Entrepreneur turns jewellery passion into business venture
A YORKSHIRE businesswoman is benefiting from the fruits of her labour after turning her passion for jewellery into a new business.
Yvonne Lee has set up Jam Jar Beads, which sells beads and other jewellery-making supplies, as well as a selection of hand-crafted accessories.
The company also provides jewellery-making workshops in store both for adults and children and hosts Sheffield’s only regular beading group which gives local bead-workers the chance to socialise.
When Ms Lee decided to set up Jam Jar Beads she contacted Sheffield City Council’s enterprise programme where she received a range of one-to-one support services to help her set up the company.
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Ms Lee, whose shop is the only one of its kind in Sheffield, said: “I have been very crafty since I was a child and in 2008 I set up a small jewellery and accessory making company, selling my own creations on the internet and at craft fairs.
“I was then made redundant from my job in a law firm in early 2009 and it felt like the right time to take the business full time. A friend told me about the Council’s enterprise programme so I went to see them and was then put in touch with Sheffield Enterprise Agency.”
She added: “I worked with my business advisor, Tony Gee, to put together by business plan and his help was invaluable as I had very limited experience in this area. He also helped me find a business premises and I have been able to attend a number of business events which have been of huge benefit.”
Jam Jar Beads is named after Ms Lee’s vast collection of jam jars at her home, many of which are now used to display the beads in her store.
“Starting my own business has been a huge learning curve but it’s so great to go to work every day and do something I’m so passionate about. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the business develop in the future,” said Ms Lee.
