Croydon businesswomen prove their worth (From Croydon Guardian)

Croydon businesswomen prove their worth

7:38am Tuesday 10th March 2009 in

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Three female entrepreneurs have shown the borough gender does not matter in business as they celebrated National Women’s Day.

Jasbinder Sandhu-Howard, Delores Coombs and Michelle Pierre-Carr have proved women can reach the top in Croydon.

Jasbinder founded Bindi Handcrafted Designs, making wedding stationery and gifts as well as offering a personal design service.

She said: “In the last year my business has grown by over 50 per cent as a direct result of the support I have received.

“I am now recognised both locally and beyond and have excellent venues recommending my services.

“I am also working with Debenhams as a regular participant for their wedding events.”

Delores runs Step Ahead Services, which helps young people aged 16 years and over move on to independent living.

Founded in 2003, Step Ahead Services is currently expanding, as they will be opening two residential semi-independent units for their clients.

Michelle runs a tropical wedding company, appealing to those wishing to marry in the Caribbean.

She has extensive knowledge and experience of Jamaica and, inspired by her own wedding on the island, together with her family connections, she saw a gap in the market for a specialist service that would far exceed the expertise of travel agents, as well as being financially viable for her clientele at the same time.

She said: “We are definitely a niche company, and with everyone being hit by the credit crunch, brides are looking at more savvy ways to reduce wedding costs.

“It can be very lonely setting up a business, so I found the Croydon Enterprise’s business advice and coaching sessions invaluable.”

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