Starting a Business can be daunting, especially when you don't know the first step to take, or what direction to turn.  So , I am going to tell you about my journey and where I got help from and how it helped me progress to where I am today.
In 2011, a friend had suggested that we should try to make jewellery, to sell in her shop. Now, I had been a chef for a long time ( Not telling you, but a long time). I really had no idea and I mean NO IDEA , so I went home and had a look at eBay and the beads that were available. I was hooked and my jewellery making career had begun. Over the next few months, I had a little success in selling, but my problem was that there was no where in Northern Ireland, that I could physically buy beads that I was looking for. After a while I met a lovely lady called Elaine, who was from Bristol, who after a while introduced me to her wholesalers. Then I began importing my own stuff, I was like a child with a new toy 
During this Time, both my parents, became ill and they both passed away, that year, with only 5 weeks between them. It was really hard for me, being the eldest to hold the family and my own together. I left my job as a chef, in the time between them passing due to stress. I was devastated by the loss of both of them in such a short time and my only release was to make a bit of jewellery to help ease my pain. When , I was focusing on that, it kept me being productive.After Christmas of 2012, I went and signed on, reluctantly. I didn't want to be a burden to anyone, but over the next month, I was introduced to lady, who suggested that I should look at starting my own business up, as I had now quite a lot of beads & beading accessories. So I had an appointment, made to visit Ballymena Business Centre, which turned out to be about 5 minutes away from where I lived. 
So, I went on the date, that I was given, actually not knowing what I wanted, or even expected. I met Patricia, who became my adviser, She made me feel at ease and explained what options I had. She explained about the Go for It programme and how it worked. So, I enrolled and every week, I received my benefits and each week I went back to Ballymena Business Centre and each time. I learned more that would help me to make my business more successful. They had free workshops, where we learned how to use Social Media to help build our customer base. there were a whole series of workshops, which I had not known were available, and they helped me draw up action plans to develop my budding business. So on the 2nd July 2012, Wicked Princess Beads, became a reality, I had a small shop in my converted Garage, where customers could actually come and buy, I was selling online through our website and eBay. During the First year. business grew and I was happy, as I was working Part time as a chef again, But in 2013, the recession happened, my business began to slow, I began to think, that there was something wrong with my business and it's products, but with the advise that I had been given by the Ballymena Business Centre I had already a back up plan, that I could fall back on. I changed My website provider and increased items on eBay. I went to Craft Fairs, which were a bit hit & miss, but they helped to keep my business a float.
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Then, in 2014, I received a message from Jenine from the Ballymena Business Centre, who was another of their advisers, offering me a chance to apply for a new business that was being set up on Church Street in Ballymena. It was a shop dedicated to local Crafters & Artists. A lot of them, had been through the Go for It programme. So in November, 2014, I became one of thirty crafters and moved my wee business down to Church Street.These were a collection of young start ups and some experienced artists and I was stuck in the middle, which was a big change for me, as I was always behind the scenes. Some of the young people were being provided with funding from Banks as an incentive to help them start up and blossom.
       Over the next two years, we became a budding business, but in 2016, funding ran out and a lot of the people moved on , only leaving ten crafters, but after meetings with Melanie, Ballymena Business Centre's CEO, we decided to give it another chance and we became Midtown Makers. Now , we have 60 Crafters from all around Northern Ireland.
Midtown Makers, blossomed and we are now running 6 Years and counting
Being in Business, is a challenging part of life, getting the right advise at the beginning helps. Going to the Workshops, helps also. It gives you an inside into problems that may arise in your future.
When running a business, you need to understand some things,  Firstly, you must Love what you do, make or provide. This love radiates from you, your enthusiasm, will sell your products.
Another thing, is Endurance, No matter what happens to you while you are starting up, whether Good or Bad, you must remember you are in this till the end, So give it a little more of your time, a little more effort. So dig your heels and endure just that bit more.
Finally, Belief, Believe in yourself , your product, your business. It is needed, because there will be ups, downs, getting knocked back, barriers ahead, so you Believing in what you do will make the bad days fewer and the need for good days easier to achieve.
REMEMBER IF, RUNNING A BUSINESS WAS EASY, EVERYBODY WOULD BE DOING IT
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If you are interested in Starting A Business and live in the Mid & East Antrim area.
Contact the Ballymena Business Centre to find out what they can do for you

Tele.02825658616