Wicker Wings makes it through to Branson top 10

A FLEDGLING company which combines making wicker handbags with a unique social mission has made it through to the final 10 in billionaire Richard Branson’s national ‘Pitch to Rich’ search.

Liverpool-based Wicker Wings, run by brother-and-sister partnership James Ya and Belinda Wong and launched less than a year ago, is the only business in the North West to make it into the final 10.

The company designs and markets its wicker ‘bag for bag’ concept through its not-for-profit partner The Library Project to help the education of children in rural parts of Asia.

For every bag bought in the UK, another is donated to the Far East. Wicker Wings made its first donation to the cause in January and more than 100 have followed since.

“The reason we are doing this is because our parents moved here from China 33 years ago,” said Belinda, aged 32. “They opened their own fish and chip shop in Liverpool and used to send money home to help build a school.”

Meanwhile Belinda and her 23-year-old brother are trying to get the bag into independet retailers and have already succeeding in getting into Moo Boutique in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, Love Lucie Boutique in Chorlton, Manchester and Madam Butterfly in Altrincham.

The Branson-owned Virgin Media Pioneers runs the Pitch to Rich competition, which gives entrepreneurs from around the UK the chance to win start up investment with a first prize of £150,000.

In order to make it through to the final three Wicker Wings must get enough votes for their business model by people going to the link
http://www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk/pitch-to-rich/start-up/wicker-wings/

Belinda added: “The other businesses in the final 10 are all based down in London and other parts of the UK, and we are delighted to be the only one in the North West.”