Walt Disney once said that the easiest way to get started is to quit talking and start doing. And that’s exactly what Amy and Lauren did when they decided to set up their businesses to do something they love.
As well as following their passion, both Amy and Lauren have completed CIM qualifications with nesma, which has helped them devise a strategy and develop clear and precise knowledge of the market.
We caught up with them to find out what inspired them to set up their enterprises and how they have found it so far.
Meet Amy Young from Bonnie Blooms by Amy
‘I’ve always loved flowers and the idea of having my own business, so when lockdown hit in March 2020, like everyone, I was left with a lot of spare time and thinking about the direction I wanted to head in next. Initially, I was very much a hobby florist, but after spending time at Tallulah Rose Flower School last year, I decided that I wanted more. With a little bit of encouragement from friends and my Granny Pat, I took the plunge and went for it.
‘My background and experience in Marketing has meant that I had the knowledge and skillset to start developing my brand and social channels and launch a strategy to catapult my business into an already saturated market. Working with nesma taught me the importance of understanding the market and my customers, having a clear brand message, and developing achievable business goals. This insight has been invaluable and helped my business become successful in such a short space of time, and I already have an exciting vision for the years to come.
‘You should not underestimate the time and effort and complexities required to run your own business. If there is one thing that this experience has taught me, always trust your gut, and go for it. With hard work and dedication, if you want something enough, you will make it happen’.
Check out – www.bonnieblooms.co.uk
Meet Lauren Allison from Bohemia Bell Tents & Events
Bohemia Bell Tents happened very organically and having my own business wasn’t really part of the plan – and believe me, I’m the type of person to have a plan! It all started when I was organising my wedding, and I wanted to hire a bell tent as a chill-out space for our guests but struggled to find a local business to provide this in the style I had envisaged. I was excited at the prospect of bringing something like this to our local area. So I used my time in lockdown to create something positive which would allow people to celebrate in their own homes and gardens.
I’d recently completed my CIM Level 4 Professional Marketing qualification with nesma and have a background in Events Management, so I decided it was the perfect venture to put my skills and experience to the test! The course provided me with the knowledge of building a brand, positioning my business, marketing the company and which channels to use, and so many more skills. I’ve enjoyed putting the theory into practice in an environment where I am in control. The response has been overwhelming, and I’m immensely proud of how it’s grown so quickly in such a short space of time.
Although it’s been successful so far, Bohemia is very much a side business, and I’m still driven to progress my career. Doing this marketing course gave me the confidence and imperative to take the next step into a new job which was exactly the progression I was hoping my qualification would bring. Doing a CIM marketing qualification has been one of the best investments, allowing me to start my own business doing something I love while also catapulting my career. It just goes to show that hard work and determination does pay off.
Check out – @BohemiaBellTents
Being a successful entrepreneur takes a lot of determination, a lot of vision and a lot of perseverance.
So, if you want to be your own boss, you need to understand what is important to you and how you can do something different and then communicate that effectively to your target audience.
The delivery needs to be right for the right people every time, to make you stand out from the crowd.
