* Featured * Stallholder

Background Info (Family, Career etc)  I am a 31 year old married Mum with two girls aged 5 and 23 months. I originally trained and qualified as a Primary School Teacher with a specialism in music and taught for 5 years before starting a family. After having my children, I was reluctant to return to teaching after my extended maternity leave as I wanted to be at home to look after the girls. Eventually I took the plunge and started my own business.

Business Name & Overview  Cake Shop Corner specialises in making beautiful cakes and cupcakes for all occasions. I use good quality ingredients to make delicious cakes, which are decorated in any style you desire. I make cakes for birthdays, weddings, christenings, thank you gifts, valentines day, in fact, any occasion you can think of!

How long have you been in business?  I started the business 5 months ago.

Why did you start your own business/what gave you the idea?  I have been making and decorating cakes for family occasions for several years. Many friends and relatives commented that I should start doing it professionally. After I took a course at the local college in Cake Artistry, I began to realise I  could turn my hobby into my career. I wanted a flexible job I could fit around my family commitments and still earn me a decent monthly income, and this seemed like the perfect solution.

Best thing about running your own business?  I'm the boss so I can work flexible hours and fit my job around my home life. I am also doing a job that I love!

Biggest hurdle/obstacle so far?  One of the biggest hurdles has been getting my name out there on a limited budget. Cakes are difficult to post so most of my attention has been focused on launching myself locally. If I can successfully crack sending cakes in the mail then I can open myself up to a wider audience.

Where do you want to be in 5 years?  I would like to be a known and respected name in my field and have a solid business behind me. I would also like to be earning the same salary as I was when I was teaching. My ultimate dream is to have my own little cafe/bakery shop.

Any hints or tips for anyone starting out or running their own small business?  Plan well for success and don't give up. You will probably find you have an initial rush and then a very quiet period. This doesn't mean your business has failed, you just need to keep plugging at it. Always carry business cards with you and tell everyone you meet about your business - you'll be surprised how you can drop it into a conversation without it seeming forced!

How did you find out about Stallfinder?  I can't remember how I first found out about Stallfinder, it just always seems to have been there! I follow Stallfinder on Twitter so it could have been there or one of the many craft forums I frequent!

Any other comments  Gail has been so very supportive from the first moment I took the plunge and started my business. Since taking a listing on Stallfinder I have had numerous calls and emails inviting me to take stalls at local events. It is been one of the best decisions I have taken and great value for money.

Name  Jayne Bradshaw

Background Info  I am a working mum, married with 2 children and 2 basset hounds.

Business Name & Overview  I knew I wanted to start a business, but it needed to be something I loved if it was going to take up all of my spare time. I love spending time in the garden, whether it be weeding, planting, mowing or just pottering around trying to find the perfect place for a new plant.

My 1st garden was a traditional cottage garden which was wild and overgrown at the beginning, but after a lot of hard work became full of Primroses, Bluebells, Snowdrops, Honeysuckle, Foxgloves not forgetting one of my favourites ‘Granny Bonnets’ and numerous plants with names I don’t remember, but helped create my perfect Cottage Garden.

I love adding things to the garden, whether it be a hanging lantern, a bird house or some scattered wild flower seeds that grow a few months later (long after you’ve forgotten you planted them and hopefully after surviving my 2 Basset Hounds who like to dig!) so it made sense to start a business selling garden and outdoor living products, after lots (& lots!) of discussions with friends and family Swings and Pretty Things was formed.

How long have you been in business?  Started June 2008

Why did you start your own business/what gave you the idea?  I started my own business as I wanted to do something for me, an acheivement of my very own. The idea started as a childrens shoe shop!, but realised that was never going to work without an actual shop so I decided to write a list of all the things I liked to do and gardening was in my top 3 (eating chocolate & drinking wine were close to the top too!). I then did some research looking at what other people sold, other website designs etc, made severel lists, re wrote them and then decided to take the plunge... the rest as they say is history.

Best thing about running your own business?  I get such a buzz when I find new & unusual products to sell.
 
Biggest hurdle/obstacle so far?  Sorting out my website and working on SEO!.. it's a minefield.

Where do you want to be in 5 years?  In 5 years I'd like to see my company grow whereby it becomes a well known on-line retailer for unusual garden and outdoor living products. 
 
Any hints or tips for anyone starting out or running their own small business?  Make a list of EVERYTHING! and never throw that list out.

Research, research and more research - everything from companies that will be competitors, to set up costs, to practicalilties of running a business.

Look at the pro's and con's and don't let excitment get in the way of the important stuff.

How did you find out about Stallfinder?  I found it by accident whilst looking for events to attend.