|
Joules - Online Gift Shop |
Jules Prentice - Online Store Owner
www.theforcesstore.co.uk
Starting your own business is a big step but when you have four children and are moving every two years it becomes difficult to maintain any kind of career. Starting my own company seemed like a great compromise. |
 |
| |
The Forces Store (TFS) is an online gift store specifically designed for deployed British service personnel and their families. We send cakes, food parcels, games and gifts to BFPO addresses across the world as well as gifts and flowers to the families back home in the UK.
As an Army wife myself, I knew that there wasn’t anyone providing a service like ours. We were living in Germany and had friends deployed and could find companies selling products we liked but they didn’t deliver to BFPO or we could find companies that delivered to BFPO but didn’t really have exactly what we wanted. After chatting to lots of friends, and a bit more research, I decided to go for it.
I was lucky because I started my business with someone else. I know that together we were much more driven than perhaps we would have been on our own. Also, we both had different skills and between us were able to deal with the complexities of setting up your own business.
The best bit for me was seeing our new website go live. Originally we couldn’t afford very much and so we made the best of an off the shelf template. As an online store, our website is our shop window and it didn’t reflect who we were. Now, I feel very proud that we have grown into a professional well respected company with a website to match.
www.theforcesstore.co.uk
What has been the hardest bit so far?
Without doubt, the hardest bit has been the financial impact on us as a family. Giving up one wage and then investing in a business has been tough at times although watching the business grow has made it all worthwhile.
Juggling four children and a business hasn’t been easy either, especially as I have had my youngest two since I started The Forces Store, but somehow I have just found the time.
What advice would you give anyone thinking of setting up their own business:
My advice would be to write a realistic business plan. Nothing happens quickly and nothing happens without a lot of hard work. Prepare yourself for a tough couple of years and then enjoy it.
If you want to get in touch with Jules or see what she is doing, go to www.TheForcesStore.co.uk and have a look.
CONTACT
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Jules Prentice
0044 1252 343008
0044 7714 726888
22 Blenheim Park
North Camp
Aldershot
GU11 2HS |
|
