Investing in other people's ideas
So many people have so many great ideas but struggle to get them off the drawing board. Before you head to a business angel, the bank, a VC or Dragons’ Den, come and see me – these entrepreneurs did:
Parties Around the World (PAW)
Personalised party packs for children
This business sees me join forces with two other Yorkshire entrepreneurs; Deirdre Bounds and Chris Hudson.
The venture is aimed at the Early Years Education sector and offers personalised party packs to nurseries and other organisations working with young children. Each pack generates revenues for the host organisation and includes a banner, birthday card, certificates, educational fun books and balloons to facilitate ‘on the day’ birthday parties.
Parties Around the World donates 10% of its profit to three animal and child welfare charities.
www.partiesaroundtheworld.co.uk
Again a lesson in spending time meeting people
One day, the guy who gave me my first (and only) job invited me to lunch.
He told me about an idea he had had to raise funds for charities by creating a unique online charity shop. I loved it!
JumbleAID.com is a community interest company whose focus is on the environment and fundraising for registered charities. It combines the user interface and technological expertise of eBay, with the green ethos of Freecycle. It aims to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, while providing a new income stream for charities and providing positive roles for the beneficiaries of many of these charities.
JumbleAID creates charity branded mini-sites dedicated to creating both ‘jobs’ and funds for participating charities and community groups. Its aim is to not only give used items a second chance, but people as well. The sites are managed, promoted and operated by the people who support and benefit from the charities or community groups.
The one-stop shop for agencies
After years as an agency employer I felt it was time that other agency owners and agency staff had an alternative recruitment ‘bureau’. One that was tailored to the creative and marketing industries and also one that shared in their risks. So I launched agencybods.co.uk, an online ‘boutique’ recruitment service that charges a flat fee of 10% regardless of salary level and gives a 50% refund if the candidate does not pass their three month probationary period.
Having spent time with many agencies, agencybods.co.uk has evolved to become a ‘one-stop online support shop and knowledge hub’ for marketing agencies, providing the tools and resources, as well as the ‘bods’ required to run a successful agency. Online HR management software, employee benefit schemes and training courses as well as financial support are just some of the areas in which agencybods.co.uk offers reduced cost resources and advice. Free of charge resources on the website include agency league tables, job descriptions and CV and interview tips.
