Business name: Funky readers
Based: Stockport
Website: eyeeyedesign.com
Person nominated: Judith Cunningham, partner
Nominated by: Martin Cunningham
Initially inspired by a pair of glasses we saw in Italy, Judith has pushed Funky Readers forward as a business – showing leadership and determination to bring us to new markets, source new and interesting styles, and even to launch sister website eyeeyedesign.com.
Judith has been a true business leader – quite literally taking the rough with the smooth as we spent several months moving from event to event to sell our products in the early days, sleeping in a caravan without many of the comforts we take for granted every day – electricity and running water for instance!
Moreover, she has been integral to securing new products for us in what is a competitive fashion market, made more difficult due to the fact that many of our suppliers are outside the UK, and many of our conversations with them are not conducted in English. Judith learned Italian in order to help us secure some of our early deals.
In recent months, Judith has taken over the growth of the company, while I have focussed more on meeting day-to-day operational needs. As previously mentioned, this has involved Judith organising our expansion to a second website, with a slightly different focus, as well as managing third party web design consultants and a freelance team of digital marketers.
Judith is much more than a partner in the company; she is an inspirational leader who is a driving force behind our early success.
