Happy 10th Birthday to Room Forty!

​Room Forty is Celebrating 10 years in business and here’s why that’s so incredible!

​1) I had no experience in business. No idea what I needed to do to make it work. And I only had a tiny red Citroen C2 and a fear of driving on motorways, or even going near one! Not ideal for a mobile tea room!  A few years on I upgraded to a van, and I got some help with the motorway fear and I now prefer to drive on them!

2) There wasn’t a business out there that I could copy or learn from. No blueprint to follow, I had to make it up as I went along. That meant a long time making decisions so I didn’t waste money or resources, and some, (many) mistakes along the way. 

3) I had no big budget or business loan to set up. I just had a little redundancy money to look after me for a couple of months, and many friends who helped me source vintage crockery from family and charity shops. Thankfully my kitchen had just been designed to have a lot of worktops as that is essential for practicalities of baking for larger numbers. I am fortunate to have a husband who does have a decent and steady job to make sure we didn’t flounder, but the business had to pay for itself. 

4) I wasn’t good baker when I began.  I could make some cakes for sure, but not to any scale and not in miniature, which is how I like to serve my cakes and patisserie, just like a posh tea room. If the food recycling bin had been established when I started out in 2016 it would have been overflowing with my mistakes. But I learned, and my repertoire is now extensive, with vegan and gluten free  baking no longer terrifying!

So, what do I think made it work?
The kindness of strangers. People who put their trust in a tiny brand new business. I’m naming a few people here, but not in any particular order, and if I have missed you, it is isn’t because I don’t value your, its because there are too many to mention, I am forgetful, and you know yourselves that I appreciate you. 

Danielle K and her family who was the first person to book me for her daughter's first birthday.  She’d seen the press release in the Warrington Guardian. That first booking was mentally and physically exhausting, but showed me that it was possible. People would pay, and importantly she went on to book me again, and again and tell her friends who booked me..and the journey began.  

Imagery has been so important to try and capture what I do, and whilst I do a terrible job of day to day snaps, the set up early on was important to build the brand. 

Shout out to Nick Yates from Design by Future who was kind enough to produce my logo and branding, which in ten years hasn’t needed to change. It is still beautiful. Dave Gillespie who took this first pro photos of me that helped me get my face out there, and then Paul Chadwick from Prism Studios who took the foodie photos in exchange for scones and a brew.   Jane Burkinshaw from Love Your Lens who did teach me how to take a proper food photo (which I don’t do justice to in my too fast snaps!) and finally all the headshots over the years that have been captured by the talented Andrew Collier.
 
Laura from the Tea Parlour restaurant in Liverpool. It is no longer there, but when I was thinking of setting up I went to this beautiful tea room and saw how they served everything in old fashioned crockery, and really looked after their customers, visiting each table several times rather than putting everything down in one go, real loose leaf tea, home baking.  Laura allowed me to work a couple of shifts to experience the magic, and I learned so much from her. 

The professional networkers and business builders who helped introduce me to business and future people who would become friends , clients and supporters. I had no idea people could be so helpful without wanting anything in return. Particular thanks to Kirsty James, Tricia Peters, Tony Longmore and Jackie Emson and Warrington Business Exchange who held my hand as I walked into the world of business terrified, but with a good elevator pitch and my beautiful business cards.  You don’t know how much you help small business, so do take time to know I hold your kindness dear. 

I wouldn’t have even thought that Room Forty was possible without the shove I got from my best friend Mitch Poole.  Every day in the early days when I was having a wobble, and even now when I am not sure, Mitch has been there encouraging, helping, and coming up with ideas for mad cap press releases. The best being the idea to enter the World bread awards to promote our new bread making classes in 2017 and then we won Silver. An amazing accomplishment and brilliant PR. 

And, on this topic thanks to all our local and regional media, who have really helped to keep our happy news in people’s minds at all our milestones.  Particularly Warrington Guardian, Gary Skentlebury at Warrington Worldwide and Brigid from Cheshire Times.
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And finally to my family and my team of merry tea ladies.  Extra helpings of shout outs to my mum, ‘Cinders’ who still looks after me, sews our little white aprons, does the  table flower arrangements,  makes the butties, and washes up.  And my many tea ladies who definitely put the tea in team, they pop up when I need them, particularly at bigger events. I am grateful for the beautiful friendships that have resulted, which makes for a better Christmas party than sitting in the pub on my own as a sole trader! 

If I could give myself some advice ten years ago, what would it be?   Get the finance (or whatever scares you) sorted early, as lost sleep and worry isn’t worth the energy. Paying a bit made all the difference. And find your supporters, those people who will be there for you when you a pep talk and your tender ego boosting!  And then pay it back in the future when they need it back. 

And of course to all our customers, supporters, suppliers. friends and family, without whom Room Forty wouldn’t have lasted 10 days, never mind 10 years. 

What’s next? Well I have taken four new bookings this week, and have several bread making classes coming up, so Room Forty is not going anywhere.   But I have also have started a new business teaching yoga, (www.jenperryyoga.co.uk) for the quieter Room Forty days and to continue bringing happiness and calm to my community, so if you need office yoga or a cup of tea I am your lady! @jenperryyoga 

So I am raising my cup of tea to everyone to has helped me along the way. I really appreciate your support now, and in the future, and if I can help you back, I will.