A mother of two has developed an arts and crafts business that caters to children of a wide age group, and its growing popularity has party bookings already filling up for 2019.
Krafty Kids Alloa, founded by Marnie Griffiths, started out in a rented space of a church hall for its activities, but now with the support of Business Gateway Clackmannanshire, offers a variety of classes, parties and Slime Academies.
Marnie’s inspiration began when she and her husband realised their working schedules no longer suited their family lives. After doing some local market research, Marnie began jotting down ideas in a notebook, building boards on Pinterest, and even taught herself Slime Making.
She said: “I started thinking about it in March, and although I didn’t know if I could make it happen, it was always in the back of my mind. I was 40 years old and needed a change of direction. I approached Business Gateway and felt encouraged when they offered me advice and support. My adviser was fantastic and I was given access to lots of free workshops to help me with all aspects of my business.”
The wide range of activities on offer and Slime Academy’s popularity has generated an increasing amount of customers for the Alloa based business. This success drove Marnie to leave her employment at the end of August so she could work full time on the business and focus on expanding her offer.
She said: “The response has been amazing – lots of children are regulars at Krafty Kids and we are welcoming new faces all the time. Within two months of starting out I moved into my premises as I quickly realised if I wanted to offer all the classes that were in my head I’d need to have my own permanent space.
“I have just branched out into Gifts by Krafty Kids and have created many arts and crafts gifts made to order, including Slime Kits, Handmade Slime Tubs, and Slime Accessory Packs. I’m continually thinking ahead and of ideas to grow my business. I try to plan forward as much as possible so I can always offer the best selection of activities to a wide age group.”
Mandy Campbell of Business Gateway said: “I’ve been really impressed with the dedication Marnie has shown, she really has left no stone unturned in her quest to build her business. Our start-up support ensures any business we work with has the ability to grow to its fullest potential.”
To find out more about Krafty Kids or make a booking, call 07786 374828 or email griffithsmarnie@gmail.com
To find out more about how Business Gateway can help you set up and develop your own business call 01546 604555 or visit www.bgateway.com.