I am raising funds to help me start my own fashion retail business, My main lines being from the Missi London and blinQ ranges.

The funds that i am hoping to raise will help with a variety of things in the first important year of starting up these include

property rental, shop fittings, initial stock etc

So far In my quest I have done some research with various suppliers in the area that i am looking to trade (fashion), and although the wholesale prices are very reasonable, when you are used to just 'getting by', and not having built up much in the way of savings, even a modest cost for initial stock can be a daunting task . With that said though there are a few friendly wholesale suppliers that are prepared to provide me with 'smaller than usual' packs of stock to build up my stock list, and one was also kind enough to give me some helpful advice regarding marketing / advertising. There has also been a small business owner in the local area who has been kind enough to provide me with a unused display stand that they no longer need :)

So far I have purchased a few items from my chosen suppliers and then sold this stock at car boot sales and online via my own website, partly to raise funds and partly to promote my business, but i'm sure any business owners reading this, will agree car boot sales can sometimes (but not always) backfire for a company image, and the 'true' retail cost of items sold will be rarely met, so not really a way to build a profitable business in general.

As in my opening text, I would use the funds to purchase initial up to date, current trend stock, Shop display fittings / stands, the funds raised will also help with local advertising costs, and soften the blow for an initial rental period of my new retail outlet. This will be a cost effective retail outlet in a busy (but not necessarily prime) area. I also have a business presence on Facebook to help promote my business.

I am also a volunteer for a well known charity in my spare time, and have already decided that once i am in business and making a decent profit, i will be donating a percentage of these profits to the charity i volunteer for. (anyone who knows me, knows the charity i'm referring to)

Any donation, however small will be gratefully received with thanks. Please do not donate more than you can afford, I would rather 600 people donated £5, than 3 donating £1000!) , I will keep this page updated with developments as they happen.

Thank you for taking the time to read my page, and thank you in advance for your donations.