A Durham entrepreneur is branching out to open her first ‘bricks and mortar’ store – just months after she was named as a finalist in an online trading competition.

Kate Dawson (pictured right), from Dipton, was one of 10 budding entrepreneurs from across the region who each won £2,000 to start their own business via eBay, in a challenge run by regional development agency One NorthEast and e-business champions the North East Regional Portal.

The idea of the ‘YouTrade’ competition was to encourage online entrepreneurship across the North East and now, only six months after launching her business Spirit Unique, selling jewellery and accessories, Kate has diversified into other products and will open The Spirit Gallery and Giftshop in Eshottheugh on Saturday.

“I’ve attended a number of events and fairs promoting the business and am now supplying a hotel with jewellery for their staff,” she says. “I’ve found eBay to be a very competitive market place for jewellery so I’ve diversified into other products such as watches and home accessories, which are proving to be popular sellers.

“I’ve also got my products into a number of local galleries and art centres, and I’m offering Spirit Unique jewellery parties.

“When the Eshott premises came up for rent, I fell in love with the place immediately and decided to take the chance. It’s selling all the products from Spirit Unique, as well as products from other local artists.

“I’m still continuing to develop my eBay store and independent website, getting my products into more local outlets - ultimately, I want Spirit Unique to be my day job!”

Kate still works full time as a designer in Gateshead. In the future Kate hopes to include more fashion accessories and contemporary home wares into her range.

YouTrade was launched last November. Among the other successful pitches to the ‘Dragon’s Den’ style panel were business plans for jewellery and accessories, fitness equipment sales and antiques companies.

All the winners have now started trading via eBay, and are competing to be the most successful in their first year of trading.

To help them, they are getting support through a series of boot camps about all aspects of running an internet business and entrepreneurship in general.

Andy Walton, e-business Manager at One NorthEast, said: “When we launched YouTrade, we wanted to inspire people to be enterprising and to turn their ideas into something real.

 “If we are to achieve the region’s aim of starting 22,000 new businesses in the next decade to help us close the productivity gap between the North East and other English regions, we have to develop our entrepreneurial culture and make sure people have access to the skills they’ll need to succeed in running their own business.

“All our YouTraders are demonstrating that, with hard work, strong business advice and a quality idea, the opportunities are out there.” 

Regional Portal chief executive Norma Foster said: "We are delighted that Kate’s venture has taken off so quickly, and it’s great news that she’s already expanding her range of products. She is proving to be an inspiration and an example to us all of how a great idea coupled with creativity and enterprising spirit can become something big.

"As e-business champions we want to encourage and support entrepreneurship in the region and the YouTrade competition has been a fantastic opportunity for 10 entrepreneurs to develop a business idea online.”

When it comes to the race for the YouTrade title, Kate says she’s got her priorities straight: “I would like to win the competition, but I’m focusing my efforts on evolving and developing the business rather than just winning! I was delighted to be one of the finalists – YouTrade has encouraged me to make a hobby into a business, and take a step towards my dream of working for myself.”

Kate’s eBay shop is called ‘Spiritunique’. The Spirit Gallery and Gift Shop  will open at 10am on Saturday 6th October at Eshottheugh Workshops near Felton, Northumberland.

In addition to One NorthEast and the North East Regional Portal, partners of the YouTrade competition are Sage (UK) Ltd, eBay, bgroup (UK) ltd, Platform One ltd, BT and Business Link North East.

Image: Kate Dawson at her new store, The Spirit Gallery and Giftshop in Eshott.

Relevant links

Sunderland e-trader sells pick of the pops

More about the YouTrade project

eBay SME fast facts

More about the North East Regional Portal

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