Case studies: Linsey Anne

Linsey Anne
Ann Scott
207 South Street
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9EF

Tel: 01334479872

Background

After her youngest child was born, Ann Scott discovered that a lack of good quality baby clothes, gifts and accessories in her home town of St Andrews meant a full day's outing if she wanted to get a new outfit for her baby daughter.

Finding the situation extremely frustrating, Ann realised that if she felt the need for a quality children's clothing shop, other mothers must feel the same. As a former practice manager for her husband Alistair's local optometrist business, Ann decided to put her management skills to the test and formulate her ideas into a new business venture.

Help from Business Gateway

She contacted Business Gateway where advisers helped Ann shape her vision of a new baby store in the town centre, offering assistance with her start-up business plan and suppliers' information.

After a complete refurbishment of empty premises in the town's South Street, the couple opened the doors to their new business, Linsey Anne, named after their youngest daughter.

Confidence

Anne explained the buzz of owning and running her own shop: "I just saw that there was a gap in the market that could be filled so the idea just developed from there."

"Although I had experience of buying and selling through managing my husband's business, it still took me a little while to have the confidence to know that other people would like what I was buying in for the shop. But people seem to like what I like and that is building my confidence all the time."

Already ahead of forecast targets, Ann now employs one part-time person so that she can still spend quality time with her family, including her two eldest children Claire and Andrew. But with business already booming, she's not ruling out expansion in the future.

Anne's tip for other businesswomen

"You have to keep planning ahead and can't afford to become stagnant."