Mumpreneur wins £10k business award

Lime Lace, which sells eclectic homeware and gifts from its Harrogate base and is on track to double turnover this year, scooped the Kalixa Pro Outstanding Small Business of the Year Award.

Owner Sam King will now be able to plough her winnings into plans for expansion into the children’s homeware market in the New Year.

Ms King originally entered her business into the regional round of the Kalixa Pro Spirit of Small Business Awards, where it was named Best Small Business in the North East.

The prize was a mentoring session with judge Michelle Mone, whose successful Ultimo lingerie brand has made her one of the UK’s most recognisable entrepreneurs.

“She was very helpful,” said Ms King. “As a single mum of the same age, she had been in a similar position to me when she set up her business, so she knew the challenges I’ve faced. She also passed on some business contacts which I’m sure will come in useful.”

Former property developer Ms King set up Lime Lace in 2012 whe she spotted a gap in the market for a retailer specialising in eclectic home interiors and gifts.

She originally opened a shop in Princes Square in Harrogate, but closed it when her online sales started outstripping those from her retail premises. Customers now come from all over Europe, Australia and North America.

“My website is a one-stop market-place for designer and unusual furniture, wallpaper, lighting, gifts, jewellery and art,” she said.

“I spent months working on my business plan, financial planning and competitor analysis. I had saved enough money to self-fund my business and still to this day I have not – yet – had to borrow a penny, but truth be known, I’ve been very close!”

Ms King’s latest success comes hot on the heels of a double shortlisting in the 2014 StartUps Awards. She was a finalist in the Mumpreneur of the Year category and Lime Lace made to the finals in the Home-based Business of the Year category.