Rochelle Byles : Pootle

I grew up in Hastings and moved to Coventry in 1995 to study for a Primary Teaching Qualification at Warwick University. I graduated in 1999, and got married that same year. I had a very successful teaching career until 2004, when I gave up teaching to be a full time mum to Andrew, now 3, and Sophie who joined us in 2006.

Being a mum I felt frustrated as everything seemed to be excessively priced for pregnancy and for newborns, especially when you consider the short time these items are used. My sister passed some of the larger items for the kids onto me, but for the rest of the kit needed, I felt there was no option but to buy brand new.  I wanted nearly new, but didn't want to purchase at online auction sites as it felt a risk to the safety of my children being unable to check items thoroughly prior to purchase. With a concern for the environment and the purse strings, I decided to do something about it for future Coventry mums. So this is when I started thinking about starting up my own business.

I then, luckily saw a newspaper article in a free paper about some workshops WBDA were promoting and delivering on how to set up your business. The workshops I went on really gave me the business skills that I needed! I also accessed further training on tax/retail issues.  It was great being able to take advantage of these fantastic free workshops! It’s so worth it.

On completion of the workshops, I was then booked in to see a business advisor called Michelle. She was great! I got continued reassurance from her and she gave me faith that I would finally find some premises (I had been struggling to find somewhere to open up)! She also helped me access some funding. Having one to one business mentoring with Michelle has been invaluable and the moral support has been great!

I now started to become more positive about my business idea, therefore I became more willing to put in the time and work needed to get it off the ground. I know the outlook for my business now, which looks great and I know that there is support out there to help and guide me through it all!

With all the help and support I now finally have a business! Prior to WBDA, it was all just an idea. WBDA’s support made me realise the idea could become a reality if I chose it to be!

And here is a little bit about my new business called POOTLE…

POOTLE is a nearly new baby goods shop located in the north of Coventry. We're an agency that buy and sell baby goods needed from pregnancy through to age 3.Clothing, Cots,
Bumbos, Buggy Boards-you name it, we'll stock it. We have a range of new items, plus we sell-mattresses of all shapes and size and a beautiful range of acrylic mirrors for your nursery. We also stock a range of washable nappies, offering a fitting service and a "try before you buy" scheme. Pootle-Baby Goods at Baby Prices . Sellers will benefit from having an outlet to get rid of an item that is no longer wanted and buyers will have the advantage of kitting out their nursery in a cheaper and green way. POOTLE is the first retail premises in Coventry and Warwickshire advisory on, demonstrating and offering a trial scheme of washable nappies.

For more information about Rochelle’s shop – please visit http://www.pootle-shop.co.uk/ or call her on 02476 663340