Partner Article

Competition grows talent into turnover

With the help of internet trading giant eBay, a regional star’s talent for homemade Christmas cards is now funding her own festive success. Melanie Dixon, from Dunston, won £2000 to start her own business as part of challenge run by regional development agency One NorthEast and e-business development agency The North East Regional Portal. As one of 10 regional entrepreneurs who received the prize money Melanie’s ‘Colourwithme’ business is already flourishing.

The ‘YouTrade’ competition, launched last November, aimed to encourage online entrepreneurship across the North East. Three months after launching her business selling pre-designed cartoon birthday cards for kids to colour, Melanie says she is now looking at expanding her range.

Melanie said: “I want a recognised brand out there that everyone wants to buy. I will be expanding the range to cover older children, and at the moment I’m working on some hand-finished Christmas cards ready to go online.”

All the winners have now started trading via eBay, and are competing to be the most successful in their first year of trading. To help them, a series of boot camps covering all aspects of running an internet business have been set-up to boost their fantastic ideas.

Andy Walton, e-business manager at One NorthEast, said: “All our YouTraders are demonstrating that, with hard work, strong business advice and a quality idea, the opportunities are out there.”

Regional Portal chief executive Norma Foster said: “We are delighted that Mel’s venture has taken off so quickly. She is proving to be an inspiration and an example to us all of how a great idea coupled with creativity and enterprising spirit can become something big.”

In addition to One NorthEast and the North East Regional Portal, partners of the YouTrade competition are Sage (UK) Ltd, eBay, The bgroup (UK) ltd, Platform One ltd, BT and Business Link North East.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .