futures
futures FEBRUARY 2009
18
GETTING
SERIOUS
ABOUT
PARTIES
IN THE WORKPLACE
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
W
HEN Lorraine Anderson-Cole
ended her career in nursing,
her passion to make a change
and embark on a new venture
for herself has meant she now
owns one of Cumbria's most unusual
businesses.
The mother-of-two previously nursed
patients with autism and this sparked a
keen interest in developing a business
which also allowed her to raise awareness
of the condition.
"I wanted to make a difference. So when
I left nursing I felt the time had come for
me to do something fun and positive,"
Lorraine said.
"But the idea for my business came
about when my son wanted a Dr Who
themed birthday party. I couldn't find
anything locally so I set about thinking `if
only there were a one stop party shop
where you could get everything'.
"I did a bit of market research and sent
a questionnaire to local parents and found
that the majority of them had to go to two
or three different shops to get all the
party supplies they needed for their
child's party.
"I knew that there was the niche there
in the market for me to set up my own
children's party supplies business and
become the only place that parents ever
needed to go to for all they needed.
"The idea was to take the pressure off
parents so I knew if I developed my
business online then it would be
accessible for everyone.
"I also made the decision to go into
schools and nurseries to sell or drop off
orders which would make things much
easier for busy parents.
"I knew some people would want to see
the products before they bought them but
often don't have the time to visit two or
three shops and around the town so this
would also mean they'd save money on
fuel and parking.
"From researching, to sourcing the
right products, to loading all the stock
onto the website; the whole process took
four months."
In preparation for the launch of her
new enterprise, Lorraine undertook a
Linkstart course with the West Cumbria
Development Agency to prepare her for
running My Party Angel.
She attended Christmas fairs in an
attempt to highlight her venture and had
interested customers queuing up to know
more.
In conjunction with My Party Angel,
Lorraine raises money for local and
national autism and meningitis charities
as well as local schools and nurseries.
"I would like to help schools and
nurseries raise funds in a simple and fun
way whilst raising awareness of autism
and meningitis. For all My Party Angel
sales made via schools and nurseries my
company will give back 10 per cent to the
school or nursery fund," Lorraine, 38,
said.
"My son, Josh, had meningitis when he
was two weeks old so the topic is very
close to my heart.
"Myself and my husband, Adam, have
taken part in lots of fund-raising events so
I saw this as another opportunity to raise
awareness. Adam has even run a
marathon and competed the Three-Peaks
Challenge.
"If I can raise awareness for just one
child to be diagnosed then it's been worth
it."
Lorraine's business has got off to a
flying-start. She said: "I had already sold
supplies for four parties where I've done
anything from putting party bags
together to suggesting fun party games
for the children having first birthdays to
eight- to 10-year-olds.
"Since then it's been non-stop; the
business has mushroomed. It's just passed
on by word of mouth."
For more information on My Party
Angel visit www.mypartyangel.co.uk or
call Lorraine on 01900 85754 or
07720984918.
Joanna polishes up her paper skills
W
ITH customers throughout the
world and the continuing need
for cosmopolitan awareness,
Iggesund has recently invited
Joanna Kwaitkowska from
Poland to join the Workington mill as a
graduate trainee.
Joanna, who has a masters degree in
paper science, arrived at the site in
September after securing her degree at
the Technical University of Lodz, during
which she also trained with Stora Enso
and had a three-month spell with P�yry
Forest Industry in Poland.
However, having landed in the UK
around 18 months ago with limited
knowledge of the English language,
Joanna set herself the task of learning to
speak fluently and secure work in
England.
Joanna said: "I knew about Iggesund
and I wanted to come to the UK and work
in my chosen profession.
"I also went to a technical secondary
school specialising in the printing and
paper industry in Poland, so I have
actually been working towards this job
since I was 15 years old."
Following her arrival at the site,
Joanna spent seven weeks gaining a
valuable insight into the workings of each
department before being assigned a
specific project.
Having also brought herself up-to-speed
with most words relating to the paper
industry, Joanna now hopes to get to grips
with Cumbrian expressions which some
of her colleagues often use.
Joanna added: "I'm learning the
language all the time and although some
of the local accents are quite strong it
becomes easier for me day by day."
Alan Brown, contracts and supply
manager at Iggesund, said: "We always
try to identify people who will contribute
to the company's activities in a positive
way and we believe Joanna will fit in
really well." JOANNA KWAITKOWSKA
GETTING READY TO PARTY: Lorraine Anderson-Cole who runs her children's party-supplies business My Party Angel from her home
IN THE BAG: One of her party bags BOX CLEVER: Some of her party boxes SITTING PRETTY: An ugly doll

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