‘Oh no not another bill” is a familiar refrain when the postman delivers but when entrepreneur Ned Corbett-Winder (NCW) decided to set up shop that all changed. In 2011 NCW was overworking at M&C Saatchi Advertising agency as an Art Director, he was also burning the candle at both ends testing out his idea for Not-Another-Bill. A graduate from Central St Martins Art School with a 1st Class degree in Graphic Design and Advertising, his concept was to send customers something nice in the post, either to send to yourself or as a cheery gesture to a friend, a monthly subscription would bring NCW’s choice of surprise gift to your postbox. It was an unusual concept and quickly caught on and Not-Another-Bill got favourable media reviews. Encouraged NCW left Saachi’s to expand into a proper business. He designed and built his first e-commerce website, choose the products, packed and despatched them all himself, from his home; the customer following he created was young urban women from 28-45years.
NCW’s mother is a painter, his father a collector, his wife Sarah a fashion stylist and his sister Willow Crossley a floral stylist, he has always been surrounded by talent; with his unique eye, he has an exceptional talent for sourcing quality, quirky not the average high street gifts. He appreciates craftmanship and his artistic upbringing propels him towards the most creative sources happening in product design. Reflecting the current vogue for craft spirits, especially Gin, NAB’s Black Friday’s most popular gift was the Gin Gift Set.
Over the past seven years NAB have exhibited at trade shows and spend time identifying new customers, progressively their digital presence and online offering has increased. Today there are four strands to the business, the original send a monthly gift subscription, the online shop, wholesaling their own brand products which are now available at Selfridges, Conran and Liberty, and corporate gifting, mostly personalised stationery and leather goods. The latter are popular with clients such as Twitter, Investec Bank and the luxury travel club Mr and Mrs Smith. NCW’s current priority is increasing brand awareness for Not-Another-Bill, he wants the brand to be perceived as flexible and bespoke. Commuting daily from his stylish home in Sheperds Bush to the Studio in Bermondsey where he employs a team of seven, NCW is thankful to his investor Timothy Melgund, Chief Executive of Paperchase, for taking care of the financial side of the business, leaving him free to concentrate on the customer and future product lines.
