Erin Originals
“I was inspired to start my own business from being broke.” recalls Erin Hensley. “I started hand-making gifts for my family members and friends, usually by recycling materials I already had, such as blue jeans into denim potholders or scratched LP records into coasters.
“I tried to make up for my lack of outlay by making quirky, innovative gifts, making the most of my natural flair for putting things together in an interesting way.
“Recipients were pleased and eventually I was commissioned to make accessories with an emphasis on unexpected materials, for friends of friends.”
Having approached BRAVE for advice, Erin was accepted onto the New Entrepreneur Scholarship scheme in May 2004.
“This development made me take myself and ‘erin originals’ as an authentic proposition. The business training I received was essential to my taking my business seriously and to filling in the gaps from my previously gained skills.
“I have taken innumerable helpful suggestions from my BRAVE Advisor. She can offer direction for the bigger picture – which is easy to lose sight of in the day-to-day grind.
“I officially became self employed in February 2005. I now work with a small family-run manufacturer who has taken over production, I am exporting to the US, Australia and Europe and I am producing orders in their hundreds.
“Without BRAVE I would have been too scared and overwhelmed to ever have attempted making a real go of it. It’s one thing for people to you you’ve got a great idea; it’s another for an organisation like BRAVE to offer real help and skills so you can take that idea and turn it into a feasible, profitable business.”
Erin Originals Tel: 07840 109 113 Visit http://www.erinorginals.com