Success on the cards as Paul overcomes ill-health

Mar 10 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

A FORMER engineer who gave up his career because of illness has now opened his own business.

Paul Coleman, 39, was unable to carry on his job as a design engineer after he was diagnosed two years ago with a spinal condition that restricted his ability to move about.

So now he has decided to turn entrepreneur by opening a card and gift shop in his home town of Willington in County Durham.

Paul said: “I do have spinal problems, but you can’t mope, you just have to get on with it. I have worked in Willington for many years, and I had noticed that they had no local greeting cards shops and running my own business is something I have always wanted to do.

“You get used to a monthly salary, cars and holidays and it got put on the back burner, but my illness gave me the extra push I needed.”

He opened Willington Cards with the support of Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI), Be Enterprising which aims to inspire and support enterprise among people in some of the most deprived communities in County Durham.

Paul said: “Business is growing steadily since we opened, we are in quite a central location too, so we get a lot of passers-by who pop in.”

Paul received funding from Be Enterprising to help cover start-up costs including insurance, flyers and a shop sign.

He said: “My coach, Michael Smith was really supportive, as well as advising me on what kind of stock and where to buy it, he gave me advice on the business side of things like cash flow, bookkeeping and things I hadn’t even thought about.”

Mr Smith said: “We are committed to helping people in the most deprived communities of County Durham and Paul has been a model client, showing motivation and enthusiasm all the way through the process. Not only that, he has overcome a lot of personal issues to get where he is today and should be an inspiration to a lot of people.

“We were delighted to help Paul get his own business off the ground and we wish him every success with Willington Cards.” Anyone living in Derwentside, Easington, Sedgefield or Wear Valley who would like support making their business idea a reality may be eligible for support from Be Enterprising.

For more information call 0800 030 4134 or visit www.be-enterprising.biz.