Six Businesswomen Trading in Fenwick Colchester in 2021
Posted on 23rd May 2022 at 15:37
Fenwick and Colbea’s continued support of local businesswomen emphasise the important part the high street plays in being the backbone of the local economy. Smallbusiness.co.uk shared research that shows “£10 spent with a local independent shop means up to an additional £50 goes back into the local economy.
This is simply because the nearby shop owners, who you are spending your money with, will then put that money back into your local community by going into local pubs and restaurants etc, thus circulating the money and allowing your community to thrive”. Fenwick’s support of small businesses and independents has enabled Colbea’s clients to strive for success. Shopping local with independents could be a key part of transforming the high street and the economy.
On 17th December 2020 we were very pleased to announce the results via online webinar for the runners’ up and winners of the IM4S2 Fenwick competition. This event was a celebration of entrepreneurship and the prize saw five graduates of our In the Market for Success 2 programme given the opportunity to trade on the shop floor of Fenwick’s 90,000 square ft Colchester High Street store.
Each entrant had to make it through a rigorous judging process, comprised firstly of a shortlisting panel, facing an interview and pitching panel consisting of Sara Thakkar (Colbea Chair), Ashleigh Seymour-Rutherford (Colbea CEO), Nancy Foster (Fenwick Store Director) and Lisa Oldman (Sales Manager for Fenwick) and conveying their strategy of delivery within Fenwick. Each entrant was asked to create a short pitch for their business. You can see these videos on our YouTube channel.
Due to the calibre of the pitching sessions in the interviews in September 2020, Fenwick expanded the scope of the prize. The prize awarded two runners’ up two-weeks trading, and the overall winners were awarded two months trading to three businesses.
Nancy Foster announced the winners. Nancy says: “Fenwick are incredibly proud to continue our support of businesswomen in the local community and provide a platform to showcase their products to a wider audience within our store. The standard of entrants this year was incredibly high. As a result, we decided to re-look at the prize offering to reflect the sheer volume and quality of local dynamic businesswomen identified”
The winning businesses are:
For UK manufacturing: Twinkledust (Sarah Gant and Emma Kelly)
Twinkledust is run by sisters Sarah Gant and Emma Kelly. They create and design super soft children’s cotton clothing that is made well and has a quality that will last. With printing and manufacturing all their products in the UK, Twinkledust also support other British businesses.
For global brand: The London Sleep Company (Amy Paris)
The London Sleep Company is a one-stop shop featuring beautiful products such as their bath and shower elixir formulated with deep, restorative sleep in mind. Further planned releases will build on the pre-sleep routine.
For innovation: FoldedSided Project (Emma Fisher)
Hand folded unique paper lamp shades, lights and decorations to enhance your contemporary home or space. Taking inspiration from geometric forms and natural materials.
Speaking about winning this unique prize, Emma Kelly from Twinkledust said “We were so happy, with so many amazing brands in the competition, we were not expecting to be winners. It means the world to us to be able to be in a store with the same ethics as us and we cannot wait!”
Amy Paris from The London Sleep Company said “This is a huge, money-can’t-buy opportunity for us, and we are absolutely over the moon to have won. We are so grateful to Colbea for all the valuable business advice they have given us, and we can’t wait to start working with Fenwick!”
Emma Fisher from FoldedSide Project commented: “I’m so thrilled to have been chosen as one of the three winners. I’m totally over the moon to be working with Fenwick’s. It is so great to have such a prestigious retailer on our doorstep and the chance to offer my locally produced handmade lighting and decorations is very exciting and positive in these unprecedented times. The Colbea course was an amazing experience which boosted my confidence and has helped me to take the next steps in my small creative business journey!”
The runner’s-up are:
Betty & Molly: Kesiah Smithers
Affordable handmade lifestyle gifts bought to life by a love of plants, fabric and texture.
Suzi M: Suzanne Smith
Inspired by a love and passion for colour, design and creativity. Hand drawn and unique detailed pencil illustrations are transformed into bold colourful prints
Ashleigh Seymour-Rutherford, Colbea Chief Executive: “The judges and I were very impressed by the amount of hard work and dedication that went into the applications and the shortlisted candidate pitches. It was not an easy task to select our winners, and the whole panel came away inspired by our aspiring businesswomen.
Now lockdown restrictions have eased, and retail has re-opened, our winners are in the process of booking in with Fenwick to trade. All six winners will be trading at some point in 2021, and we look forward to seeing them in store.
Kesiah Smithers from betty & molly are the first to be trading in store and are on the second floor until the end of May 2021. Why not pop in to see her and support a local female entrepreneur!
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