Award-winning start for new online business

It has been a memorable – and award-winning – two weeks for a new Hartlepool company.

Restoration & Beyond launched its online store for self-builders and period home owners on November 6th at one of the UK’s biggest homes shows - the Home Building & Renovating Show in Harrogate. And two weeks later, one of the company’s founders Christine Pearce picked up the ‘One to Watch’ award at the 2009 Women Into the Network (WIN) awards which celebrate female entrepreneurship.

“The launch was a huge success” said Christine. “We attracted many homeowners to our stand who said that our site is just what they need to find the right suppliers and service providers”.

Fellow director Paula Smith added: “We also had many other exhibitors come to us to find out how they could join as they were very impressed with what they saw. This is very heartening after a year of extremely hard work in developing the business and website”.

The pair barely had time to unpack their bags before heading up to Tyneside for the 2009 WIN Awards, (Women into the Network), sponsored by Business Link on Friday 20th November. The event, now in its 10th year, honours enterprising women from all around the North East. Hosted by former BBC presenter Wendy Gibson, more than 400 of the region’s most enterprising women and their supporters gathered at the Hilton hotel on the Quayside .

Christine received the ‘One to Watch’ award on behalf of the company. That award is given to a business that has either just started trading or is close to launch and recognises "vision, determination and a business idea that demonstrates real market and commercial understanding."

Christine also became an ‘Ambassador for Entrepreneurship’ in the ‘If We Can, You Can’ Challenge earlier this year, organised by the Entrepreneurs Forum.

Christine said, “If you have a business idea, don’t keep it to yourself. There are so many excellent organisations available who can offer real help to get your business off the ground. We have had help from Business Link, Hartlepool Enterprise Agency, Be-Enterprising, the ‘If We Can, You Can’ team (Entrepreneurs Forum) and Women into the Network and also really good help from our bank and mentor, James Robson of Exwold. If you’re willing to work hard and believe in your idea, it will eventually pay off”.