A multiple award-winning St Mirren fan says being recognised by local people is a “feeling worth having” after his most recent triumph.
Kevin Park of KP Kreative has enjoyed a successful 2024 after winning the best creative business prize at Scotlands Business Awards having already claimed the title locally for Renfrewshire.
Meanwhile, at the Scotland Prestige Awards, he collected the web design agency of the year prize and being recognised on a national scale, Kevin says, means the sacrifices during his business journey have been worth it.
Kevin, who was brought up in Johnstone, will celebrate a decade of working for himself in April.
He said that deciding to leave his last job and taking the leap of faith was “terrifying” – but sitting where he is now, insists coming through the initial jump and the covid pandemic makes it all worth it.
“It is coming up to 10 years since I started working for myself,” he told the Paisley Daily Express. “I guess the other side of covid, I started to see a turn in the business [for the better] but it was a scary time.
“It is coming up to five years since I moved into the office which was the week before the country went into lockdown. Prior to that, I had been working from home and sharing office space but this was my big move.
“Covid and going out on my own meant the same fear – you didn’t know what was happening. It was terrifying. I had essentially moved everything in and then within a week I went from working full-time to being a full-time dad for three or four months.
“It has all been a hard graft, any business owner will tell you that. You go through waves of emotions. Sometimes you feel it is not going your way and sometimes you get projects that don’t go the way you want.
“There is a lot of graft that goes into it and it is amazing to see that there are people out there who voted for me. Coming out with an award after all your hard work is really good.”
KP Kreative is a web development company that looks to help other businesses grow their online identity.
Kevin – who is a huge follower of Stephen Robinson’s Buddies – has pitchside branding at the SMiSA Stadium and admits that working with the club was a “dream come true”.
The successful business owner helped Saints transform their online presence for more than four-and-a-half years prior to vice-chairman Jim Gillespie coming into the club.
“I am really proud to have worked with St Mirren,” Kevin said. “It was me who approached them and explained to them how things on social media can be improved and help with fan engagement. It is one I am really proud of as it is close to my heart and made me happy knowing I was helping the team I support.”
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