Business Startup

In 2007 when Barbara was made redundant from the charity she worked for, she found she had more time to develop her long-held idea for selling handmade greeting cards with jewellery. With BBV’s help she set up Just 4 U Cards in September 2007 selling primarily through local craft fairs.

Although she suffers from low confidence, Barbara’s main barrier to setting up the business was financial and she has struggled to find the money for materials & stands at craft fairs, which has limited the growth of her business.

Barbara has attended business start-up workshops and had several one-to-one sessions with a business adviser. She comments: “The BBV adviser helped me write the business plan and gave very useful specialist advice. She also suggested the networking events, which I enjoyed and found inspiring.” Although Barbara needs to take on other part-time work and looks after her grandson one day a week, she is positive about the future. She adds: “This last 6 months has been hard because of the ‘credit crunch’ and the weather hasn’t helped but people are still buying my cards & jewellery & I’ll stick with it.”