Goody bag entrepreneur wins coaching prize

PAULA Toal, who set up The Bespoke Goody Bag Company just 14 months ago, has won a coaching prize worth £10,000 to help develop her business.

The Sale-based entrepreneur won a competition held by the the Entrepreneur’s Business Academy (EBA) and The Market Magazine. The EBA is an academy set up by former Dragon’s Den judge and recruitment company boss James Caan.

Toal, 40, has already begun attending coaching session and said that she has learned some valuable techniques – particularly around internet marketing and positioning.

“It has raised my profile ten-fold,” she said.

The Bespoke Goody Bag business has also won a number of corporate contracts – including a series of bags for Barbie maker Mattel to celebrate Ken’s 50th birthday.

“It’s an ideas business,” she said . “While corporate gifting and goody bags have been around for years, it was always an afterthought.

“Nowadays, people are saying, ‘what can I do to create some standout for our brand?’ and are putting creative, marketing-led goody bags top of the list.”

Toal has also recently launched a sister firm known as The Bottle Boutique to accompany gift bags with personalised champagnes or wines.