Our business is at the heart of the local community
The Stottie Company
What attracted you to set up a business in Teesside as opposed to any other region?
My husband and I relocated from London to Teesside 7 years ago, soon after our daughter Harriet was born. We chose to move to the North East to be closer to my husband’s 2 children who live in Teesside. I had initially decided to be Mummy for a few years and not to work, but that thought didn’t last long! I started what really was more of a hobby from home; cooking, making buffets and delivering to local businesses. Very quickly this grew into more than a hobby which excited me as it was completely unexpected!
What is the most important lesson you have learnt in setting up your own successful business?
Ask for help if you need it! Never think you can do it all yourself. What I love about doing business in the North East is there is always someone willing to offer free advice and help when you need it, so never be too proud to admit you need assistance from time to time!
How important is working within and supporting the local community to The Stottie Company?
The local community has always helped me from day one, so naturally we give back as much as we possibly can. Our business is at the heart of the local community, our customers are local Teessiders who have pride in their community and home. We in turn, take great pride in being part of their everyday life and owe it to them to give something back. Without our community, we wouldn’t’ have a business. I personally see it as a necessary part of running a business, to always make certain you give back as much as you possibly can.
When you are not working, where might we find you and what would you be doing?
I’m a home girl through and through. I love nothing more than spending time at home with my daughter Harriet and husband Dave. After a busy day at work there is nothing better than sitting around the dinner table hearing all the funny stories my daughter relays from her day at school. Being an obvious big foodie, this also translates to my family life. It is so important for me that dinner time is family time. We make a conscience effort to sit and eat dinner together every single evening with our daughter. We cherish these short years we have with her – before we know it she will have flown the nest! Although I am passionate about my business, family time is always number one on my agenda!
You are sponsors of the Big Picnic event at Daisy Chain this year - how did you begin to work with Daisy Chain?
I became a friend of Daisy Chain when I very first started the business around 6 years ago. I met Judith, the charity’s CEO at the time at a networking event and since then have always supported them as much as possible. It has been wonderful watching the charity grow. I was very happy to assist in the early days in the set-up of the coffee shop at the Daisy Chain Superstore on Portrack Lane and since seen that go from strength to strength.
As we turn 15 this year, we are asking everyone to share a memory of Daisy Chain they have - it can be very recent or something from a long time ago, anything you can think of!
I have to say that delivering our mahoosive soft monkey to the farm at Christmas time last year was so much fun! Franklyn the monkey sat in our Castlegate store for the month of December whilst our customers raised money finding a name for him! When FRANKLYN was chosen, I had great pleasure in delivering him to Daisy Chain’s wonderful Farm in Norton. We even had our photo taken in the kids’ ball pit, very cute indeed!
