Case studies - business support
Company: Xotic Plant Shop
Entrepreneur: Anne Chinkit
Location: Brixton
Passionate for plants and the outdoors, when Anne’s husband became voluntarily redundant they decided they would turn her passion into a business opportunity. After a long career in catering, Anne sought to become more independent. Both Anne and her husband had wanted to start a small business for years, this was a perfect opportunity. “We had only been discussing the opportunity a few hours when a leaflet on ‘Reaching for Enterprise’ popped through the letter box. It was meant to be, the leaflet fell through the door the day we were looking for help” explained Anne.
Anne
rang the contact number and soon had an appointment with outreach worker Derek
Rose. They quickly set about discussing their business idea, sources of finance,
business plan etc. “Derek was fantastic. Even though, Victor, my
husband, had 14 years experience in horticulture and my love of gardening
was nearing an obsession, turning this into a viable business opportunity
took more planning and organising that either of us imagined. There was so
much to think about. But Derek was wonderful at taking us through the process
step by step and we soon had a professional business plan and a framework
to build on.”
With the support of Derek and GLE oneLondon business advice service, Anne and
Victor opened up their shop in Brixton market within four months of that leaflet
dropping through their door. They have built up a programme of promotional
activities including business cards and a large banner to promote their Sunday
opening hours. 
Their efforts have also not gone unrecognised, winning first prize win at the Local Moreland garden competition.
“The past year has been tough, but hugely rewarding and satisfying. Plants were my hobby, but being able to make a living from doing what I do best has been priceless. My advice to others thinking about venturing on their own? Think carefully about what you want out of life, you can make money out of something you enjoy, but make sure you get good advice.”
For more information contact Xotic Plants at 65 Granville Arcade, Brixton Village, SW9 or call 020 7737 4994