At House of Coco our favourite type of #Girlboss is the one that does things to benefit others, cue the arrival of our latest interviewee Louise Welsby. She runs her business Buy-From Shropshire from her home in Bridgnorth and, having launched in October, she is already creating a community for creatives and producers from Shropshire to reach an audience both within the county and beyond. She has created a shop window for their amazing products and supports them with PR. events, networks, Social Media, enthusiasm and love!
She is creating an wonderful network and its one that we just had to find out more about. Buy-From Shropshire has a unique selling point – there isn’t another business like them in the country and her plan is to roll the model out to all other counties in the coming years. Go girl!
Micro businesses, artists, designers, creatives, designer-makers all need to have a hub that can support them and stop the feeling of isolation. Her ethos is to create a dynamic community for independent businesses, creatives and producers that enables them all to feel inspired and grow.
Here, she tells us more…
Tell us a bit about your journey to getting where you are today?
I first started out in TV and Film Production in London but after a while I was looking for a new adventure and I felt I was missing something. After some soul searching I left my career and retrained as a teacher, eventually becoming an English and Drama Teacher and latterly Head of Drama. This is where I stayed for 12 years before again life was calling for a new journey to be taken.
For some time I had been in discussion with my parents who live in Shropshire where I grew up, about the idea of creating an online community to support individuals and businesses who make their own products. My decision to act on these discussions and leave the job that I loved came when my daughter was poorly and in hospital with pneumonia. My husband and I decided that a move to the countryside to be nearer to the network of family was going to change everything for us (and it did). The necessary move meant that I was placed in the position to create a new business and a new life for my family.
Buy-From Shropshire launched in October 2015 after 18 months of market research and lots of training. I sought to master new skills online and spent the time getting the business ready. The first few months, as with all new businesses, was a struggle, but this year we have been flying. People are buying into the brand and understand our ethos. Consequently, the journey for the business is now rapid and very exciting. We are building a wonderfully inspiring community and expanding the services that can and do offer all the time, responding to the needs of the creatives and producers we work with.
I have now been able to expand the Buy-From Shropshire team and develop the network of those who are endorsing and supporting us, which is fantastically exciting.
Why did you decide to launch the network?
The concept for the network first arose from a conversation with my dad who runs a marketing consultancy business in Shropshire (he has years of marketing, sales and product development experience). He could see that small and micro businesses were struggling online and there was an opportunity to create an online service to help these businesses reach an audience not only in the county but throughout the UK.
The business that I have set up is a different beast from the one we first imagined together but the ethos remains the same – we are here to support, celebrate and champion businesses in Shropshire with a specific focus on those who make their own products. I feel very proud of the community we have created and the impact we are having – it justifies the major decision made to leave teaching and go on this journey!
For anybody planning at trip to Shropshire, what would you suggest to do for the perfect day?
What a question and where to begin! A perfect day for us would either be walks in the Shropshire Hills (the Long Mynd with its Wild Swimming options is amazing in the summer and the views from Stiperstones are breathtaking) with a stop off in Ludlow to visit the Castle.
My 5-year-old daughter loves Ironbridge and Blists Hill so we have wonderful days out there – a walk from Maws Craft Centre to Ironbridge along the River is great.
We live in Bridgnorth so I have to recommend great places to eat: Fish Bridgnorth is my favourite and Peepos is my daughter’s.
I love Shropshire and could talk for hours about places to go. There is an amazing book called Slow Travel Shropshire by Marie Kreft, which captures the spirit of Shropshire and days out here perfectly.
What has been your highlight since launching the brand?
Getting the community together has been the highlight. I hold quarterly networking events for everyone involved in Buy-From Shropshire and seeing all these incredibly inspirational people from so many different businesses together, talking and supporting each other, has to be the highlight. It is the reason I am doing this so seeing it in action is amazing.
Describe the brand in 3 words?
Unique. Fresh. Quality.
How can creatives and producers join your network, what is the criteria?
They need to be working and living in Shropshire, creating products that are quality. There is a qualifying process that is indicative of their desire to grow and reach a wider audience themselves. They do not have to have their own website as I can manage their online sales should they need me to. Before I can get their businesses live on the site they need to have excellent photography, although I can help them achieve this as well.
In summary, creatives and producers need to have quality products that they are making in Shropshire and a desire to grow their business.
Clearly you are very creative, what do you do when inspiration is lacking?
In this job I am inspired every day by those I work with. I am so fortunate as I work with jewellery designers, artists, sculptors, chefs, skincare specialists, micro-breweries….. the list is endless. I am working with creative people every day so that spurs me on! I get constant inspiration from my daughter too – she is a creative dynamo!
Tell us what a typical day in your life looks like?
There is no typical day but generally I try to balance blogging, social media marketing and meetings on a daily basis. I spend a lot of time on the road, visiting those I work with, meeting potential clients, networking and growing the community.
It can be hard to juggle life and business, what do you do to get the balance right?
I am not sure I get the balance right! The business is so new and growing so quickly that the juggling can be difficult at times. As I work from home I can build my working day around my other commitments and doing the school run is really important to me. Twice a week my mum collects my daughter from school but I am around for the rest and feel very lucky for being able to do so. I do have to work a lot in the evenings, however, but we just make it work!
I love the fact that I can involve my husband and daughter in some of the events I attend – my daughter is being exposed to so much art at the moment that she aspires to have her own gallery too one day!
Who/what inspires you?
Family and friends as cliché as that may sound. The power of people to do great things and to push themselves to carve out a special place in this world staggers me. I see friends and family doing this and feel inspired to take risks and work hard to create the life and relationships that matters.
Are there any sources you go for support with running your business?
My parents have backed everything from the beginning and my dad is a key influence in the business. I have had the most amazing business mentor as well.
I have also met wonderful people networking and in the community – key to the business’s growth has been to create an exchange of services that allows for businesses to grow by supporting each other – lending skills and giving time to each other.
What are your plans for the brand in 2016?
We want to build the brand so that it is the go to website for anyone who lives in Shropshire and anyone who is visiting the county. For clients I work with we plan to develop significantly the services we can provide for them. We want to ensure that they grow with us.
We then plan to franchise the brand in 2017.
Did you always know that one day you would be a #girlboss?
Yes, I guess so. I was Head Girl and have always liked leading, creating and I don’t fear being in charge! I feel empowered by working alongside other fearless and inspirational women who are making their mark.
If there was one #girlboss activity you could get better at, what would it be?
Admin – by the end of the week by desk reflects the explosion of ideas in my head and I have to take stock of all the notes, drawings, photographs, leaflets and information that adorns it. I could save a lot of time if I was better and consistent order!
For people aspiring to run their own company, what advice would you give?
Don’t fear risk but plan carefully before you take the leap. Know your business, you audience, your market, your competition and embrace your unique voice. Ensure you have a support network as well – for when days have to be long, for when you need to cry, for when you need to celebrate your successes and for when you need help getting your desk in order!
www.buy-from.com