Becky Donald - Ragfork
Who are you? What do you do? Where do you do it?
Rebecca Donald, 24yrs old. Set up, own and run Rag-Fork Ltd, which designs and distributes specialist and innovative tools for the Garden, Equestrian and Pet Markets. Based in Tickhill, South Yorkshire.
Why did you start-up a business?
I’m an ambitious young person who wanted to run a business within a sector that genuinely interested me. Mt first product, the Rag-Fork, is designed to take out ragwort which is poisonous to horses and I’m a keen horse rider. I’m very into design and marketing and love thinking of new ideas which I can develop into products which I then launch into the marketplace.
How (and when) did you start-up a business?
I had just the one product when I started back in January 2005, the Rag-Fork which I knew I could sell into the UK Equine Market as there was a need for this type of product. I therefore aimed to do this in my first year and then progress in the overseas markets in year 2 whilst designing new, similar products along the way. By mid 2005 I’d got interest from The Netherlands, Germany and New Zealand for the Rag-Fork and had designed a completely new and unique range of garden tools called the Eazi-Tools. This year I’ve been on a trade mission to New Zealand with the Rag-Fork and am just about to launch the Eazi-Tools in Cologne, Germany.
What have been the biggest challenges in running your own business? How have these been overcome?
Cash-Flow is the biggest headache for me. Its ok having grand ideas but you need to have the funds to support them on top of the day to day running costs that a business requires. I’ve had to learn the art of budgeting pretty fast!
What have been your greatest achievements in running your business?
Traveling to New Zealand and securing a distributor out there was pretty exciting. I would never have dreamt that the Rag-Fork would take me to the other side of the world. Also being runner up in the COLA Awards earlier this year was great as it spurred me on when my morale was running low. In the future I hope that my Eazi-Tools range is well received by the UK and overseas market.
What would be your advice to any young aspiring entrepreneurs?
My main advise is to have self –belief and self –discipline. I’ve found that the easiest way to achieve this is to set up your business doing something that you’re genuinely interested in, that way its easier to motivate yourself.
Also choose a business that excites you and that you can do, play to your strengths i.e. if you’re good at plumbing and you genuinely enjoy it then set yourself up as a plumber but alternatively if you hate maths don’t try to be an accountant!