Enterprise Nation

For 20 years Val Hood ran a typing business from home. Feeling that her skills lay elsewhere, she wound down the business to become a clairvoyant medium. Since then, she’s been on TV, appeared in theatre shows and is in the midst of organising a worldwide tour. This is one sassy home business owner.

How do you describe your business?

I am a clairvoyant medium, I give messages from people who have passed over to the spirit world.

Do customers come to your home?

There are many sides to what I do. I can perform the one to one readings in my home or group bookings in other peoples homes which are great fun. I also work out of new age shops.  I teach mediumship and hold workshops and classes locally.

You are out and about a lot at the moment – where are you appearing and what are you up to?

I’ve appeared on TV, done ghost hunting and theatre shows.  I’m now organising a tour firstly of the UK and then Australia and the USA.  I’m on the look-out for venues to get this up and running.  I’ll be doing a show in the evening and private readings during the day.

What do you think is the single most effective thing someone can do to promote themselves and their home business?

I’ve always found my website and the internet to be a fantastic promotional tool.  A good website and search engine are paramount to success.  I also get a lot of referrals. I do leaflet drops and local press is good. I try to contact the newspapers with ideas they like. I recently suggested doing a “most haunted” type night vigil in a very old established family store local to me, and the papers have jumped on it.  A good plug for the shop, and great publicity for me!

Are your family involved in your business?

No.  My one son is a scientist and scoffs at what I do – ha ha.  My daughter is doing A levels and then off to Uni and my other son is in a heavy metal band!  All very different to what I do.  They do support my work although they don’t always understand it.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m organising more public demonstrations of mediumship across the country and then next year spreading out to Oz and the US which is very exciting.  At the moment in the public domain most mediums are male and I’m trying to break into that market and I know that I CAN do it and WILL do it.

Val Hood talks to Emma Jones, in this world.

• Val Hood