She’s over the Moon with success

Oct 5 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

THE woman behind a North East matchmaking firm made it to the final two in a national competition to find the female entrepreneur of the year.

But Sharon Kell, who launched Coco Moon in Newcastle a year ago, was pipped at the O2 Grazia Magazine Female Entrepreneur of the Year Awards by Lisa Warner, who runs Northampton-based Fink Cards.

Nonetheless, Mrs Kell was delighted to have made it to second place after 11,000 women entered the competition.

“I am delighted with the successes so far, and would especially like to thank each and every person who has supported my businesses,” she said.

“To be chosen as a finalist and runner-up and fly the flag for our region, well, it just makes me feel quite humble.”

She worked as head of sales for mobile phone company Orange and in a number of senior roles at British Gas. When she tired of life working for a big company she decided to launch the introduction agency.

“Like any new business, this journey has been the biggest rollercoaster of my life.

“After an amazing 12 months trading, there is still a lot of work to do. I am working on extending our services across the UK.

“Winning an accolade of this nature is amazing. The key has been carving out a new sector in an already crowded dating market.”