Barnet's very own Molly Malone

Lone parent launches own business selling shellfish.

Lisa Smith, 35, a lone parent from Barnet, has become Barnet’s own Molly Malone by launching her own business selling shellfish, with the help of InBiz, a national organisations dedicated to the development and promotion of self employment and entrepreneurship as a way out of unemployment.

Lisa was unemployed, and desperate to get back to work, but as a lone parent with three children , she struggled to find work to fit around her childcare needs. She had previous experience as a fishmonger and it was a career she was passionate about. It was this passion that gave her the idea for launching a business selling shellfish direct to the public through pubs and clubs..

She knew she had the skills to make the business work, but needed some help to get the business up and running. She turned to InBiz in Barnet for help, and was assigned her own personal business adviser Alexis Angeli.

Working with Alexis, Lisa was able to devise a business plan, incorporating funding, bookkeeping, insurance and marketing. Lisa was able to purchase a fish stall and refrigerated van to get started, and began selling her produce, including oysters, crabs, mussels and prawns at local pubs and clubs in and around Barnet. Just days after starting her business, she has been able to repay all her initial start up costs.

Lisa’s business, The Cockle Shed, has now really taken off, and she now sells from more than 20 sites, in Barnet and the surrounding areas. Her business is so successful she has been asked to cater for parties and is hoping to employ someone to help her cope with demand.

Lisa is now not only back to work, but relishing her new role as a business owner. She said, "I never saw myself as a businesswoman, but InBiz helped me to turn my idea into a reality. I really enjoy the rounds, and I can work around my children’s needs. I’m getting real job satisfaction, financial independence and I’m providing for my family."

Alexis Angeli, InBiz Business Adviser, said, "When Lisa came to me with her idea, I could see how passionate she was about it and how much she wanted to make it work. InBiz worked with her to provide personalised, structured, tailored support to help her launch her business. I think it’s a wonderful how Lisa has brought back an old style business to the market."

InBiz Preess Release