AN estate agency administrator has ploughed her redundancy money into selling party bags.

Rebecca Young is focusing on weddings and the celebration markets with her handmade bags, produced from her North Tyneside home.

The mum-of-two named her business SJ Party Bags and Wedding Favours after her children Sam, six, and three-year-old Joseph.

The venture came about after she met an adviser from the Business Factory at her local JobCentre Plus and talking to other mums persuaded her that there was a niche market for quality children’s party bags.

Rebecca, who worked for a North Shields estate agent for nine years before being made redundant, said: “I believe that everything happens for a reason.

“Even though I enjoyed my job and being made redundant was a shock, it has provided me with the opportunity and funding to do something that makes me really happy.

“This was exactly the type of business I wanted to invest my redundancy money into.

“Setting up your own business is nerve wracking, especially when you’ve been in the same job for nine years and you have children.”

She worked with the Business Factory’s David Ireland, who provided free advice sessions to turn her concept into a company.

“I knew I could make the party bags, but I didn’t have knowledge of how to market them, how to set up a business account or how to network effectively to spread the word,” said Rebecca.

“We worked through the idea and decided that it was best to have an online presence through eBay. David then helped me with my business plan and set me goals I had to achieve before each meeting, which kept me focused on getting the business off the ground.

“People shouldn’t be scared of having an idea as there are people like the Business Factory advisers who have supported so many people in the same situation, which really does help.”