A businesswoman who started with zero budget and now ships products all over the UK from her Bitterne Park kitchen has won a Hampshire Women’s Business Award.
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Jackie Neat, (pictured, right) who runs The Whimsical Kitchen from her pink kitchen in Lacon Close, makes what she describes as “quirky colourful treats” including marshmallow and fudge in non-traditional flavours.
“Think Heston or Willy Wonka,” said Jackie, who walked away with the ‘Entrepreneurial Spirit’ award at the glitzy inaugural ceremony in The President’s Lounge, St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday (Nov 17).
L to R: Awards organiser Trudy Simmons, Lou Carter from award sponsor Rising Vibe, and winner Jackie Neat from The Whimsical Kitchen
Pic: Nadja Litau Photography
In total more than 100 businesses were nominated across eight awards.
The winners were chosen by a panel of judges, including the sponsors of each award.
“I think I won the award because I gave my honest opinion about how I run my business. It's more than products – it's a community built around it. Supporting each other and sharing creativity,” said Jackie.
'It makes all the 2am finishes packing orders so worth it...'
“I'm a solo parent to two amazing boys and have lived in Bitterne Park for nearly nine years. Community is key and that's also my ethos of my business too. The support I've had locally from customers, friends and fellow Vineyarders [Vineyard Church] has been incredible and it makes all the 2am finishes packing orders so worth it.”
Jackie describes her business as a “one-girl band” and has done everything herself, from setting up her website to designing packaging.
“When I started the business in late 2016 I only sold locally and attended local events, and often held some of my own in The Old Chemist. But as the business grew I knew I needed to grow with it and expand my knowledge, so I learnt how to build a website (it's not that scary) and once set up I slowly began expanding and taking orders UK-wide.
Zero budget
“I started the business with zero budget, which I think is a really important message. We're often told we need to have business loans and get into debt before we've even started, when it's not always the case.”
Trudy Simmons, who runs Hampshire Women’s Business Facebook group and the awards, said: “I only started these awards in March this year. We had 9,800 votes go through, and for Jackie to win was amazing."
She added: “I am delighted with how many entries we received and how many votes were cast. Women in business need to be celebrated. There is still a misconception that female business owners are just running hobby businesses – that is not the case and the amount of strong, inspirational businesswomen that have been involved in these Awards demonstrates that. I cannot wait to start planning next year’s event.”
Jackie Neat is keen to promote other local businesses: as well as running her own she’s helping to organise the forthcoming Christmas in the Triangle event and also “takes care of goings on” at Vineyard’s Old Chemist venue at the Triangle, where she wants to promote a window display of “non bricks and mortar” local businesses in the new year. To get in touch contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.