From Spare Room Start-Up to Meta HQ: Why I Treat Your Ad Budget Like It’s My Own
There is a big difference between an agency marketing manager who spends other people's money, and a business owner who spends their own money.
When you are spending your own hard-earned cash on Facebook or Google Ads, every click matters. You feel every wasted penny. You check the dashboard at midnight. You learn very quickly what actually drives a sale and what is just "fluff."
Before I founded Brand Canyon here in Market Harborough, and before I worked for the tech giants of Google, Meta, and Amazon, I was exactly where you are now.
I was a small business owner with a Shopify store, a limited budget, and a dream to grow.
The "Golden Buoy" Story
A few years ago, I launched Golden Buoy, an independent sustainable clothing brand. I built the Shopify site myself, designed the products, and packed the orders. But the biggest challenge was getting people to see it.
I couldn't afford billboard campaigns or TV spots. I had to master Meta Ads (Facebook & Instagram).
I became obsessed with the data. I learned how to craft creative that stopped the scroll. I learned how to target the right niches - not just "people who like clothes," but specific audiences who cared about sustainability and indie culture.
It worked. Through a relentless focus on ROI (Return on Investment) and smart ad buying, I grew Golden Buoy from a side hustle into a recognisable brand with customers all over the world.
From Shopify Founder to Big Tech Insider
That success didn't just sell t-shirts; it caught the attention of the platforms themselves.
My hands-on experience scaling a Shopify brand led directly to me being hired by Meta to join their Commerce team. They wanted people who understood the reality of selling online, not just the theory.
From there, I moved to Google to work on their commerce solutions, and eventually to Amazon, where I managed major advertising campaigns with budgets that would make my eyes water back in the Golden Buoy days.
Why This Matters for Your Leicestershire Business
So, why does this story matter to you, a business owner in Leicestershire?
Because when you hire Brand Canyon to manage your Google or Meta ads, you aren't getting a junior account executive who has only ever learned from a textbook.
You are getting a partner who combines two rare perspectives:
The Business Owner: I know the fear of clicking "Publish" on a campaign when it’s your own bank account linked to the ad manager. I treat your budget with the same respect I treated my own.
The Big Tech Insider: I know how the systems work at the highest level. I’ve seen the "black box" of the algorithms from the inside at Google and Meta.
Local Support, World-Class Experience
Whether you are a retailer in Market Harborough, a service provider in Lutterworth, or an e-commerce brand based in Leicester, you don't need to guess your way to growth.
I have stood in your shoes, packed the boxes, and scaled the ads. And then I went to Silicon Valley’s biggest companies to master the craft.
Now, I’m bringing that entire toolkit back home to help local businesses win.
If you have a Shopify store that isn't converting, or you’re ready to scale your local business with ads that actually work, let’s grab a coffee. I’d love to hear your story.