise allowance,
and a grant from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Anderson
bought a moped and extended the area she covered.
Now based in Duror, near Appin in Argyll, she has been joined
by another professional photographer, Brian Fair, and employs
two part-time staff to handle growing administration and the
packing and posting of well over 100,000 postcards and calendars
every year.
The business has a stock of 1500 Argyll and islands postcard
views and a library of 30,000 images. Sue Anderson cards sell
in the US, Canada, Australia, Germany, South Africa and Japan.
Overseas sales have been growing as Anderson identifies markets
to compensate for the falling numbers of tourists visiting
Scotland. "Sales abroad account for around 6% of my business
and are growing all the time," she said.
But the core of the business remains in Scotland, with more
than 200 outlets selling her cards.
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