Creativty out of necessity
Creativty out of necessity
I was born and raised outside Manchester in the north of England, a hub of music and creative freedom. Though I attended college for Art & Design, my first real foray into entrepreneurship came from necessity—customizing garments.
I moved out at an early age, living in Swinton, working at an independent clothing store but barely affording the clothes. After rent, my bus pass, and some food, I had about £20 left each week. That wasn’t enough for a night out, so I got creative.
I started buying the cheapest plain Energie T-shirts and graphic band T-shirts from Affleck Palace in the Northern Quarter. I’d cut out the band graphics and hand-sew them onto the plain shirts—my own DIY fashion for a Friday night.
The first night, 10–15 people asked me where I got my shirt. By the end of the night, I sold it off my back for £20, took an order from a mate, and walked away £40 up. That was two weeks’ fun money. Next week, I came back with five more T-shirts in my bag and sold them all.
That hustle grew. I started customizing jackets with slogans, dyeing and bleaching jeans, and selling them through the store I worked for. I couldn’t make them fast enough—the store started paying me per pair and giving me time off to work on them.
One day, a sales rep from Energie (Miss Sixty’s parent company) saw my work. Not long after, the Managing Director of Miss Sixty himself walked into the shop, grilling me about the jeans. I thought I was in trouble, but instead, I got a call from the Energie rep offering me an interview.
That interview landed me a dream job working with brands like Miss Sixty, Fornarina, and Ringsun, eventually leading me to New York in 2012, where I joined PRPS before being approached by Worldnet.
At Worldnet, I started by working with the founders to extract their personal and professional lives to define Worldnets why and discover Worldnets key strengths and fundamental values.
The Deliverable for this was a clear purpose, mission, and vision.
This meant:
• Developing a new brand strategy
• Ensuring every customer touchpoint influenced behaviour
• Creating a new website, sales & marketing materials, and internal culture initiatives
• A campaign that would build a community
My background in fashion came in handy when we introduced branded merch drops and a fresh uniform for drivers.
The playful slogans—“We Carry Big Packages” and “We Give A Ship”—became instant hits.
At first, clients were hesitant to wear the merch, so we tie-dyed a batch of Fashion Week T-shirts in the warehouse and sent them to key people. It worked.
The strategy was clear: market Worldnet beyond just services, develop a community-driven brand, and make it so compelling that publications told our story for us—and they did. My proudest moment? Seeing Worldnet featured in The New York Times.
Now, I apply the same principles to like-minded businesses, helping them scale with strategy, structure, and execution.
At Paceject, we believe that every project is a journey, and every journey deserves a steady guide. Inspired by the role of a pacer in a race—someone who sets the pace, encourages, and ensures everyone crosses the finish line—Paceject was born to be the partner businesses need to bring their boldest ideas to life.
The name Paceject reflects this purpose. “Pace” symbolises the thoughtful, steady rhythm that drives progress, while “ject” stems from the heart of our work: projects. Together, Paceject represents a commitment to guiding clients through complex challenges, delivering results with precision, and achieving success as a team.
The concept of a pacer resonated deeply with our founder, Gary Craughwell, a fell runner and ultra-distance enthusiast. In a race, the pacer’s role isn’t to finish first but to help others succeed—whether by setting a steady pace, motivating the team, or making strategic decisions on the fly.
This ethos carries through every project at Paceject, where the focus is on guiding businesses to achieve their goals while navigating challenges with confidence and agility.
Gary’s diverse experience—from international sales, and global marketing to project management and hands-on craftsmanship—has shaped Paceject’s holistic approach. He understands the big picture and the intricate details, ensuring every client gets a tailored solution that works for their unique needs.
Whether you’re launching a new product, implementing innovative solutions, or navigating organisational change, Paceject is your partner for success. Let us help you set the pace, tackle the miles, and achieve results that matter.
For The Pleasure.
