Name: Sauced By Marina
Based: Snodland, Kent
Website: www.saucedbymarina.co.uk
1) I took control to determine where to sell my sauces, rather than listening to people who have more experience of farmers’ markets. By analysing my sales figures it became very clear in my first year of trading that for my products, I needed to trade in more affluent areas, and I opted out of non-profitable markets.
2) During the first 20 months, to save money I was cutting my own labels after a local shop printed them on sheets. I managed to obtain an old printer from an architect and created my own glossy labels which just peel off and save huge amounts of time and money.
3) Rather than being a control freak, I accepted a friend’s help to show me how to use Excel and for the last 12 months she has helped me with my paperwork on a regular basis – life is much easier!
4) Using social media in the last 10 months has saved me lots of time. I procrastinate much less, while staying in contact with customers and colleagues.
5) I created my own website but found it hard to prioritise updating it. By adding photos and comments regularly, it is much quicker and more enjoyable. As a result of taking these measures, everything is easier. In the last year I have been concentrating on PR and trying to attract an investor.
Marina O’Neill is the owner of Sauced By Marina
