Member Article

Blyth entrepreneur launches fabric startup

Blyth entrepreneur Victoria Graham has weaved her passion for fabrics in to a new business with help from TEDCO and its Ready for Business programme, as well as Virgin StartUp.

The textile design graduate from Blyth has launched her startup business, Millsabelle, offering custom made fabrics and soft furnishings to both retailers and consumers.

Victoria has already landed contracts with local interior designers.

Having graduated from The University of Heriot-Watt in Scotland, Victoria returned to the North East where job opportunities in her field were limited.

Now a mother to two small children, she decided the time was right to pursue her chosen career and after obtaining an unused loom from her former university, she decided to set up on her own.

She received help from TEDCO Business Support and its investment readiness programme Ready for Business, which not only included practical start up advice, but helped her to secure a small low-cost start-up loan.

Additionally, Victoria could rely on a dedicated business mentor through TEDCO’s partnership with Virgin StartUp, a not for profit organisation launched in October 2013, providing low-cost business loans and mentoring support to entrepreneurs across the UK.

Ready for Business is supported by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund and Barclays, and is delivered nationwide by the Cavendish Consortium, a partnership between some of England’s leading enterprise agencies, together with the National Enterprise Network.

So far the programme has created more than 3,500 new jobs across the UK, more than 500 across the North East, and provides individuals with concentrated support in the pre-start and early stages of their business.

Sir Richard Branson partnered with TEDCO last year to officially launch Virgin StartUp for entrepreneurs in the North East and Cumbria.

TEDCO is the main access point for people in the region looking to source funding through Virgin StartUp. Its team of advisors will guide aspiring entrepreneurs through the application process, offering additional help and wider enterprise support as part of the Ready for Business programme.

Victoria said: “I have always loved weaving and creating my own fabrics so when I had the opportunity to acquire my own loom, it made perfect sense to take my passion one step further and turn it into a business.

“Textiles play a huge part in interior and fashion design and people are often looking for specific colours and shades that can be difficult to find off the shelf.

“As I weave my own fabrics I am able to create any design and colour to match existing items.

“I also design my own bespoke range of handbags, purses and cushions, which are now being sold through Facebook, etsy and my own website millsabelle.co.uk.

“Bill Hartshorne, business adviser at TEDCO was instrumental in helping me get the business off the ground.

“Not only did he provide practical advice, but he filled me with the confidence that I had a viable business idea and the ability to develop it into a successful concern.

“His help in securing a Virgin StartUp loan enabled me to buy the materials I needed to turn the idea into a reality.

“I have been astounded by the level of support available, not only from organisations such as TEDCO and Virgin StartUp but from the community too; the owners of Crown Carpets in Blyth have given me space in their shop to keep my oversized loom, without which it would have been difficult to get the business off the ground.”

“I haven’t looked back. Whilst it is still early days, I’ve secured contracts with some well-known, high-end interior shops in the region, where customers are now offered custom-made fabrics for their soft furnishings.

“This seems to have been very well received and is keeping me and my loom very busy.”