BUSINESS
Kent
SMALL BUSINESSES
JESS MARSHALL INTRODUCES US TO THE ENTREPRENEURS MAKING STRIDES ON THE KENT BUSINESS SCENE .
Macie Cakes
Fudgy brownies , deep-filled cookie pies , cheesecakes and cookie dough are just some of the delightful bakes Macie Cakes is known for in 2022 . But business life started for Macie Stenning rather unwittingly when she made a Christmas cheesecake that her family and friends went wild for . It seemed at that moment that she had found what she was meant to do , and after starting Macie Cakes on somewhat of a whim , she received 30 orders in two weeks and there could no longer be any doubt ; she had found her calling . After the excitement of winning Confectionary Product of the Year at the Taste of Kent Awards in May for her salted caramel millionaire shortbread , Macie is using the rest of 2022 to focus on market pop-ups , bringing her incredible products directly to her customers , some of which travel hundreds of miles just to get a bite of her bakes ! We asked the young business owner if she could tell us a few of her tips and tricks to success and she kindly obliged : “ I would say go for it and fully submerge yourself in your passion . Don ’ t compare yourself to others and be your own competition .”
www . maciecakes . co . uk Macie Cakes maciecakesofficial
Fox & Bloom
Donna Edwards was once a full-time teacher and mum looking to broaden her horizons and possibly make the jump into becoming a business owner . It was only after a fateful trip to visit a candle-making cousin that the idea sparked to try making nourishing soaps that were good for the body and soul . After some experimentation , Donna ’ s small collection turned into a full skincare line : Fox & Bloom , whose niche could not be clearer - products that are natural and sustainable , using only the best ingredients found , where possible , from the Garden of England itself . “ I source many of my ingredients locally , including honey , goats ’ milk , aloe vera , cucumber and other botanicals .” Now very much a part of the small business community in Kent , Donna has seen first hand how people come together to help and support one another and urges anyone looking to start a small business to take advantage of the wonderful community of people willing to give help and advice to anyone just starting out . With business booming , Fox & Bloom has plans to expand even further , and with a luscious whipped body butter and beard oil in the works , Donna and her business are levelling-up every step of the way .
www . foxandbloom . co . uk Fox and Bloom fox _ and _ bloom _ soap _ co
Laura ’ s Larder
Laura Roberts ' business story starts over 20 years ago when she fell in love with the local village deli while on holiday in Norfolk . But it was only after her brother ’ s diagnosis of leukaemia in 2017 that Laura started to question her work in media and technology . Was this really her passion and the life she wanted for herself ? The answer was a resounding ‘ no ’, and just three years later Laura ’ s Larder was up and running , selling artisanal British products as well as some staple European items and curated especially for the foodies among us by Laura and her team . Luckily , despite some initial pandemic-related struggles , Laura ’ s Larder was made of strong stuff and emerged from the depths of Covid with new life breathed into it . With two decades of passion behind her , it ’ s clear that Laura loves what she does : “ I love everything about my job ,” she says . “ I ' m so much more rewarded than any previous job I ' ve ever had !” As a final thought , Laura let us in on her four secrets to small business success . “ Firstly , prepare for change ; secondly , never forget the brand ; thirdly , don ’ t underestimate the power of social media ; and finally , invest in staff .”
www . lauraslarder . co . uk Lauras Larder General Store lauraslarder
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