• Who are you?

Sandra Craig, owner of the Wine Napkin Company.

• What does your business do?

I started my business in December 2013 after designing a unique style of napkin, Robe du Vin. The napkin is used for serving white wine or champagne from an ice bucket, and wraps under the bottle to stop drips of ice-cold water from spilling onto your guests or your table.

They are all handmade, to the highest quality, and can be personalised with striking embroidery.

Tartan fabric has been very popular, particularly for weddings to match the groom’s kilt.

• Where are you based?

I run my business from home in Glasgow, to keep costs down.

• How did you get started?

Initially, I was using my mum’s attic as my workshop and using my Jones sewing machine which was 35 years old.

I have since moved by business to my own home due the increase in orders meaning working late at night on occasion.

• What is your background?

After spending most of my career working in a bank and more recently working part-time with the NHS, I started my own business.

I have now reduced my hours with the NHS to allow me to focus more on building my business.

I love the process of picking fabrics and embroidery styles & colours and then really look forward to seeing the end result as every order is different.

At the age of 50, this is a huge learning curve for me.

• What is your top tip?

My one bit of advice to anyone who has a good idea and thinking of starting out is, believe in yourself and your product, don’t give up and strive to improve all the time.

• Has anyone helped you get started and how?

When I came up with the idea, I contacted Business Gateway and remember feeling a bit nervous about going along, worried that they would laugh at my idea. I met a Business Gateway adviser, and he loved my prototype. My product has developed quite a bit from those early days, now beautifully presented in a luxurious gift box and ribbon.

I then met with Jobs & Business Glasgow and was delighted to receive a grant of £250 which I used to buy a new sewing machine.

• What was your biggest mistake or what would you do differently?

If I was starting out again I would be more focused on the priorities, and would have sought advice from Jobs & Business Glasgow earlier in the process. Sandra Kelly and her colleagues have been so supportive, and have given me practical tips and helped with my business plan.

You can feel very overwhelmed when first starting out and having that one-to-one support has made a huge difference.

My friends and family have been a massive support, getting involved and helping out at events, the latest one being at Hampden Park, and even coming up with the product name.

They have also given me the belief that I can do it.

• Where do you plan your business to be in five years time?

As my business progresses, I can see a huge opportunity to sell tartan Robes overseas, and have already sent some to Florida, Australia, and even Dubai.

I would hope eventually to have a small team of people working for me and definitely not to be working from home.

• Useful contacts

Business gateway – www.bgateway.com

Jobs and Business Glasgow - www.jbg.org.uk

• Contact Details

www.thewinenapkincompany.co.uk

info@thewinenapkincompany.co.uk