Lloreta Case & Michelle Read set up Time-Makes in 2010. Here, Lloreta shares her story about how, through a series of events, she arrived at starting her own business.
My story so far,
I run www.time-makers.co.uk with my business partner Michelle Read, Time-Makers is a Concierge and Lifestyle Management Company based in West Cheshire. Time-Makers was established in August 2010. We offer a full range of affordable lifestyle management services, including Photo and Video Services and Bereavement Services. Our aim is to enhance the quality of our clients life and bring back good old fashioned customer service.
After leaving the University of Salford with a degree in Finance I started my career on a Graduate Management Training Scheme working for the Rank Group. I moved to Cheshire in 1995 and worked in the Mecca Bingo Hall in Chester where I was involved in the Prince Charles visit to the Bingo Hall in 1995. I then became an auditor for Rank and had the pleasure of travelling the world undertaking audits in places such as Hawaii. In order to further my career I joined KPMG in Manchester and became a Chartered Accountant, then moved to Unilever in 2000. Unfortunately this is where the soaring career ended when after having my second child in 2003 I came crashing down with Post Natal Depression. I went back to work but I didn’t have the support I needed to continue and ended up having a year out whilst trying to get my life back on track. I joined Cheshire Constabulary in 2006 as an Intelligence Analyst which was a very interesting job and stayed until 2009. However I was still suffering from bouts of anxiety and panic attacks brought on by working full time and trying to look after my 2 children. My family then suffered tragedy in 2006 when my Father in Law was killed and we had to deal with the aftermath including inquests and trials along with probate and the emotional grief.
As a way of coming to terms with depression whilst not working I trained to be a Reflexologist, gained an A-Level in Psychology and a Certificate in Counselling. A huge change from Accountancy but one that I found more rewarding. I have come to terms with my depression and it’s something that I am learning to live with, it is now part of whom I am and I accept that. I enjoy having a better balanced life where I spent more quality time with my husband and children.
Time-Makers was formed from both mine and my business partners life experiences, the services we offer have in some cases come from not having that support around us when we needed it. We have recently introduced Bereavement Services into our work portfolio where Time-Makers help with the practical tasks from the administration and form filling surrounding probate to researching any special funeral requests. We also transfer VHS tapes onto DVD to help preserve those precious memories that would otherwise be lost.
I used this poem to help me accept depression,
Clouds appear free of care
And carefree drift away.
But the carefree mind is not to be ‘found’-
To find it, first stop looking around.
Poem by Wang An Shih
My advice to anyone starting a business would be to use the power of the internet, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn can all be part of your Marketing Strategy. Also build solid honest relationships with your suppliers, clients and all people who you deal with, help and advice others and you will find people more willing to do business with you.
For further information please email Lloreta@time-makers.co.uk.
