INSIGHTS / Blog

Becky Avery, founder of Hazel & Blue, describes her experiences on the SETquared Entrepreneur’s Workout and what it’s meant for her business.

 

 

In January 2019 I started Hazel & Blue – we create beautiful eco soy candle making kits, soy scented essential oil candles, soy wax melts, and scented gifts inspired by nature.

I was a nurse for 20 years, but I’ve always been creative and tinkering with various things. The first time I made candles, I just loved it. I love creating with scent from beautiful natural ingredients, I love everything about it – it’s like baking, but without the calories!

So, I eventually took the leap and gave up my day job, and this gave the business the opportunity to really take off, and that is exactly what happened. We created one of the first fully eco-friendly candle making kits, and the business grew rapidly during the Coronavirus pandemic. It was good timing as we were able to capitalise on the fact that people were spending lots of time at home and looking for new hobbies and ways to relax and unwind. We’re currently focusing on maintaining that momentum and scaling up.

The Entrepreneurs Workout was perfect for me at a time where, if I am honest, I had just been following my feet in the business and I needed to take stock, re-focus, and plan. I was so delighted to attend this workshop. It’s fully funded and as a small business that means a huge amount to me, and what a great opportunity to learn about my business and go back to basics.

My three key takeaways from the Entrepreneurs Workout are:

1. Get back to basics, understand your value proposition
2. Look at the whole business model
3. Understand your customer data and streamline the product range

Having now completed a five-year forecast and a five-year plan we’re hoping to expand on our recent growth sustainably. We’re looking into selling our candle making kits internationally, which means taking a new wholesale approach. We’re exploring the creation of a regular recurring revenue model with a subscription candle gift box. Lastly, we are looking at developing our candle making workshops for a corporate setting to support the wellbeing of employees back into the workplace post-COVID.

I would highly recommend the course to anyone starting a business, I just felt extremely grateful to speak to all these really amazing industry experts. It’s like a deep dive into your business, and an opportunity to really rethink your whole vision in a planned and structured way.                                                                            

About SETsquared’s Entrepreneurs Workouts

SETsquared have supported thousands of start-ups to succeed and thrive. If you are a founder of a start-up in Swindon and Wiltshire our Entrepreneurs Workout can help you lay the foundations for a profitable and successful business.

Our fully funded, three half days, mentor-led webinar will dive deep into your business model, value proposition, customer segmentation, and revenue model to help you on your path to success.

Book your place today