Coventry & Warwickshire in business
Business Support
Chamber support helps start-up to cut it
Rock Paper Scissors: (from left to right) Zakiya Saiada (Chamber) with Louise Cockell (Rock Paper Scissors).
A Coventry woman’s start-up business is proving to be a cut above the rest. Louise Cockell set up hair and beauty salon, Rock Paper Scissors Hair Design, on Norman Place Road in Coundon, Coventry, after 10 years working as a lecturer in hairdressing. The 50-year-old decided to take voluntary redundancy as she wanted to embark on a more flexible career path after the birth of her first grandchild. Rock Paper Scissors Hair Design opened in February 2013 after Louise was able to develop her business skills with the help of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s start-up programme, which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund and local councils. Louise attended a number of Chamber business start-up training seminars and was also assigned to business mentor Zakiya Saiada, who has provided expert
one-to-one support on how to establish and grow the business. The salon has since built-up a strong client base in the area and Louise has already expanded the business to include a beauty room and nail bar. Louise said: “After 10 enjoyable and rewarding years of teaching I felt it was the right time for a change. “I was working long hours and after the birth of my granddaughter I wanted to achieve more flexibility in my work life balance. “A client who works in the finance sector recommended that I contacted the Chamber as they offer business support to those looking to set-up their own business. “The Chamber training sessions provided invaluable support on all aspects of running a business including how to write a business plan and a variety of marketing tips. “We have focused on establishing a client
base in the area by using Facebook and distributing flyers and we also offered a 25 per cent discount during the first month of trading – and the books were full. “Initially, it was just myself and my daughter, Gabrielle, who is also a fullyqualified stylist, working at the salon offering hairdressing services but after the first few months as we started attract more customers, I rented out another hairdressing chair as well as a beauty room and nail bar.” She added: “The most challenging aspect of setting up the business has been juggling it all with a very busy personal life. Both my son and daughter have got married in the past year and my daughter also gave birth to her second child a couple of weeks ago. “The on-going support provided by the Chamber has been invaluable particularly as I have been able to obtain advice around the lease of the property as well as arranging maternity pay and cover for my daughter. “I have been very lucky and it is very much a family business with my daughter working in the salon, my husband helping out with weekly bookkeeping, my step-son with maintenance and repairs and my son with marketing. “I am now looking forward to continuing to grow the business and hopefully rent out an additional two hairdressing chairs in the next six months and take on an apprentice within the next year.” Zakiya Saiada, business advisor at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, added: “Louise has put all of the skills and advice she gained throughout her business start-up training into practice which has ensured that the business grows from strength to strength. “Louise came to us with a wealth of experience in the hair and beauty sector and was keen to use her skills to develop a business. “It was really a case of focusing on developing the business plan and taking full advantage of marketing opportunities in order to further develop the business. “It is really important for new businesses to receive the right advice and support and the Chamber’s start-up programme offers a great platform to obtain expert advice to get your business idea off the ground.” For further information on setting up in Business, contact the Start Up Team at Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce on 02476 654321.
Valiant office suites Valiant Office Suites provides serviced office spaces with on-site parking and business services and is based in Rugby, Warwickshire. They joined the C & W Chamber of Commerce two years ago and took a full advantage of the services right from the onset. In the first formative months of the company the Chamber provided them with a vital grounding via new contacts of other local businesses enabling to expand the business. The networking opportunity is a great platform for businesses to meet new partners, suppliers and potential buyers and it is also a service that Valiant Office Suites values greatly. In return the Valiant team offered to contribute to the Rugby www.cw-chamber.co.uk
Chamber meetings hoping to provide support to other local businesses. The Chamber provides a platform for businesses to thrive and expand and it is down to individuals to explore the potential and discover which services suit the business the most. Valiant Office Suites & Conferencing discovered the free credit referencing service and is using it on regular basis. This service is free to members and also hassle free as a Chamber adviser does all the searching on their behalf. Another valuable service that Valiant is using is the member 2 member offers where companies provide a discount, offer or a deal to fellow members. As Alison Franzoni, the manager at Valiant
Office Suites, explains: “We have provided an offer and in return received numerous sales. I would not hesitate to recommend the Chamber, I feel that the membership is great value for money.”
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