Enterprise Nation

Our intention sitting in the cafe one day was to start a company to help fund our children's constant flow of birthday parties. So with our passion for fashion and sheer drive we decided to start out own home party company.  Sometimes you can sit there and not even realise how you got there and that's pretty much what has happened to us. Leighann and Angela tell their story.

How did you get started?

We started off just selling jewellery and handbags which quickly progressed into shoes and swimwear. Our products are sourced locally and from around the world; they are unique and individual. We are a boutique that comes to your home but without the high prices.

What were you both doing before starting the business?

I was in university training to be a primary teacher and working in a school and Angela was a driving instructor and in university full time training to be a photographer

Do you run the business from one home office, or two?

At present the office is at my house and it’s called the dinning room! But since reading your book l’m sorting out rooms to make a proper office space. 

You mention that you’re on the look-out for consultants. How does this role differ to hosting a party?

We are always on the look out for motivated and driven women who love fashion and are looking to become consultants so if you know of anybody please pass on our details!

Being a consultant is different to being a host as consultants don’t host the parties from their house - they travel to other people’s homes to show and sell our products. The hostess gets money off our products and free goodies, whilst the consultants have the potential to earn over £50 a night for a couple of hours work.  

Where do you store your stock?

In Angela's spare room. 

Are you taking the business in new directions?

Over the past few months the company has started to take another direction in Fashion Shows and Events with our most recent achievement raising over £1,000 for Hope House Children's Hospice which has become a charity close to our hearts with having children ourselves.

Do your husbands and children help out?

The children really like to get involved and we even ask them their opinion when we purchase new goods.  With our recent Fashion Show all the children were involved in modelling on the catwalk which they loved and have even helped in other events since.  Angela's oldest daughter is going to start ‘make your own jewellery parties’ for teenagers early next year.  We get the children so involved that even one of the children helped us to name our company Primrosehill and our slogan "like a boutique that comes to your home but without the prices".

Do you now have time to go to all the children’s parties, that the business was created to fund?

Our children are in the same classes so we tend to go to the same parties. The only difference is that we now take our laptops too as we sign up lots of our own parties through the parents! 

Leighann talks to Emma Jones

• Primrose Hill Accessories