One in four new Hampshire businesses are retailers

2009 saw the loss of high street chains including Threshers, Zavvi and Borders whilst 25%* of new businesses started last year in the county were small independent retailers.  Other popular sectors for new start up businesses, according to analysis by Business Link, were Consultancy & Business Services (18%) and Trades (13%).

The entrepreneurs which Business Link help are boosting the local economy and give residents more opportunity to buy from local suppliers, in a variety of locations including online, local shops, markets and car boot sales.

Steve Cunnell, Business Link’s regional start up manager comments, ‘Last year, Business Link helped over 800 individuals in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to start a business.  As a publicly-funded service we support enterprises in any industry sector and offer information and guidance to help individuals to make a success of a new business.  Our workshops and Business Link Advisers can help you to assess if your business idea is viable, to choose the right ways to set up in business and to establish useful processes and plans before the business is started.  Is 2010 the year to launch your new business?

2009 was the year that Sheena Brown from Havant took the plunge and started her own antique business, with free help from Business Link.  Sheena sells her antiques across the South Coast.
SHEENA Brown had been dabbling in the antiques market for years when she decided to turn her hobby into a bona fide business.

‘There is a bit of the ducking and diving attached to antique dealing,’ she said, ‘I wanted to disassociate myself from that.  I wanted to be able to say ‘I am an antique dealer’ and be proud of it – and I wanted to put my MA in Fine Art Valuation to good use.’
In May 2009, the 57-year-old, from Southsea, Hampshire, started eCollect-It, selling antiques and collectables online and at various other outlets. She sells most of her items through eBay, but her aim is to start trading through her own website later this year.

Apart from a desire for credibility there was another reason Sheena wanted to start her own business for a sense of personal fulfillment.

‘I have had various part-time jobs but have largely been supported by my husband, so I felt an urge to do something in my life that would give me satisfaction and a welcome income in these uncertain times.  I didn’t want to go to my grave having done nothing. There is nothing wrong with failure, but if you don’t try you are bound to fail.’

Sheena admits that she knew very little about running a business so she enrolled on a series of start–up workshops run by her local Business Link.

‘The workshops were fantastic,’ she said, ‘I can not praise them highly enough. I was a bit dubious at first but Business Link seems to have come up with a framework which works for any business model.  The follow-up service is very impressive as well. My Business Link Adviser, Jenny Oakley, has given me some very useful practical tips and I am able to call her should I run into any difficulties in the future or need a sounding board. I recommend Business Link for everyone starting a small business – they completely demystify the process.’

Sheena’s passion is for the Arts and Crafts movement, but she also specialises in Art Deco and retro objects from the 1960/70s.

Occasionally she has a “Lovejoy moment”. ‘‘I remember once being at an auction and picking up a small collection of items for £18. I was pretty sure one of the items, a dish, was unmarked Red Anchor Chelsea porcelain dating from the 1750s. When I got home I looked at it more closely and realised my instincts were right. I sold it for £150.’

Business Link Adviser, Jenny Oakley said:  ‘Considering it’s her first business Sheena is doing really well. She’s in a difficult market and has lots of competition but, crucially, she has managed to find a niche.

‘She is a great example of someone with little experience who has attended our start up workshops and really benefited from them.’

For more information about Sheena’s company email: elfkincatcher@tiscali.co.uk

Business Link’s Start up workshops

Many new entrepreneurs take advantage of the free workshops on offer – which start with an introduction to business – Foundations for Success and include workshops on finance, planning and sales and marketing.

For more information about Business Link’s support for those thinking about starting a new business and to find out where local start up workshops are being held, go to www.bringyourideastolife.co.uk or phone 0845 600 9 009.  Workshop places must be booked in advance.

Forthcoming Hampshire workshop dates include:
16, 29 Jan, 5 Feb, Holiday Inn, Portsmouth
10 Feb, 9 Mar, Hilton Hotel, Basingstoke
25, 30 Jan, 24, 27 Feb, Holiday Inn, Southampton

* According to Thomson Local New Connections data, based on 380 new Hampshire & Isle of Wight businesses identified by Thomson Local between April – September 2009 and analysed by Business Link.