International success on the cards for Do You Punctuate
A BESPOKE card publisher is aiming to break into foreign markets following support from a business accelerator programme.
Bec Gilray, owns Do You Punctuate – an ecommerce, print to demand greeting card business which was launched four years ago and currently sells a range of cards with the online marketplace Not On The High Street and its website.
Ms Gilray hopes to begin selling in other territories including America and Canada. In Q3 and Q4 she expects a turnover of £35,000.
In September 2015, she joined Entrepreneurial Spark in Leeds – a business accelerator programme aimed at developing the entrepreneur behind the business instead of just the business itself. In addition to office space and free Wi Fi, the programme also includes mentoring and learning sessions.
Ms Gilray said: “When I entered the Hatchery it was fantastic because I was surrounded by like-minded people who faced similar struggles in getting their businesses off of the ground. It can be very isolating to be an entrepreneur so having a network I could turn to was fantastic.
“As the process went on I found myself overwhelmed with information and how to apply that to my business. It was working with Melinda O’Reilly, my enabler at the Hatchery, my mentors and NatWest that I changed my mindset which in turn has really helped my business to accelerate and grow.”
Her hard work and determination paid off as she was she awarded a £6,000 prize from NatWest in February for her efforts when the six-month programme finished.
She was also offered a place on the second cohort at the Leeds Hatchery to help her business pivot towards its next stage.
Ms Gilray used the money to build an office for her business at her home. And she was also awarded £1,000 for her pitch during a recent Acceler8 event at the Hatchery.
She said: “Self development is probably the greatest thing I have taken away from Entrepreneurial Spark. I’ve been able to grow the business and also myself within the business. I no longer self sabotage and think about what I can’t do but what I can do and how I will do it.”
Dale Sidebottom, entrepreneur development manager at NatWest said: “Bec and Do You Punctuate is a fantastic success story which is down to her hard work and determination. Growing your business isn’t an easy thing to do but Bec has persevered which is a testament to her commitment to her business and Entrepreneurial Spark. We wish the business every success for the future.”
