Posted: 11th May 2015
I married a farmer in 1977, and farm incomes were poor on hill farms even in those days!
Sally Robinson, AmpleBosom
When you marry into a farming family, especially if you work away from the farm, sometimes you can feel a little left out. I wanted to create a financially successful project on the farm that made me feel like I belonged and enabled me to spend more time with my husband and daughter.
Kate Grubb, Ecocabin
I had studied catering, so I decided to do Bed and Breakfast. We swapped houses with my parents in-law in 1982 to give us the space we needed. Our two sons were small and John often worked well into the evenings, so Dinner seamed an easy add on. Evening meals are harder to supply now as people are used to choice which can be expensive to provide.
A local architect suggested I have en-suites, as these were not readily available in the hotels in the local town.
Sally Robinson, AmpleBosom
After starting a family, I decided not to return to full-time work as a veterinary nurse and lecturer, and took a part time job cleaning local holiday cottages. I was appalled by how much waste was being generated by holidaymakers coming in from outside the area, bringing supermarket-bought food with them and spending little locally. I decided there had to be a better way.
Kate Grubb, Ecocabin
I did not want to be a business partner with my husband as he was already in partnership with his mother and father. My mother came to the bank with me and helped me get a loan. I think that is significant, as lots of women were not involved in business, but she had helped my father all my life. I cannot remember much about the interview but I do remember the bank manager asking if I could cook a 3 course meal for £5.00 and make a profit. I knew he had a wife and two daughters and asked him how many times a week his wife had £20 to feed his family!
Sally Robinson, AmpleBosom
I obtained a grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Rural Enterprise Scheme, which I matched with our own savings and a loan from Triodos Bank that only finances environmentally and socially aware projects.
Kate Grubb, Ecocabin
Once my loan had been granted I used local tradesmen to transform the old farmhouse into trendy farmhouse accommodation. I recall telling my first customers who had booked for a week to bring their slippers as the stair carpet was not arriving till the middle of the week! The tourist board grading, fire certificates and other legislation came in over the year and, looking back, we have been continually upgrading ever since.
Sally Robinson, AmpleBosom
From the initial idea to the completion of the project, it took two years of research, planning and back-breaking work.
Once we had obtained planning permission and got the funding in place, we started by removing our mobile home so the brick pillars and raised concrete floor could be laid. The timber frame was erected next, using local Douglas Fir, and the walls, roof and floor packed with sheep’s wool insulation. Solar panels and a wood pellet-burning stove were installed to provide heating and hot water, with electricity provided by a renewable energy supplier. Furnishings came from second-hand shops and a local furniture recycling scheme, and bedding and towels are organic cotton.
Kate Grubb, Ecocabin
Following the success of the two rooms, we went on to convert some adjoining barns into two more rooms and a lounge, then a house for my parents-in-law with letting accommodation upstairs. The really big project was to convert a mix of barns into three self-catering cottages about 11 years ago. Each time planning permission was gained and each time it seemed like a huge battle, but somehow we got through. As the cottages neared completion, a local café came up to let in a local beauty spot. My husband John asked if I wanted it, as he knew that now was the time to go for it, or I would have to wait 5 years until the lease was up again. We were successful in getting the café and had it for 5 years till the lease ran out, by which time I had got the t-shirt and was glad to get out!
Having a bit of a mid life crisis and not knowing what I wanted to do next I thought I should let John do what he wanted and move to Scotland – he had always talked about it and I guess I thought that some day he would come in and say he had found the perfect place. My next venture needed to be portable – a mail order business – but what should I sell? After a while thinking about and rejecting other products, I found bras! AmpleBosom.com was created, but I had no idea the internet or even AmpleBosom would become as big are they are today. AmpleBosom has been by far the hardest business to manage, as I have moved into areas I had no previous knowledge of. I don’t think anything is really too big if you are committed and interested in creating a business.
Sally Robinson, AmpleBosom
My first booking was from someone I consider to be my guardian angel. What good fortune (and thanks to Defra’s publicity machine) that the first visitor was a travel writer (they remain anonymous until their departure) from The Times! When Lee Karen Stow’s article later came out I was inundated with bookings and the period of worrying, ‘What have I done – I’ve spent all our money!’ thankfully passed.
I had an amazing first year and the success of Ecocabin surpassed all expectations. In addition to the Times article I was able to get features in several other national as well as local newspapers, magazines and newsletters. This, together with a number of bookings from my website, made Ecocabin’s first year very successful.
Kate Grubb, Ecocabin
Before starting in business, make sure that a business is what you want and not just extra cash, which could be generated from working for someone else. As a business owner, you are the last to get paid, and in my experience any spare cash is soon swallowed up in stock and equipment. With the holiday cottages I always had the increase in property prices and the fact that I had to be at home to look after the children. In truth, the children helped a lot, and my son was a great help with the technology in the new business.
Sally Robinson, AmpleBosom
Don’t let anyone tell you that it can’t be done. Lack of knowledge and experience is no barrier to success if you are sensible, ask advice of as many people as you can and research your idea thoroughly. Follow your dream – if it doesn’t work out then either a) you didn’t want it enough or b) it wasn’t the right dream for you. Always remember, if things don’t turn out as you wish, then wish for them as they turned out – that way you will never be disappointed.
Think about who you are. There will always be competitors offering similar products or services but one thing they cannot do is be you. You are your business’ biggest asset.
Kate Grubb, Ecocabin
