Hats On Heads
A Lincoln millinery business is getting ahead of its competitors by developing a new product with the help of a business mentor from Innovation Lincolnshire.
Angela Coupe and Carol Robinson of Hats On Heads make bespoke hats to order as well as running workshops in the community and at their Lincoln design studio.
Now they are developing a kit which will allow women to make their own fascinators - headpieces worn on the hair and often made of flowers, feathers or beads.
Innovation Lincolnshire advisors have been helping Angela and Carol to develop a marketing plan for the new kits at the same time as giving the pair an opportunity to step back and analyse their business strategy.
"Initially we contacted Business Link because we were looking for funding to help us to promote our new fascinator kits at The Knit and Stitch Show in London in October 2008," said Angela.
"Business Link put us in touch with Innovation Lincolnshire who have been very helpful.
"They are helping us to take time out and focus on the new product, and she has also given us the chance to sit down and identify the areas that are working for us and the areas that are not.
"It's been really useful because when you're busy doing all kinds of different things you don't have enough time to take a step back and really analyse what you're doing."
Working with Innovation Lincolnshire has helped to bring focus to the company's strategy and begin the development of a marketing plan for the fascinator kits, says Angela.
"We're ready to really push the kits," she says. "Inside the box will be everything you need to make your own fascinator using our designs - there will be four styles and four different colour ways, all packaged really nicely to go into boutiques and galleries.
"Now we're nearly ready to promote the fascinator kits and we really hope that Innovation Lincolnshire will be able to put us in touch with the right PR and marketing people to help us launch the product."
