Business Action August / September 2019

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Helen Persson of Paper Clip Keeping clients organised Many businesses are overwhelmed by admin and filing, but Helen Persson of Westward Ho! enjoys them so much, she has started her own business, Paper Clip, to help clients stay organised. With 14 years in marketing and retail and seven years running a recycled glass gifts business, Helen has honed her office organisational skills so that she can take care of all those tasks that busy business owners don’t get round to completing. These can range from sorting out paperwork to managing emails, support with social media management and marketing, as well as the creative production of flyers, adverts and logo designs. Already, Helen has helped clients with running events, bookkeeping, updating their online presence and more. “I do all the things they don’t have time for,” says Helen, who is pleased with how her business is growing and aims to take stress away from clients so that they can be more productive. ■■Details 07870 604019 or paperclipdevon.co.uk NEW BUSINESSES Chartered Financial Planner steps out Emma Falconer is the latest professional to join the ever growing team of independent financial advisers at Continuum (Financial Services) LLP. Emma explains that the move will help her build on her extensive financial services experience – and provide an even higher standard of services for clients in North Devon. She is looking forward to continuing to provide a full range of financial advice, but with a particular focus on the needs of high net worth individuals, and those in the pre and post retirement phase. This will not only help answer a growing need for specialised advice, it will reflect her key areas of experience. “I have over 14 years’ experience of working in financial services – and prior to retraining as a financial planner, I spent a decade in investment banking in the City of London on the dealing floor of a leading investment bank. It has helped me develop a strong understanding of financial markets, and a practical understanding of the needs and objectives of investors as well as of the solutions available to them. “This has given me the foundation to specialise in providing financial planning for high net worth clients and business owners, which I have Emma Falconer, Chartered Financial Planner built on by gaining a series of advanced qualifications. “I am excited to continue my advice journey with Continuum and to build a business I am truly proud of for my clients.” Emma’s qualifications include advanced pension, investment, tax and trust planning. This skill set enables her to provide a high level of expertise for her clients, supported by the awardwinning Continuum team. New accountancy practice A well-known face in North Devon accountancy has started a new practice after 24 years in the profession. Gareth Pollard Accountancy Services in Holsworthy aims to “bring the friendly side of accounting back”. Gareth’s experience has ranged from preparing accounts by hand and sending paper tax returns to HMRC to now preparing returns using computer software and filing them with the click of a button. With the introduction of Making Tax Digital, Gareth helps clients set up their own accounts software packages so that they can keep better accounting records, which makes an accountant’s life much easier. His services include accounts, bookkeeping, payroll / CIS, tax and VAT. Gareth is keen that clients using accounting software should benefit from any possible reduction in fees and is committed to treating every single client as he would wish to be treated. Gareth also wants to minimise environmental Martin Brown, Continuum’s managing partner, comments, “We are delighted to have Emma join us. Having advisers of her experience join our team demonstrates the effectiveness of our collaborative business model. It lets us attract the very best people – which allows us to put clients at the heart of everything we do.” Yorkshire-born Emma sums up her reasons for her career move: “As a Chartered Financial Planner, I take pride in the advice I give. I therefore wanted to join Continuum as a partner to enable me to give unbiased independent advice. “I am incredibly impressed by what Martin has built at Continuum for clients and advisers, focusing on providing expert financial advice and an outstanding service.” ■■Details 01271 830547 or mycontinuum.co.uk impact and offers the option of a secure package where clients can view all correspondence and accounts online and even sign documents electronically without having to print them. Having moved to North Devon when he was five, Gareth is very much part of the community and is keen that his business supports local organisations. He has started already by sponsoring Holsworthy’s recent St Peter’s Fair. ■■Details 01409 254817 or facebook.com/garethpollard accountancyservices/ Gareth Pollard and his son 6 business action | August / September 2019 | business-action.co.uk
Lucy and Stuart Cook of No 28 The Cookery , St James Place, Ilfracombe New café fulfils ambition No28 The Cookery in St James Place, Ilfracombe is fulfilling a long-held ambition of Lucy and Stuart Cook. Lucy had worked in retail before becoming a full-time mum, while Stuart, who trained as a chef in London from the age of 14, worked in manufacturing for 24 years. This Easter, they felt it was time to launch their own business, a barista coffee shop, which serves lunch and brunch items to eat in and take away. These include baguettes, paninis, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, soup and cakes as well as vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free items. All their packaging is recyclable and aim to reduce use of plastic. Coffee is supplied by Limini, a small speciality coffee supplier in West Yorkshire, while Stuart puts his professional training into practice preparing a range of cakes including chocolate brownies and millionaire shortbread. Lucy says the response from customers, both locals and visitors from across the world, has been very positive. ■■Details No 28 The Cookery at facebook.com HIGH STREET Ethically sourced fruit and veg Greengrocers appear to be making a comeback as more consumers take a greater interest in the food they buy. Jim Abbott-Bond left a corporate career seven years ago, and now he and Sue Gould run Four Seasons greengrocer in Crediton High Street. “I wanted to find a business with a more ethical side to it,” explains Jim. “There is a growing swell for locally produced and sourced food that is not catered for by the supermarkets. People want to know where their food comes from and they are fed up with tasteless food.” And with packaging also a major concern, like many independent food stores, Four Seasons has always used paper bags rather than plastic. Jim received lots of support for carrying on the business as a greengrocer and enjoys being part of Crediton’s community. Customers range from young families to several who are over 100 years old and continue to shop independently. As well as fruit and veg in the shop, Four Seasons provides vegetable boxes to suit all budgets, as well as fruit baskets and trays, which make good gifts and can all be delivered. “We do bespoke flower arrangements, ranging from small bunches, baskets, bouquets, aqua-boxes and memorial funeral commissions. We also deliver flowers locally to private and commercial customers. “The most enjoyable thing is meeting customers,” adds Jim. “Everyone who walks through the door has a story.” ■■Details call 01363 772035 Jim Abbott-Bond of Four Seasons Hardware store provides local service When small shops disappear from towns and villages, consumers face less choice when the only option left is to drive to a nationally run superstore on an out-of-town retail park. Yet there are signs that things are changing as more independent stores open up. Holsworthy lost its hardware shop several years ago, but now Shepherd’s Hardware has opened a new store selling a wide range of household items, gardening supplies, cleaning products, tools, drill bits, bolts, plumbing and electrical spares, light bulbs, candles, locks, key cutting and a lot more. The store is owned by Pete Shepherd, who opened his SW Locksmiths shop in Holsworthy 10 years ago, to establish himself as a trustworthy, local business. Since the old hardware shop closed, Pete has been increasing his range of stock. “When people ask for something, I get it in,” says Pete. “The range grew and we extended our old shop in 2017, but it still wasn’t big enough, so our new shop on the Square is three times the size.” Pete adds that people often like to touch and hold products and see before they buy, which they can’t do on the internet. “Customers also appreciate our product knowledge. They want to come in and ask questions, which we are always happy to answer.” Pete is also keen to reduce carbon footprint and believes buying from a local store rather than online reduces the packaging required to mail goods and limits the environmental impact of so many vans on the road delivering single items. With staff helping to run Shepherd’s Hardware, Pete continues to provide his SW Locksmiths service across North Devon. He has built up trade over 10 years through word of mouth and says that people in Holsworthy are very loyal to the town’s independent shops and businesses. ■■Details call 01409 255533 @businessactionm | August / September 2019 | business action 7
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