Find out more below about each of our previous winners:
2011 winner - Cupcakes & Cookies
2010 winner - Delainey Fashion Accessories
2009 winner - Initially Yours
2008 winner - Daisy's Dog Deli
2011 Winner - Cupcakes & Cookies
A new business launched by local mother, Sophia Patel at The Mall Blackburn has been announced as the national winner of The Retail Factor 2011. "Cupcakes & Cookies", Sophia's made-to-order bakery business, was picked from over 86 entrants across the UK to take the title in the nationwide competition.
The winner at each of the eleven nationwide shopping centres is rewarded with a start-up package that includes two months' free trade at the centre, a laptop and business mentoring from the National Skills Academy.
As overall winner Sophia has also won a place on the coveted retail business course at the BHF-BSSA Oxford Summer School, Sophia described her weeks experience at Oxford Summer School as 'mind changing'. 'I have come away with new ideas, more passion and drive to succeed. I now know what can be done with my business and where I can go with it.. Learning more on marketing, merchandising you will never be surrounded with such knowledge'.
Sophia's business has now grown sufficiently to warrant the purchase of a commercial oven and the conversion of her garage into a bakery for her ever-growing list of orders. With customers purchasing up to 530 cupcakes, each decorated by hand and individually gift boxed with ribbon, Sophia is now seeking a new member of staff to support her as "Cupcakes & Cookies" continues to flourish. She adds: "It was my family who encouraged me to follow the dream of starting my own business and I'm so pleased they did. My creative imagination and perfectionist tendencies mean I treat every order with passion and determination and ensure everything leaves my kitchen just right; it is then so rewarding to receive such positive feedback from my customers."
"Entering the Retail Factor 2011 competition was a great move for me. It has helped me get my business going in The Mall where it has benefitted enormously from the sheer numbers of potential customers, as well as from marketing and publicity. I would recommend the competition to others - the support I received has been amazing and I can't thank The Mall enough."
2010 Winner - Delainey Fashion Accessories
The Mall, Make Your Mark and The Royal Bank of Scotland are pleased to announce Dolores Bowskill and Elaine Bramwell from Gloucester, the businesswomen behind Delainey Fashion Accessories have won the national retail competition Make Your Mark designed to give small businesses the ultimate break, with a start-up package worth £15,000.
The ladies have lived on the same road in Churchdown for twenty years but, after becoming firm friends two years ago when Elaine was suffering from ill health, they realised that they would make perfect partners in a business aimed at "ordinary women" like themselves. They saw a gap in the market for a business that took affordable fashion accessories to women, starting off in their homes as a "girl's-night in party". Offering handbags, jewellery and scarves, their unique selling point was the personal service on offer that assessed women as individuals; their confidence, their style, their colouring; offering items on a mix and match basis. After a year of preparation, sourcing, marketing and design, Delainey was born and it was an immediate hit.
Dolores says: "We're so proud to hear that major national business leaders have recognised the potential of our business. The prize will make an enormous difference to us and to Delainey Fashion Accessories, really helping us to develop it to the next level."
Elaine adds: "And after forming some great customer relationships at The Mall Gloucester during our trial fortnight, we're really excited to be coming back. We hope all those who came to see us back in March will return now that we know we'll be here for at least the next six months!"
The ladies' prize is a business start-up package worth more than £15,000 that includes six months rent-free trading at The Mall Gloucester, hands-on support from their management team, a business mentor from The Royal Bank of Scotland with two years worth of free business banking, a place at the British Shops & Stores Association Summer School at Keble College, Oxford and a place at the National Skills Academy Retail Masterclass.
2009 Winner - Initially Yours
Luton local, Terry Loran, a 59 year old father from Toddington, came up with the idea for 'Initially Yours' when his wife, Janis, noticed a gap in the market for flexible, personalised merchandise, such as cards, gifts and keepsakes for special occasions. Terry turned his attention to bespoke products after being made redundant, proving that it's never too late to make a fresh start in business. Janis, a former partner in a customer service consultancy and business development manager, writes all the original verses featured on the products, whilst the couple's grandchildren, nieces and nephews provide much of the inspiration for the company's illustrations.
Having operation from home for six years on a part-time basis, Terry identified the competition as an opportunity to gain valuable retail experience and develop the family business.
The local personalised gifts business beat 138 other nationwide entries and 20 finalists to win the competition.
Following the competition Terry says:
"We felt priviledged to be selected and encouraged that an objective third party identified the quality and value of our product range. We are looking forward to launching our full product range and offering each customer a quality product with excellent service and a shopping experience they will remember."
2008 Winner - Daisy's Dog Deli
Lisa won through her sheer innovativeness of product, producing gourmet food for dogs.
Lisa says:
"I'm so honoured to have won the Make your Mark Competition, I started Daisy's' dog deli because dogs and food are both my passions and I saw a gap in the ever expanding pet market for wholesome healthy treats & food and went for it. I always knew we could make it a success but to have been chosen out of 21 finalists by such an esteemed panel in my first year of trading is little short of amazing. I'm incredibly excited at the potential that this competition has opened up to me, and I look forward to working with The Mall and the other advisors to take Daisy's dog deli to the next level."
Visit her website at: www.daisysdogdeli.co.uk
Read our interview with Daisy's Dog Deli
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