Well, I've finally navigated the super-highway in order to start this thing off. I've been meaning to find out more about blog writing for ages, so this is my baptism by fire, i guess.
Since getting word last week that i have been named as a finalist in the iwcyc challenge, things have been madly hectic, only in part due to the challenge....
Its been quite a week, all in all, and i cant believe its still less than a year since i opened my practice.
we had our best-ever week, in terms of takings last week, and i do think that i am already seeing the benefits of the publicity generated from being a finalist inthe competition, I'm pretty much fully booked at the moment.
I've had my son's third birthday and subsequent party, with bouncy castles and racing car birthday cakes and all other joys that such an occasion brings, coupled with having to re-arrange my daughters party for her birthday in a few weeks time, when i realised another child in her class was having a party at exactly the same time, and her (infinately more organised) mother had got the invitations out first.
The shop that i own is in Stanhope Road, South Shields. I opened it from scratch, but its on the site of an opticians practice that had been there for 80 years, and had only closed down when the previous owner died in April 2006.
I've been very lucky, in that all the components fell into place as and when they did. i purchased the practice with my brother and his wife and we re-developed the property into two sites. My sister in law is a chiropodist and has opened her second practice next door. We both benefit from the synergy between the two businesses.
The shop is also only about 5 minutes drive from where i live, which saves so much time. it also means that i can walk my 4 year old daughter to school every day before going to work.
I am secretary of the local traders association, set up last year with the help of communitee workers, and currently i am in talks with the council to see what help may be available to businesses in the area, its n my best interests to ensure the area is as prosperous as possible, so its about attracting new business but also what can be done for those of us already here, from possibly getting cctv on the surrounding streets, to improving the cosmetic appearance of some of the shops. Its a massive and ambitious prospect, but i do believe that it is possible for one or two people to make a difference, and i'm lucky in that there are some progressive thinking traders around and about where i am based.
Another project this week was talking to a business advisor at SouthTynesideMeansBusiness about my plans for expanding. We had a really good chat, there is money available, mainly based on job creation, so the next step is to go away and put together a really good business proposal together. Thats where trusty husband Steve comes in! He's the number cruncher... he's been amazing throughout this whole journey, happy to sit on the sidelines and help me through this, although i have to admit he was gutted when he heard i was going to see Elle McPherson at the Entrepreneurs forum conference and he couldnt come!
That will have to be all for today, the children are in bed but I have 'black tie' and 'lounge suit' to iron for the conference before i start on the childrens stuff, its hard work being an aspiring entrepreneur........
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