My journey so far
It's been 6 months since i started my journey and i can actually say it has been a challenging road, but i got here, with business cards in hand and website going live i would like to reflect on the journey i have taken in setting up a new business.
It all started with an idea, one that i have played with for the past few years but never really done anything about. I was having some coaching from a friend and she asked me do i want to work for somebody else or do i want to work for myself and that is where it all began. I decided i wanted to work for myself.
So my idea was about to become reality. I wanted to combine all the years of training and certificates that i had collected over the years and put on some hands on hairdressing and inspirational workshops for salons across the UK. That would be cost effective and that the salons could actually earn some money back from, i was taking it back to basics.
When i got home i began to research business funding as i obviously needed money to set up, after many hours of searching i realised there wasn't much out there that met my criteria as i am 35 so in funding terms too old and lived on the wirral so agin in funding terms i wasn't living in a poor enough area to get any funding. But there was one company who are set up to support small business Invest wirral. So i gave them a call and before long i was sat opposite a wonderful lady Lyndsey sipping coffee and discussing my options. Lyndsey was very helpful but was unable to help me with any funding and put me in touch with The womens organisation in Liverpool who could.
The womens organisation organised a meeting with one of their small business mentors John who has been a great help throughout my business journey and after filling out a novel of forms was able to attend some of their business courses to get me started, and at the end of it i would be eligible for a £200 grant. Not much i know but the courses was really useful and my business plan fool proof by the end of it.
In the mean time a friend of mine put me in touch with a great guy Shaun Hearnden, he was in university on a media course and needed to design someones website for them as part of his course. So of course i contacted him and i think he has regretted it ever since. I am a girl who thinks anything can be done so i have asked for the impossible many of times which in my argument will have helped Shaun grow, if he can put up with me he can put up with anyone and believe me it wasn't easy, as you will discover. My original request was something simple. To put a few images on maybe a bit of text and some contact details. My site now if you have had the honour in seeing it, is a lot bigger than i first requested. just as Shaun thought he had finished i would add something or change something, in fact whilst i am writing this i have sent him over a few tweaks and changes. Thank you Shaun you are a star.
I then realised i needed images to go onto the site and contacted an old client of mine Georgina G photography and met in a lovely boutique coffee bar in Liverpool. I wanted to create a support network within the business so we could all grow together and wanted genuine people to come on board and georgina is one of the most inspirational, genuine people i know. Her photographs a work of art. I offered her an oppertunity to work in an area she was unsure of in exchange for the chance to realise her potential. After discussing some ideas we decided to go ahead with the shoot.
That weekend i headed of with my family to wales and was sledging down a mountain in the snow when i had an idea, which is not good. I wanted images of a bride in a red dress in the snow. By wednesday morning i had 2 models, Georgina and a red dress that a wonderful lady borrowed me from Anna may couture with warm coats and wellies we got some fantastic images and went on to do a second photo shoot weeks later. Images completed.
In the midst of everything going on my company took a turn and i then began designing bridal hairpieces which grew again into 3/4 wigs and pony tails and buns. I located bespoke packaging and ribbons had my business cards designed but i still hadn't found a destination to base myself from.
I was led my circumstance to The Hare barn Brimstage where a young lady wanted to purchase a hair piece and i ended up coming away with a destination. In all our excitement we agreed for me to base myself exclusively at her salon.
Since then i have set up my Facebook, pinterest and twitter accounts and this is my first blog. I officially start my journey in October so stay tuned to see how i get on in my weekly blog warts and all.
