Tell us the story of your business! How did you come up with the idea?
I made some marshmallows for Christmas presents – these marshmallows were orange flavoured, with a square of chocolate ganache underneath and then dipped in chocolate, all on a stick! The idea was to place the whole thing in a mug of hot milk and there you go, an instant orange hot chocolate with marshmallow! People really loved them as they tasted so different to any marshmallows they’d tried before and this got me thinking.
Previous to this I’d become unemployed and was trying to find work, when I thought I should make my own work! I’ve always felt creative, but not been good at art, and now I feel artistic and creative in the world of food, something I’ve always had a passion for. From an early age I was planning imaginary dinner parties using my mum’s cookery books!
By making something that looked good [and] tasted good, I was fulfilling my creative potential. I was so inspired by the versatility of a handmade marshmallow, as it is a blank canvas – and I was spurred on by reactions from friends and family. The fact that the natural ingredients can sing in the product is really special – they don’t need flavour enhancers or additives to taste their best.
In addition to feeling creative, I’d gone through different jobs that I enjoyed to differing degrees, but nothing that really got me going. I’d gone through some mental health issues that had affected my work and my confidence, so even thinking about starting my own business was a good sign! I knew I wanted to make a change - becoming unemployed was my catalyst! Seeing the progress I have made in the face of these issues gives me positivity and is something to feel proud of.
What’s the most exciting thing about being an entrepreneur?
For me, I find face-to-face selling the most exciting. The opportunity to meet all those people could have been quite overwhelming but it’s become exciting. I used to take a friend with me to my stalls but I happily run them on my own now. Seeing and hearing people’s feedback first hand is a massive confidence boost.
What challenges have you come across?
I’ve found the isolating side of running your own business a challenge – not so much spending time on my own, but when you have a question or you want to run something past somebody – there isn’t someone in the next room I can ask. I know there aren’t any rulebooks for this sort of thing, but sometimes it can feel daunting as to what to do next. What can I do to increase sales? Sometimes there just are no answers to these things!
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own business?
If anyone is thinking about starting their own business, I would encourage them! There are a few things I’d suggest, however, like if you can keep a job whilst starting up, that’s a bonus! Research your market and make sure people are interested in your product. Actually physically testing the market at a craft or food fair is a great idea and I spent a few months doing this. If there is funding available, apply for it and try to build a network of support for those daunting times I mentioned above! Be prepared for the highs and the lows, and remember the lows will pass. There is always a bit of light after a bad day.
What kind of business support would you like to receive, or did you wish you could have received?
I was lucky to get a business advisor to help me write my business plan as part of the new enterprise allowance, which was a great help. I do feel like a mentor-type figure would be beneficial – not someone who can give you the answers and make decisions for you, but someone with experience in the same field to be there if you need them!
What would you like to see in a food hub that showcases new producers?
I would like to see an equal emphasis on the producer and the product, because we are doing this for a reason, not just to make a quick bit of money! Personal stories are really interesting and relevant to the consumer. I’d also like to see some informal events where producers can get together to chat and support each other. Maybe some meet the producer events, and workshops. I’d like it to be a place I could go to if I wanted to do a bit of work, for a change of scenery and a chance to meet others doing the same.
What do you think about our big ideas and what we’re trying to achieve?
I think your ideas are great – having a hub where the emphasis is on the product and the producer, rather than the business owner is perfect. It’s interesting to the public for this reason, and also as a destination to visit. It’s brilliant news for small business owners like myself.
We love Laura's story and wish her well on her foodie journey! You can find Laura tweeting about all things sweet here, or on Facebook here.
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