B&B chats to Sarah, Founder of Manchester Home & Living
Sarah shares with us, what she loves most about running a business, her proudest and most challenging moments, and her favourite hot spots in her hometown of Manchester.
What inspired you to start Manchester Home & Living?
A genuine love for fragrance and a need for a new job! I had just been made redundant from my job as a photographer and my boyfriend suggested I take my experience with product photography and love of making things and turn it into a business. Fragrance was the obvious choice as I already had a house full of candles.
What do you love most about being a business owner?
I love having the time and the freedom to do what I want when I want to do it. I also love being able to experiment with products, to create new things and work on what I want to work on.
What do you find most challenging about running a business?
You need to have a lot of time to learn new skills. When you first start you know nothing about taxes and building a website or social media and you have a really steep learning curve. I think the most challenging thing is learning all the extra new skills you need to make the business work from the back end. The majority of the work your customers will never see.
What’s your greatest personal achievement in relation to your business, so far?
My greatest achievement would definitely be getting the opportunity to work with the Manchester Museum and Whitworth Art Gallery to stock my products there. Both are such iconic Manchester venues that I was ecstatic to be able to work with them.
What is your main source of inspiration when designing and making your products?
I am an avid gardener and have a real passion for herbal medicine so I always take my inspiration from nature and the healing power of plants.
What would be the one piece of advice you would give someone that wants to turn their passion into a business?
You have to love what you do, because if you don't there's just no point and your customers will be able to tell. If you love what you do you'll never work a day in your life.
Sarah shares with us her top four pitstops when visiting her hometown of Manchester:
EAT at La Viña. "Tapas Restaurant on Deansgate. They have fabulous wine and amazing tapas"
SHOP at Smithfield Market
SIP at Federal Cafe Bar. "They used to make amazing Natas too!"
GO to Fletcher Moss Botanical Garden/Park. "It's so beautiful in the Summer, it's a little out of the city but well worth the effort".
Sarah's calming room sprays feature in our Sleep Well Gift Box and Mum to be Care Package. Keep up to date on Instagram with upcoming product launches and behind the scenes at Manchester Home & Living @manchesterhomeliving