**If you’re a woman in business in Torbay and would like to appear on this post, contact editor@torquayonline.com to find out how**
We have the same amount of female members as we have male, and from the looks of it, they are all doing an amazing job!
Here are some of Torbay’s most inspirational business women.
Becky Forte
What is your business?
What do they do?
Forever Beautiful hair salon offers all aspects of hairdressing from colours to extensions. They also offer beauty treatments, Botox, fillers and laser hair and tattoo removal.
Favourite thing about Torbay?
I love Torquay! I’ve lived here all my life and my favourite part is definitely all the beautiful beaches.
1Alexis Robertson
What is your business?
What do they do?
Polished offers all kinds of beauty treatments. This includes microblading, hair, nails, botox, lip fillers and laser lipo.
Advice for anyone looking to start a business?
Don’t ever give up or think you can’t do it. With hard work and determination, you can do anything.
Favourite thing about Torbay?
The seafront, beaches and bistros.
Eve Holleran
What is your business?
What do they do?
Aesthetics. Mainly botox and lip fillers.
Advice for anyone looking to start a business?
My advice is keep motivated and stick to your goals. Keep on top of your game and embrace knowledge and learning. Seek mentorship from the experienced business people in your sector.
Favourite thing about Torbay?
Our beautiful scenery and the fact that we have beaches all around us.
Clare Gay
What is your business?
CG Bookkeeping and Accountancy
What do they do?
Accounts, payroll vat and tax returns.
Advice for anyone looking to start a business?
Plan, research and ask for professional advice.
Favourite thing about Torbay?
Walking on the beautiful seafront on a Winter’s day.
Jenny Barnes
What is your business?
What do they do?
Baby and Children’s preloved Markets.
Advice for anyone looking to start a business?
Do your research, set your goals and don’t be afraid to go for it
Favourite thing about Torbay?
The beaches and the views.
Joanne Gunning
What is your business?
What do they do?
Removals company in Torquay. They cover the entire South West doing anything from light local deliveries to full house moves.
Advice for anyone looking to start a business?
Do your homework first and try and find a gap in the market. Expand your business as your business grows and not beforehand. Reputation is everything so you need to be 100% committed.
Favourite thing about Torbay?
I love everything about Torbay! The sun, the beaches, the pace of life. It’s a great place to live & work.
Joanne Harman
What is your business?
What do they do?
We offer vehicle repairs, mots, mot fails, modifications, tyres , engine replacements, clutches, headgaskets, timing chains, Powerflex & welding.
Advice for anyone looking to start a business?
Make sure you stay enjoying what you do & have enough help & support! From experience I believe customer service is the most important thing to make your business grow & word of mouth soon spreads.
Rachel Hewitt
What is your business?
What do they do?
Provides families with professional photographs in the comfort of their own home.
Advice for anyone looking to start a business?
Do your research and make sure you check out the competition around you.
Favourite thing about Torbay?
The business community and how many people are willing to offer help.
Katherine Hancox
What is your business?
What do they do?
Offers support to mothers to be and their growing families from bump – two years post birth.
Advice for anyone looking to start a business?
Advertise, advertise, advertise! You may not see results for your advertising for a few months, so don’t lose hope, just keep plugging away.
Favourite thing about Torbay?
I love the Coast and the gem that is Cockington!
Kez Brownen
What is your business?
What do they do?
Experienced, local and friendly dog walking and pet sitting service in Torbay and Newton Abbot.
Advice for anyone looking to start a business?
If you’re passionate about what you do then go for it and believe in yourself, you can do anything you want to if you have the motivation. And advertising is everything. It may not give immediate results but give it time and it’ll come.
Favourite thing about Torbay?
I was born and bred here in Torbay and we are so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country. The coastline is breathtaking.
Katie Barbara Petzing
What is your business?
What do they do?
Affordable hairdressing at home.
Advice for anyone looking to start a business?
If you have a passion and the drive I would 1 million percent invest time and love into building your own business!
Favourite thing about Torbay?
My absolute fave part or Torbay is how supportive we are of local businesses! And the views
Gabriella Clarke
What is your business?
What do they do?
Psychotherapy, Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Nutritional Therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique, Hand Reflexology
Advice for anyone looking to start a business?
Advice to other women would be to join some virtual and face to face groups where support, encouragement and ideas can be shared.
Favourite thing about Torbay?
The scenery.
Clare Vaz
What is your business?
What do they do?
A self taught home registered bespoke cake and cupcake decorator.
Advice for anyone looking to start a business?
Don’t see others in your field as enemies. It’s a big enough world to offer the same. Make yourself unique and add your own spin on things. Most importantly have fun and enjoy what you do.
Favourite thing about Torbay?
The beaches on my doorstep and the events put on in Brixham and on Paignton green.
Karen Johnson
What is your business?
What do they do?
A popular bakery in Brixham who make cakes and cupcakes for any occasion.
Advice for anyone looking to start a business?
Do your homework, believe in yourself and do not give up when the going gets tough.
Favourite thing about Torbay?
The variety of things to do, from the town centre to harbour and being all within close proximity.
Lorraine Littlewood
What is your business?
What do they do?
Branding, printing and markeing service to get your business up and running!
Recognition is just as important as the big nationals and the same principles apply.
Get a logo and make sure it’s everywhere! Talk to as many people as possible about your idea/business and give them at least 3 business cards, and ask them to help you get your name out there.
Most people will help if you ask them.
Stay confident, resilient and keep going, even when things don’t seem to be going as well as you’d hoped – it’s completely normal to have ‘down’ times and with tenacity you WILL get through it!
Favourite thing about Torbay?
We are so lucky have such an amazing coastline on our doorstep, as well as being close to the beautiful moorland.
My very favourite thing is walking along the beach, without shoes and the sunshine sparkling on the water. Bliss!
Katie McKenzie
What is your business?
What do they do?
Custom made and laster engraved gifts for all occasions.
My favourite thing about torbay is the seaside and I’d advise keeping your prices low to encourage local trade. Low profit high turn over
Advice for anyone looking to start a business?
Keep prices low to encourage local trade. Low profit, high turnover
Favourite thing about Torbay?
The seaside!
Violeta Chorley
What is your business?
What do they do?
They use essential oils to treat clients with a range of traditional physical problems by treating different body systems and also a wide variety of psychological and emotional problems.
Violeta is also a Yoga Teacher where she helps people attain equanimity in their life whilst giving themselves well deserved TLC through yoga practice by connecting mind, body and breath.
Advice for anyone looking to start a business?
First you have to be passionate about what you do and wish to deliver. Then make sure you have relevant qualification (if needed) and experience.
Once you have your passion and knowledge engraved into your business people will recognise this and be willing to use your services and appreciate what you are doing.
Practice what you preach!! Be your own advocate and represent your business fully so that your clients can see what you can offer and believe what you are saying.
Favourite thing about Torbay?
The sea is the best part of Torbay for me.
The beneficial qualities of seawater have been known to mankind for centuries and have been noted as having a great healing effect. Sea water contains many minerals needed by our bodies to help heal and detoxify. It helps heal wounds, reduces infection, stress, anxiety and promotes pain relief.
Thanks to all these amazing women for taking the time to answer our questions.
And an extra special thank you for helping Torquay Online become the platform it is. We are nothing without our members, so we’re very grateful to all of you!
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