‘Fashion has always played a huge part in my life and I love sourcing unusual pieces. When I had my own daughter I decided I would love to do this for children too.’
Her passion for fashion has led to the opening of Kelly-Marie
Designer Children's Boutique. The shop finds and supplies unique children’s
clothing, shoes and accessories by the best designers from around the world in
one fabulous store based in Cherry Tree Shopping Centre, Wallasey.
Kelly-Marie has had to overcome a lot of barriers on her
journey to opening her own business. Prior to her role as Hayley Ramsey in
Channel 4’s Hollyoak’s, she faced various issues with applying for jobs because
of her disability.
She explained: ‘I am disabled and I know only too well the
barriers that a disability can have when looking for work as I lost my first
job with a huge company as a result of becoming disabled and could not even
seem to get past the application process with employers after ticking the
disabled box.’
The Liverpool resident has managed to overcome these
problems by passing by application forms and interviews, and creating her own
job doing what she loves.
Another barrier Kelly-Marie has managed to overcome is that
of childcare. ‘I am juggling being a mummy and family life with work…one of the
beauties of my business is that I can do this quite easily as most of my
customers are mums too they don't mind Daisie my daughter being here with me on
the odd occasion I'm very thankful for that.’
When the idea initially arose to become self-employed, Kelly-Marie
began searching online for help in moving her idea forward. This was when she
discovered the free support The Women’s Organisation can offer to women who
wish to start up their own business.
‘The first thing I needed to set my business up was a
business plan and if I'm honest it was all new to me so I found The Women's Organisation
and they guided me every step of the way, from placing me with my own amazing
business advisor to putting me on lots of great courses from marketing to
social media. I have opened my business without any fears due to the support I
received which is great.’
Kelly-Marie’s main fear was her finances. She worried that
she would not be able to make them add up. However, after working with her
advisor at The Women’s Organisation, she quickly realised that there was every
chance of her business being successful. She said: ‘I realised that things really
could work and I soon realised that I could start my business with confidence.’
She continued: ‘the service I received from the women's
organisation has been life changing looking back at an idea in January and here
I am now with my business going from strength to strength. I really cannot
praise the women's organisation enough.’
When asked what her favourite part of being self-employed
is, the former Hollyoak’s star answered: ‘The best thing about running my own
business is knowing that when my customers leave happy my hard work has finally
paid off… I'm really proud of how far I have come…and with continued support
from The Women's Organisation the only way is up.’
Moving forward with her newly found confidence, Kelly-Marie
is proving with the growing success of her business that no barrier is too big
when you really wish to achieve something.
If you want to dress your children up in style this winter,
Kelly-Marie Designer Children’s Boutique can be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Kellymariedesignerchildrensboutique
or you can follow on twitter @KellyMarieKids
If like Kelly-Marie you would like to turn an idea into a
business, contact The Women’s Organisation to find out what FREE services and
advice we can offer – 0151 706 8111 / info@thewo.co.uk
By Beckie Kinsella
By Beckie Kinsella
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