Nothing to wear and no handbag to match - a common enough dilemma, the solution for Chester-based entrepreneur Emma Cornes was to do
it herself.
Emma (pictured) set up her business from a desire to make lovely things from British materials and the fact she could never find handbags she liked.
The entrepreneur learned how to sew, then designed and produced her own range of bags.
Emma has built her business over the past year supported by Blue Orchid and a start-up business grant from Cheshire West and Chester Council.
The range of bags all handmade and sold across the world through her website: www.emmacornes.co.uk
Blue Orchid provides free business start up support to people in the borough, delivered with the support of the Council.
A team of specialist business advisors deliver the service.
Support is centred on people wanting to start up in business, and for young businesses ready to take the next step in their development.
Help provided includes business planning, sales and marketing, bookkeeping and accounts with one-to-one advisory sessions, workshops and networking events being run.
Said Emma: "Proper support, advice and a financial boost were what I really needed to get my idea off the ground. "Without the help of Blue Orchid and Cheshire West and Chester Council things wouldn't have happened so quickly - now I'm looking forward to a really busy Christmas.”
For those already trading but needing additional support, Blue Orchid’s business advisors offer individual consultancy and workshops that help improve business performance and overcome the challenges of building a sustainable business.