Case studies: Strings Aloud

Women into Business is helping a group of Scotland’s most innovative entrepreneurs hit the right note.

Strings Aloud is a musical quartet that formed in January 2005 to deliver their brand of musical accompaniment to weddings, special occasions and social gatherings. And the success of the business is such that they are planning on adding another two quartets to meet the demand for bookings in 2006.

Mairi Hunter, Gillian Gracie, Morag Currie and Rosemunde Preston are the founder members of Strings Aloud. They all teach music as their day jobs, but hope one day to be able to concentrate on playing full-time. In the meantime, they use the Women into Business (WIB)Networking events as a way to make contacts and demonstrate the range of their musical talents.

Mairi Hunter of the group said: “Business Gateway and WIB were a tremendous help as we got our idea off the ground. I would recommend getting in touch with them to anyone. We had a business adviser and they gave us a lot of support. Business Gateway was able to help us obtain a £1,000 grant as we started up and they helped us with a business plan.”

Mairi and the girls even helped to launch the new season of WIB Networking events in September. Guests at the evening were serenaded by the quartet as they entered St Andrew’s In The Square venue in Glasgow.

Mairi herself is an enthusiastic supporter of WIB. She said: “I attend as many of the meetings as I can. I think it is a wonderful way to meet other women who are trying to do things in business. We have met some great contacts and hope that will continue.

“I’m based in Glasgow just now, but I’m moving to Edinburgh and I hope to keep attending WIB events there.”

So far, the girls have been in big demand at wedding fairs and shows. Playing at these events leads to a lot of follow-on business, but Mairi and the rest of the group are hoping to break into the corporate sector next.

Mairi said: “We can create the right atmosphere for any type of function, social or business. Bookings have gone through the roof recently and we are adding another two quartets to meet the demand. I work as a music teacher in schools, but in the long term, Strings Aloud would like to offer a complete musical service that includes instruction. Eventually we want to devote all our time to making Strings Aloud a bigger success than it already is.

“It’s very exciting right now and with the continued help of WIB, we hope to keep growing.”