Soapy Success for Stockton Entrepreneurs

Michelle Hunnam, 28, from Stockton, has made the leap from being unemployed with a lack of direction to successful entrepreneur in 6 months.

Michelle was suffering from depression and felt that without a job, her life was going nowhere. Michelle was set up on a blind date, where she met Shelly Forrest-Bunning, 29. Shelly helped Michelle to believe in herself and encouraged her to take steps to take control of her life.

Shelly introduced Michelle to her hobby of making soap and bath salts. Thanks to Shelly, Michelle had found something she enjoyed, and something she was good at. She wanted to turn their shared hobby into a business, but a lack of business knowledge was holding them back.

Michelle turned to InBiz, a national organisation dedicated to the promotion and development of self employment and entrepreneurship, for help. At the InBiz office on Yarm Road, Michelle was assigned her own, personal business adviser, Leigh Trimble.

Michelle developed a business plan incorporating tax, marketing and bookkeeping. Michelle needed funding to get her business off the ground, but she was not sure where to obtain it. Leigh put her in touch with The Prince’s Trust, through which she secured £1900.

Once she had funding, Michelle worked with Leigh to learn how to set up and run a business, including bookkeeping, tax and marketing. At first, Michelle and Shelly found it difficult to promote the business, but with support from Leigh, they began using leaflets, networking events and farmers’ markets to create name awareness and their popularity grew.

Michelle and Shelly’s business, Belle and Shell Soaps, is now successfully trading through their website (www.belleandshellsoaps.com), on eBay and at farmers’ markets. Michelle said, “Self employment has transformed my life. I am now feeling positive, and looking to the future. We are expanding the business by selling jewellery, and hope to eventually have our own shop.”

Karen Kenmare, Area Manager at InBiz said, “Michelle is a good example of the work that InBiz does in Stockton. She had an idea to turn a hobby into a business, but required the business skills to turn that idea into a reality. InBiz provided help and advice and help Michelle and Shelly make their dream come true.”

InBiz Preess Release