Laura Bradbury founded Huia Creative in 2019. Fuelled by love and creativity, it is her mission to partner with small businesses to help then thrive and achieve outstanding results. A web developer turned digital project manager, she found herself missing the creativity of designing and building websites for clients, and what started as a side hustle – creating websites, marketing campaigns and digital strategies for friends and family – has grown into a full-service digital agency. Here Laura talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the inspiration behind what she does, the pros and cons of starting her own business, and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
I absolutely love helping businesses thrive. My journey began as a web developer, crafting functional, beautiful websites full-time. After being made redundant, I unexpectedly found myself in digital project management, where I quickly realised how much I loved organising and refining digital strategies. Over the years, while working full-time, I helped friends with their businesses: offering marketing guidance, shaping their messaging, and helping them grow their presence online. Witnessing their success was incredibly rewarding and solidified my passion for small business support.
Combining my technical expertise with a knack for marketing, I launched Huia Creative to provide tailored digital solutions for small and medium businesses. I wanted to create an agency that understands the unique challenges smaller brands face, offering strategy, marketing, and web design to make a meaningful impact. Now, helping businesses bloom isn’t just a passion, it’s my full-time job – and I love it!
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
Huia Creative started quietly, working with friends and family to improve their websites and social media presence. As word spread, referrals came in, and I was soon helping small businesses refine their digital strategies and marketing efforts.
In early 2025, I decided to fully commit to Huia Creative, stepping away from my corporate role and embracing the challenge of running my own agency. The support of my family and the businesses I had already worked with gave me the confidence to take the leap – and it was the best decision I’ve ever made.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Oh, hands down, the biggest breakthrough was going full-time with Huia Creative. It was a huge leap, but honestly, the universe just kept nudging me in that direction. For years, I’d been telling my clients to trust themselves, take risks, and back their ideas – and then I realised I needed to take my own advice!
Another big shift has been refining how we help businesses grow online. It’s not just about throwing up a website or running ads – it’s about creating smart, achievable goals that set them up for long-term success. Seeing our clients thrive and build real connections with their audiences has been the most rewarding part.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
It’s all about finding a rhythm. Working from home with Huia Creative means I have to be intentional about separating work and life, but having a routine makes it easier. Mornings are mine – I’ll either get outside for a walk or hit the gym before diving into the day.
I also try to knock out household chores during the week so weekends can actually feel like weekends. It’s not perfect, but it helps keep everything flowing while making sure I still have time for family and downtime.
