Category: Blog

Introducing Our February Highstreet Hero: Tori Wiltshire, Founder of Hair Lounge Barnstaple! As a freelance hairdresser, Tori Wiltshire had always considered running her own business.  But initially, she shied away from this next step, out of fear of being too young, and not having enough knowledge. It wasn’t until Tori’s Mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer, that her mindset shifted. Nine years later, the Hair Lounge Barnstaple is a multi-award-winning salon, known as the go-to North Devon destination for curly cuts. BIPC Devon talks to Tori about her small business story… Why did you start your small business? “I started the salon in 2014, so I’ve been going for nine years this year. I do all sorts of hairdressing services, but I niched down mainly into curls. The majority of my clientele tends to be curly cuts or curly colors, rather than traditional cuts.  It all started as a bit of a fluke; my friend’s dad, who also rents within my building, kept badgering me to open a salon! I initially said “No”, but he asked me again and with my mum recently being diagnosed, I thought to myself, why not now? My mom will see me start it, and

Grandpa’s Gallery & Interiors To celebrate the launch of BIPC Seaton, we wanted to focus on the incredible local business community. So today we are shining our spotlight on the one and only ‘Grandpa’s Gallery & Interiors’.  The Seaton-based maritime gallery was founded by Collin McGreal in 2018 and inspired his family’s close connection with all things seaside. Collin tells his story… “Grandpa’s Gallery and Interiors had been a dream of mine for quite some time. It all began when I was a young boy, my father would tell me of his adventures sailing around the world with the Merchant Navy, showing me pictures of his ships as they slowly sailed their way into the history books. My mother’s passion for family and art would see her walls laced with beautiful frames, faces, and memories.”.   Becoming Grandpa… When he and his family found their home in Seaton, Collin began working in interior design and developed a passion for creating homes that were both practical and beautiful. But it wasn’t until Collin became a grandfather for the first time that he felt it was time for a change; “I became a grandpa to the most amazing little boy, Cayo King. In

Moor Heart Copy: A Women in Business Success Story Are you looking for convincing copywriting to make your brand sparkle? Then you need to check out Moor Heart Copy! A brand new business from one of our Women in Business Course attendees. Tilly Lander Williams joined the BIPC network in 2022 through the Women in Business course. Having already founded a successful film and digital marketing business: Moor Heart Media, Tilly wanted her new expansion to focus on her copywriting expertise, so in Spring 2022 Moor Heart Copy was born! Tilly says: “I launched Moor Heart Copy in the Spring of 2022. Before this, I worked as a social media marketer, supporting small businesses and agencies with their online strategy and digital content. I also ran a parenting blog: writing features for Huff Post, Babycentre, and Mumsnet. My experience writing website content and blogs lead to me taking on copywriting jobs for small businesses and agencies. Writing has always been my happy place, and soon it became obvious that I needed to hone my talent, so I upskilled and started offering copywriting as a service. The more I wrote and got great results for my clients, the more I loved it.” Moor Heart Copy provides

Introducing Sarah Anderson… Today we want to put a #SpotlightOn a small business with the Devon community at the very heart of its ethos! Introducing Devon Made Design a design studio and shop based in Paignton, founded by Sarah Anderson. Sarah says; “I have always been creative since I can remember. I loved art and design growing up and studied Graphic Communication with Typography in Exeter. I have been a creative designer ever since. Specialising in graphic and web design but also handmade items and watercolour. I specialise in wedding design, creating anything from your invitations to your wedding signage.”  Sarah first established her design business as a side hustle in 2004, whilst still working full-time as a website designer for various companies all whilst raising three children. In January 2020 she achieved her dream of opening a physical studio but was immediately knocked back when two months later it had to close permanently due to Covid. Left at home, self-employed with three young children, Sarah was very worried about the future of her small business. At what felt like a real low point Sarah reached out to Wendy Wood a friend and women’s business coach, and after a 30-minute discovery call,

While studying at Plymouth University, Joel Barnard and Andrew Whyte realised that they shared a mutual passion for beer, but rather than simply drinking it, they decided to turn their passion into profit. In 2018 they set up the Whyte Bär Brewing Co – (pronounced White Bear) and started to brew their beer commercially. They describe themselves as a ‘de-localised Cuckoo brewery’ that rents space. Joel explained: “Cuckoo birds don’t have their nests; they lay their eggs in other nests. What we do is make beer by renting and occupying space in existing breweries in Exeter and the Southwest, as well as London and Birmingham. That’s why we have decided to name the bar Cuckoo“. After making five of their own label beers, the pair took a break to learn the ins and outs of the trade. Andrew became head brewer of Dig Brew Co in Birmingham, and Joel, an Exeter local, managed the now closed ‘Pursuit of Hoppiness’ on Longbrook Street. Joel describes the decision to go from part-time brewers to opening their first premises: “We [had] been looking for an outlet to set up a craft beer bar and decided to brew again. As I’ve already been a

Rebecca Rees Founder of Devon Aqua Natal This month we wanted to put a Spotlight On one of our very own Bedroom to Business participants, Rebecca Rees of Devon Aquanatal! If you had told Rebbecca Rees ten years ago that she would be a self-employed business owner, and founder of award-winning groups with an ‘entrepreneur of the year’ award under her belt she  “Would have had a really good laugh.”. Yet, after the challenges she faced when having her first-born  Elliot, Rebecca decided that she “Wanted to ensure other Mum’s weren’t going through this themselves. That actually if you had a group of other Mums with new babies around you, the power of being together – talking- feeling empowered and most of all supported by those who were also going through similar, was exactly what we needed.”  Rebecca’s journey of turning her passion into a profitable business had begun! Rebecca first launched 6 Week Social in 2013- a six-week post-natal course for mother and baby that offers friendship and community along with tailored specialist advice and support to help you through the fourth trimester. Rebecca initially launched the course “not as a business (that would have made me run for the

When starting your business it’s crucial to understand your market, competitors, and customer trends. The BIPC network provides over £5 million worth of resources, such as online company reports from top publishers, company data from 144 million UK companies, 700,000 company reports, and 60 million patents. Now that’s a lot of information! So here, we just wanted to give you a rundown of some of our available databases, explained in one place!  Frost & Sullivan  Frost & Sullivan is an American business consulting firm. BIPC has access to it’s entire database of market research, analysis and growth strategy.  COBRA  COBRA is the complete Business Reference Advisor! It is essentially a huge database with step-by-step guides detailing how to set up ANY  business! Whether you’re an app developer, osteopath, hairdresser or independent retailer you can find reams of best practice guidance tailored to your line of business! Grant Finder Need cash? This is the place to be! Grant Finder is a website where you can search the available funding opportunities to help support your small business or social enterprise to grow and prosper. EMIS Thinking of expanding your business into emerging markets? EMIS holds one of the world;s biggest databases of information, market reports and

November HighStreet Hero: Salcombe Gin Howard Davis and Angus Lugsdin founded Salcombe Gin in 2016 – and are now world-renowned in the gin manufacturing business! In the space of just a few years, two South Devon businessmen have gone from relaxing at a yacht club with a gin and tonic in their hand to scooping a plethora of worldwide awards! Howard Davis and Angus Lugsdin founded Salcombe Gin in 2016 – and are now world-renowned in the gin manufacturing business! With listings in over 1,000 stockists in the UK, including Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Fortnum & Mason, Salcombe Gin is a real Devon success story! When speaking at the Herald Express South Devon and English Riviera Tourism and Hospitality Awards in 2017, Howard told his story as to how the pair shifted from being gin lovers, to gin makers! “Salcombe is a beautiful place and I have been going there my whole life. I learnt to sail there and started teaching sailing there, and it was where I met Angus, my partner in the business. After a tough day of sailing on the water it was important that we would wind down so what we would normally do is go