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Hi All,

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Taking on staff for the first time can be both exciting and daunting – Jo De Lamar from JHR Solutions discusses the essentials for keeping your Startup on the right side of the law…..

First Things First – What an Employer is Required to Provide in the First Two Months of Employment

If employing staff, an employer must be aware that the employee is entitled by law to certain matters in writing within two months of starting employment. Under the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994, an employee is entitled to receive their terms and conditions of employment set out in written form. While this forms a basic contract of employment, a contract will often contain matters in excess of those required by the Terms of Employment (Information) Act. The matters which need to be in writing include, commencement date, daily start and finish times or hours of working week, position/title, rate of remuneration, method and frequency of payment, location of workplace, annual leave, public holidays, breaks, notice on termination, access to pension scheme, type of contract, is it for an indefinite duration or is it for a fixed term for example.

In addition, an employee must be given a copy of the grievance and disciplinary procedures which set out the procedures for dealing either with an employee’s grievance or a disciplinary matter up to and including dismissal. These can be attached to the contract but should also be part of the company handbook. Having such procedures in place will assist in carrying out disciplinary matters in a fair and just manner. It will also comply with the requirements of the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. In my experience, it is the lack of these procedures or the bad implementation of such procedures that leads to claims for unfair dismissal and a far greater chance the employer will be found liable. In fact, the reason for the dismissal will often become almost irrelevant in light of the procedures used in the execution of such a dismissal. Employees can be awarded up to two year’s salary if successful.

Where an employee is on a low hourly rate, the employer should also include in the written terms a clause stating the employee’s right to be given confirmation by their employer of their hourly rate of pay in a reference period. This is to ensure that the employee is receiving the minimum wage under the National Minimum Wage Act 2000. At present that stands at €8.65 per hour for an adult worker.

In addition to the basic terms set out above, the employer should also consider other requirements of the job such as the requirement for overtime, weekend work, unsociable hours, working at different locations. Where there is a requirement for any of these, it should be stated clearly in the written terms and conditions. The employer may also want to include a probationary period and this should also be clearly stated. The maximum allowable probationary period is 12 months.
Some other matters that may need to be addressed in a contract of employment are;
Contributory pension scheme/Company vehicle/Company credit card/Expenses/
Commission/Mileage/Bonus Scheme/Salary review/Sick pay/Absence

Apart from the disciplinary and dismissal procedures, an employer should also have procedures in place in regard to bullying and harassment and sexual harassment and have a written policy in regard to them. Having such written policies is a defence should an employee sue for harassment, bullying or discrimination.

Many employers, especially small employers often regard the requirements on them as onerous and often can’t understand why as a small employer they have to comply with so many laws and regulations in the same way as a large employer. However, if employers consider that these laws and regulations set out the employment rights of employees, then they will see it is irrelevant what size an employee’s employer is, an employee’s rights cannot change depending on who they work for. Once you employ just one employee you become an employer. On the other hand small employers can often benefit from having a very small, tight-knit workforce which generally results in an enormous amount of good will and cooperation, something often lost by large employers.

Finally, the employee will also be entitled to a payslip under the Payment of Wages Act 1991. This again should be in writing and should set out the gross to net pay including all legal deductions made on behalf of the employee. Any different rate of pay for overtime should be set out, any annual leave payments or pay for public holidays should also be set out. If the employee is paid hourly then the number of hours worked should also be included for clarity.

Perhaps at this point it might be worth pointing out some of the matters that an employer is not liable for in regard to his/her employee. An employer does not have to pay an employee sick pay. An employer does not have to pay an employee for breaks. An employer does not have to pay for maternity leave, parental leave or carer’s leave. An employer does not have to pay an employee who is absent from work. If correctly set out in the contract, an employer may also be able to recover losses as a result of the acts or omissions of the employee or for the provision of services to the employee, such as training. An employer does not have to deal with unions though every employee has a constitutional right to join a trade union.

A business cannot function without a minimum number of employees and could also not expand without adding to the workforce. It is not impossible to get it right and once an employer has their contracts in place and their policy and procedures in place and implemented, most of their legal requirements will be fulfilled in regard to employing staff.

About JHR Solutions:
JHR Solutions are a committed and professional training and consultancy company. All our consultants and trainers are experienced lawyers and law lecturers. In our experience, many employers end up in litigation due mainly to ignorance of their legal obligations and lack of procedures and policies. We aim to rectify this. For further information visit www.jhrsolutions.ie or phone 01 8388285

I would like to congratulate all the wonderful Startups who qualified for the shortlist in the 2012 Startup Awards.

I would also like to thank all of the companies that entered – we were blown away by the quality of the applicants and I wish that we could have nominated everyone! As I was going through the submissions for the awards I was more optimistic about the future then I have been for a while – The entrepreneurial spirit in Ireland is alive and well and in case anyone has not told you lately – You guys are amazing!

The Startup Awards will take place on Thursday May 24th 2012 at the Burlington Hotel Dublin, tickets are available to book here: https://www.eventelephant.com/thestartupawards2012

This is going to be a great night full of positivity and a much welcome and needed break from the doom and gloom, it will be a chance for us all to meet up, network and celebrate together. The event is open to everyone and all are welcome – I look forward to meeting you there.

Ceremony

7.00pm Drinks Reception

8.00pm Dinner

9.30pm Awards

10.30pm DJ Bob Conway

Late Carriages

All shortlisted entrants are listed in alphabetical order

And the 2012 Startup Awards Shortlist is:(Drum Roll)

Cat 1 – Digital/Online Startup of the Year

An Lár TV
Bullet
Clubs to Hire
GalleryIreland.ie
Rainbusters
Rentview
TeamTraders.com
Virginia Medical Devices

Cat 2 – Product Startup of the Year

Easy Payments Plus
getHealth
GPBuddy.ie
Irish Bobbles
Kooky Dough
Motionfox
The Grape Escape
The Handmade Soap Company

Cat 3 – Home or Craft-based Startup of the Year

Christening Elegance
GalleryIreland.ie
Hummingbird Learning Centre
Mourning Cross
Old Rectory Print Ltd.
Project 51
The Handmade Soap Company

Cat 4 – Women in Business

Aruna Sauces
BakeMyCake
Cherry Blossom Bakery Ltd.
Easy Payments Plus
Kooky Dough
Pure Products Ltd.
Rainbusters
Ready Girls

Cat 5 – Green Startup of the Year

BIGBin Company
Carbon Control
Crowley Carbon Ltd.
Dingle Hampers
Ecogrinds
ElectricEscapes
Sean Bróga Ltd.
The Spokesman

Cat 6 – Food & Drink Entrepreneurial Startup of the Year

Aruna Sauces
BakeMyCake
Cherry Blossom Bakery Ltd.
Chia Bia
JD’s Gourmet Popcorn Ltd.
Keogh’s Crisps
Kooky Dough
Pure Products Ltd.

Cat 7 – Angel or VC Backed Startup

Enverian
Panorama Engineering Ltd.
TeamTraders.com
Cat 8 – Social Enterprise Startup of the Year
A Lár TV
getHealth
Hummingbird Learning Centre
MyMind
MyStreet.ie
TeamTraders.com
Virginia Medical Devices

Cat 9 – Service Startup of the Year

BIGBin Company
Bullet
Clubs to Hire
Coyle & Associates
Event Junkies
Healthcomms
Hummingbird Learning Centre
The Zip Yard

Cat 10 – Retail Startup of the Year

BakeMyCake
Canopi Creative Ltd.
Giftrescue Ltd.
Project 51
Rainbusters
Siopaella Ltd.
The Grape Escape
The Zip Yard

Cat 11 – Franchisee Startup of the Year

Four Star Pizza (New Ross)
Pass My Test Driving School
The Zip Yard

Cat 12 – Startup Business Plan of the Year

Bábógbaby
Christening Elegance
Easy Payments Plus
Kooky Dough
Social Gaming Ventures Ltd.
VideoCrisp Ltd.

Cat 13 – An comhlacht nua is fearr le hearra nó seirbhís i nGaeilge

Bábógbaby
Dingle Hampers
Foinse
Freedom Scoil Surfála
Smartmail Ltd.

Cat 14 – Export Startup of the Year

Chia Bia
Gadget Saver Ltd.
Kooky Dough
Motionfox
MyPlace Media
The Handmade Soap Company
VideoCrisp Ltd.
Virginia Medical Devices

Vodafone Ireland offers small business the opportunity to display logo on Jenson Button’s McClaren Mercedes car

Vodafone Ireland has today, 18th April 2012, announced a unique opportunity for a small, indigenous Irish company to win one of the premium marketing slots of the year free of charge – a space on the car driven by former world champion driver Jenson Button at the Dublin City Racing event in June.

In support of small Irish businesses, Vodafone is giving one company the opportunity to have its name/logo on a prominent space on the McClaren Mercedes car that will be driven by Button in front of an estimated 150,000 audience at the June 3rd event.

To enter the competition, companies simply have to fill in a simple questionnaire about their business. Entries close on 9th May and the winner will be picked by Vodafone and McClaren representatives. Companies must be less than 5 years old and have no more than 30 employees.
Other terms and conditions apply. See www.vodafone.ie/fast-track to enter.

Lara Costello tells us about her virtual assistant startup .. Girl Friday!

Company: Girl Friday
Website: girlfriday.ie
Founders: Lara Costello
Age: 34
Based: Tipperary
Staff Number: 1
Date started: 5th September 2011

Tell us what your business does?

Girl Friday is a virtual assistant company with a difference, I work closely with clients to become a colleague rather than a contractor. I actively seek out business opportunities and network on their behalf. Girl Friday offers a huge range of services and coming from a PA & Project Management background I have a lot of experience to offer.

Where did the idea for your business come from?

The Virtual Assistant model is nothing new and has been about for the last 20 odd years in the States, the concept is slowly growing here and as I love having multiple projects on the go at any one time, for me it was an excellent fit. The slow down in the economy has definitely helped, I lost my job and that is pretty much what spurred me on to open up for myself, it also makes the Virtual Assistant way of working attractive to clients, they are only paying for the hours they need to get a particular task or project done so it is very cost effective for them too.

Have you always wanted to run your own business?

Honestly, no, but after I ran a couple of events for myself I was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and now could not imagine going back to work as an employee. I think like many entrepreneurs it is a confidence thing and for me it took about 3 years to finally convince myself that I had something people would want. The thrill I get from helping out a client and finding a solution to something is one that I just wouldn’t get from being a PAYE employee.

What planning did you do before you started up?

I have always been a good net-worker and I took solid advice from those around me, two of my friends independently came up with the company name and from there everything just fell in to place. I took my time to develop my website and have all the things in place that I needed, that has been the smartest move I made as I am now ready for anything now.
I also completed a start you own business course with the local Enterprise Board and attended some Skill Net courses which have all proved really beneficial to Girl Friday.

Which entrepreneurs do you admire?

Any, I admire anyone who gets off their butt and tries to do anything, that is often the hardest thing. Specifically I have always admired Richard Branson, he overcame some real knocks early on but had a belief and a passion in what he does and now although he comes out with some wacky ideas at times he never stops diversifying and challenging the business market, I love that!

What challenges have you faced how have you overcome them?

The main challenge has been to keep my belief in what I am doing, I am a complete believer in positive thinking and that has really helped me. The feedback I get from my clients proves that Girl Friday is a service that people need and appreciate and that really picks me up. Working on your own is often tough but I have some really good friends and business associates who I can bounce ideas off and discuss things with, that is priceless to me.

How have you promoted your business?

I have promoted the business locally with mail shot campaigns and net-working events. On an international level I have listed Girl Friday with many Virtual Assistant forums and specific websites which have resulted in clients, on a national level I have found Twitter to be excellent for business promotion.

Are you optimistic about the remainder of 2012?

Yes, very. Girl Friday continues to grow and the diverse nature of my clients means that I have always got projects on. I think the virtual or sub-contracted working arrangement is something that will continue to grow in Ireland as companies realise that employment is not the only option and you can contract in the expertise as and when you need it.

What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?

Clichéd as it sounds if you fail to plan you plan to fail. I have never for a second regretted the time I took to plan Girl Friday. In addition to this many companies ignore the importance of procedures and systems within their company, this is a huge oversight, if you are not managing data and storing it in such a way that you can use it again and again then you are just creating a huge problem further along the road.

www.girlfriday.ie

June Carmody from Product2Market talks to Startups.ie about the importance of a strong marketing foundation..

When starting up a Business, there is a lot to consider. Staffing, funding and of course, securing your first customers are all on the list of tasks to juggle and boxes to tick. Like anything, laying strong foundations in the first instance will mean that what you build will stay standing, there will be no cracks and extending won’t be hassle should you decide to do so, down the line.

Marketing and Brand Establishment are at the forefront of new Companies’ initial Goals. Letting your customers know you are arriving on the scene, what you can offer them in terms of solutions and of course what you are all about in terms of ethos are elements that you need to get across both prior to and at the start of your Business Establishment.
I have worked with numerous pre-start ups and start-ups and have managed Market Research and Marketing Strategy Campaigns with much success over the past three years. Baring key guidelines in mind has meant that I know how to make clients happy and they can deliver the best product or service to the end user.

Here are some key points to consider when laying down that necessary strong foundation:

Establish your Company with a Bang/Make a Grand Entrance

You want to be remembered ….be unforgettable!
-Build a high impact website. Design a brand that is aesthetically pleasing and represents the brand you want to represent. Emulate this impression across all platforms and keep it consistent.
-Impact Marketing. Ensure that those you are speaking to will remember who you are! This can be achieved through online Marketing promotions, Video Marketing and Events such as launch parties.
-Get your brand personality across and do so strongly. Exchange of dialogue across all areas should deliver the same message and represent Brand Ethos.
Build a plan to die for
-Timing is imperative. Ensure that timelines are very specific when it comes to setting your strategy, tasks and deadlines. This way, all steps will be completed without obstacles (within reason).
-Costs involved can vary. As a start-up, budgets won’t always be as big as you would like them to be. Opt for marketing techniques, which are cost-effective. Organic search engine optimization and Blogging are two examples, which will allow for results over time.
-Resources to hand have to be taken into account. Ensure that when your strategy is built, you have enough manpower to do everything required and achieve your goals.

Know what to expect/set your targets realistically

Having clear targets in place will mean that you are working towards something very specific and always keeping the end in mind. A short, medium and long-term strategy will allow you to identify trends weekly, monthly and annually if carried out correctly.
- Using Analytics’ systems will mean that you can clearly understand your targets and objectives in terms of your marketing activity. This will also mean you can make amendments to your plan based on trends identified.
- Clearly charting positives and pitfalls will mean you can see the trends and what direction they are headed in, allowing you to build realistic expectations.

Starting up an enterprise is never going to be a walk in the park, especially during difficult economic times. Building the right strategy the first time will mean that everything that follows will be easier to manage and therefore drive stronger results.

June Carmody works with Product2market.ie

About Product2market: Established in 2008, Product2Market has quickly become one of Ireland’s leading Sales & Marketing Agencies. We enable companies of all sizes to increase sales and grow marketshare. Product2Market is unique because we combine focussed on-line and off-line Marketing strategies to deliver a strong, measurable return on investment. Campaigns we carry out are targeted in Ireland and across Europe.

With the Startup Awards deadline for entry fast approaching, now is the time to enter your Startup business!

This is a great chance to put your business on the map, get nationwide exposure and the attention of leading entrepreneurs including the Judging chairman Bobby Kerr and leading venture capitalists.

The deadline is the 12th of April after which applications will be reviewed by the judging panel and a shortlist drawn up. The award ceremony is taking place on May 24th at the Burlington hotel and will offer a great night out for us all and excellent networking opportunities…

In addition to the kudos of being crowned Startup of The Year the Grand Prix Winner will recieve:

A tablet device from Vodafone Ireland
Headline coverage in the Startup Awards special supplement in the Irish Independent
€5,000 worth of legal services from McDowell Purcell Solicitors.
€1,000 in software and services from Sage Ireland.

Category winners will recieve:

A smartphone from Vodafone Ireland
Profile in the Irish Independent Startup Awards Supplpement
A two hour legal consultation with McDowell Purcell Solicitors
A €500 voucher for Social Media consultancy from Exist
€50 voucher for Sage Ireland software

In addition the following category winners will also recieve:

Food and Drink Entrepreneurial Start-Up of the year

Eight hours consultancy with a Bord Bia Consumer Insight Expert

Other reasons to enter (Do you need more?!)

Success in the awards will:

Cement client relationships
Differentiate from your competitors
Showcase your business to potential investors
Attract and retain quality staff
Raise your company profile
Increase your business growth
Get the seal of approval from the judging panel

For further information and to enter visit www.startupawards.ie

The Startup Awards are in association with Vodafone

Rob Quigley and Steve Benton have invented a clever solution for an every day problem facing cyclists and anyone who needs to be seen…

Company: MotionFox
Website: www.motionfox.com
Founders: Rob Quigley and Steve Benton
Age: Both 32
Based: Dublin
Staff Number: 2
Date started: Started trading November 2011

Tell us what your business does?

We provide a range of expandable hi-visibility clothing. Our products can be worn as normal or can expand to cover the wearer and their bag. This avoids the unfortunate situation where somebody might wear a hi-viz vest but then covers it up with a big dark rucksack. Our products are designed for cyclists, motorcyclists, walkers, hikers, runners etc. – any type of outdoor activity. We have a range of fun colours like blue and pink, not just the standard yellow.

Where did the idea for your business come from?

I came up with the idea for an expandable hi-viz vest when I was cycling across Dublin city on my way to college in UCD from Castleknock. I was wearing a hi-viz vest, but had a big dark backpack on over it which meant the hi-viz vest was pointless. I thought an expandable vest would be great as I could cover my bag if I had one, or just wear it as normal if not. I thought I could buy this on the internet and after several extensive searches found there wasn’t a product like this on the market and decided there could be a market for it if we made one.

Have you always wanted to run your own business?

For about the past 10 years I have wanted to start my own business. Myself and Steven had been talking for some time about opening a business together and had many different ideas but this one really stood out. I had previously worked with a startup technology company and when I was studying for a PhD in Computer Science in UCD I did a number of business courses (you get them for free with a PhD!). Stephen was working as a teacher at the time when we started to discuss the expandable hi-viz idea and he could see immediate potential for it as all the kids have school bags. Steve would be a committed motorist, whereas I would be a committed cyclist so we brought different perspectives to the business.

What planning did you do before you started up?

One of the first things we did was to do a number of surveys in Dublin city of the numbers and type of cyclists. What they wore in terms of bags or backpacks, hi-visibility clothing etc? We did day surveys and night surveys – to see the difference. We talked to people that we envisaged as potential end customers, not only individuals but retailers as well. We prepared a business plan (from a free template online) and did some financial projections to see how we could make this work, what our costs would be and what our margin would be.

Which entrepreneurs do you admire?

Richard Branson is somebody who would spring to mind immediately, having read all his books!

What challenges have you faced how have you overcome them?

Manufacturing was a challenge for us. We tried to source a manufacturing partner in Ireland but there was nobody who would even quote us for the job. We then looked to somewhere within the EU and even then manufacturers were telling us to go to China. While moving further East can mean a cost saving it also presents a challenge in terms of communication, not only over such a long distance, but culturally as well. Firstly it was a challenge to find a partner that would work with us in volumes appropriate to a startup and then also to build trust between us given the massive distance. We were fortunate in that a large trade show was happening in Germany and some of the companies in China we had talked to were attending. I flew over to Germany to meet with them and the fact that we were able to sit down and have some real contact helped develop a bond of trust between us and enabled us to progress together. Most communication now is via email and skype and we keep in very close contact and work together to deliver our products.

How have you promoted your business?

Apart from using facebook adverts and google ads we have worked to gain media attention for ourselves as a new Irish company doing something different in the activewear space. The numbers of people cycling and walking is increasing which helps us as more people are aware of how the standard builders vest are designed for builders and not for cyclists or walkers! We have been fortuante to be featured on TV3′s Boost My Business slot on Ireland:AM, we were also on NewsTalk106 with George Hook on the “KickStart Your Business” feature and have had various articles written about us such as in the Irish Time magazines “Gadget” section on St. Patrick’s Day. Also what we are increasingly finding is that people are seeing others wearing our expandable hi-viz vests (particularly in Dublin) and due to their unique design they really stand out (that’s the whole point!) so they too raise the profile of the business and what we are trying to accomplish.

Are you optimistic about the remainder of 2012?

We are super optimistic for 2012. We are developing some new products that we are really excited about. Our business is growing and developing and everytime we see somebody randomly wearing one of our products it gives us a thrill and inspires us to keep going, to do more, be bigger and be better. As well as that Ireland are in the Euro Championships, the Olympics is coming to London and Dublin are defending the Sam. It’s going to be a really exciting year

What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?

Be prepared for good days and bad days. Be aware that it’s not just you taking this step, it’s those around you like family and friends who will support you as well. Don’t let your idea over consume you. Dedication to getting your idea off the ground is needed but 20 hour days will make you sick, not make you rich. Be realistic with you financial projections. Error on the side of caution and have access to quick cash from somewhere if you need it. Before you have a steady revenue stream cashflow can fluctuate so be ready for the lean months if they happen!

www.montionfox.com

Stefanie Osdoba talks to Startups about her new business The Nappy Cake Company..

Company: The Nappy Cake Company
Website: NappyCakeGifts.ie
Founders: Stefanie Osdoba
Age: 31
Based: Dublin
Staff Number: 1
Date started: 15. November 2011

Tell us what your business does?

We sell unique handmade gifts for new babies. What makes us stand out from our competitors is our sales strategy. Besides the classical online store, we have a fully mobile optimized shop version for smartphones and tablet PCs, which is promoted by mobile advertising campaigns. And we have a social store on Facebook. Timing is very important in the baby gift sector, and we want to give potential customers the opportunity to purchase for a new baby on the go.

Our current main products are handcrafted nappy cakes, nappy trikes, baby flowerpots and many more. We craft them all by ourselves. In the future, we are planning to extend our range with other Irish handmade baby gifts.

Where did the idea for your business come from?

When our baby girl was born last year, we received a handmade Nappy Cake from a good friend. I was absolutely delighted, and then I thought: I can do that! So my fiancée and I started making prototype after prototype, and the ingredients were inspired by our own experiences as mum and dad.

Have you always wanted to run your own business?

Absolutely! It has been my dream for a long time, and I knew one day the opportunity would show up. And there it was: Right after the birth of my baby girl!

What planning did you do before you started up?

I wanted to define the size of the market for e- and m-commerce of baby gifts. So I analyzed the quantities of relevant search queries on Google for PCs, smartphones and tablet PCs. I also looked at birth statistics in Ireland and trends for the coming years.

In addition, I attended some great events from the Dublin Enterprise boards about how to start a business.

Which entrepreneurs do you admire?

I like Mary Ann O’Brien from Lily O’Briens, because she made something that was her personal passion a success.

What challenges have you faced how have you overcome them?

Whilst having a bit of background in online and mobile advertising, the topic of actually working with E-Commerce systems and creating a website was fairly new to me. In the countless hours of breastfeeding my baby, I watched online tutorials and webinars to skill up in that field. And I learned so much! Also, making a really gorgeous looking nappy cake was more difficult than I thought. I absolutely enjoy creating them to perfection as I can get really creative.

How have you promoted your business?

I run various pay-cer-click campaigns for desktop/laptop PCs, smartphones and tablets. I use social media (Facebook, Google+) to spread the word via word of mouth. And most importantly, being recommended by customers is just priceless. Therefore, good customer service and quality is the key instrument for me.

Are you optimistic about the remainder of 2012?

Yes absolutely! The baby boom is ongoing, so there will be thousands of cute little babies out there people want to buy gifts for.

What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?

If you are an online retailer, get yourself ready for the mobile future! I personally see a huge potential in m-commerce within Ireland, especially in the gift market. My analysis of search queries showed that nearly a third of all searches for baby gifts are done via mobile devices. And this number is on the rise. I recommend everyone to have their website optimized for those devices. Usability is very important when it comes to selling. A website designed for a mouse can be absolutely frustrating in its functions when used on a smartphone.

Also, do your research and be aware of trends: It is predicted that by the end of 2012, 71% of the Irish population expect to own a smartphone, while 41% expect to own a tablet. In the UK, 45% of the whole population is already using a smartphone. Therefore, mobile devices will be mainstream in my opinion, and the gift shopping behavior will shift towards those devices. That doesn’t mean no one will buy on PCs anymore. However, I believe mobile sites can be the first step in the purchasing process, driving traffic from there to the classic online store.

www.Nappycakegifts.ie

Samantha Kelly tells us about her business ‘Funky Goddess’!

Company: Funky Goddess
Website: http://funkygoddess.ie
Founders: Samantha Kelly
Age: 40
Based: Wexford
Staff Number: 1
Date started: 7th October 2011

Tell us what your business does?

Funky Goddess produces gift boxes for Girls who are reaching the sometimes awkward milestone of their first period. It is called ‘The Welcome to Womanhood’ gift box. Funky Goddess also does other gift boxes to mark other milestones such as a ‘new Mum’ gift box and ‘Overnight Essentials’ gift box.

Where did the idea for your business come from?

When my own Daughter got her period I went looking for a starter kit or something nice to give her to mark this ‘coming of age’ milestone but couldn’t find one anywhere.

Have you always wanted to run your own business?

Yes. I like having a certain amount of control!!

What planning did you do before you started up?

I did market research by making up questionnaires and going to the local field day and approaching Mums and their daughters and asking them a few relevant questions and I also did a three day trade show in the RDS. Which had my target market attending.

Which entrepreneurs do you admire?

Noelle O’ Connor (tanorganic), Bobby Kerr.

What challenges have you faced how have you overcome them?

Well I had no money so finding finance was an issue. Also, I have two daughters, one of whom is hearing impaired, so trying to balance giving them quality time (along with my husband) and getting the time to sell, go to meetings etc is difficult. So time management I suppose.

How have you promoted your business?

So far, I have promoted it through actually going directly to pharmacies etc, and through Social Media especially twitter and Facebook.

Are you optimistic about 2012?

Absolutely, yes!

What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?

Set a Target and go for it! Take time out for yourself too.