International Women’s Day, a time to celebrate the remarkable achievements of women worldwide.

This International Women’s Day, our focus was on highlighting some of the incredible business women in Brewery Square, showcasing their journey and the impact they’ve made.

We’ve had the privilege of talking to some of they female entrepreneurs who call Brewery Square home to their successful businesses.

Their stories are diverse, yet they share a common thread of strength.

Georgia Heggs, Halo Fine Art Gallery:

The passionate owner of Halo Fine Art Gallery, whose journey from teaching to owning an art gallery has been nothing short of inspiring. ‘After being in the gallery for no more than a month, I fell in love. The surroundings, the artwork, the methods, the clients and everything else that it brings. I loved seeing the reactions that art could bring to an individual and the memories it can bring back, it truly is moving’.

‘I learnt very early on that you don’t always get things right, but you learn from your mistakes, I also have 2 young children and 2 dogs, so trying to run the business whilst still being mum is hard, but I take the little wins when I can, like never missing a sports day or never missing them come out the school doors at 3pm”.

Any advice for women starting out in their career?

My advice would be, don’t give up. If you truly believe and want something, keep going. Always be kind and always believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. Also be prepared to get your hands dirty, you get out of a business what you put in. 

Annabelle Thorne, F.I.T.T Chiropractic

Annabelle’s venture began just before the onset of the pandemic. She signed the lease in March, only for COVID to freeze everything two weeks later. Despite the uncertainty, Annabelle’s spirit continued, and the business came out stronger.

A defining moment in Annabelle’s journey was fuelled by the support of other women. A good friend encouraged her to take the plunge, along with Annabelle’s daughter, Mya, further inspiring her.

Any advice for women starting out in their career?

Annabelle emphasises the impact of leading by example, recognising that a team is only as strong as its leader. Friendship, shared values, and resilience are the cornerstones of her success.

Annabelle shares that if she could go back to her 20-year-old self, she would believe in herself sooner. She encourages women to stand their ground, ignore the naysayers, and not let anyone pull them down.

Helen Moody, C SIDE

Helen’s passion for music and upcycling laid the foundation for C SIDE. With a background in markets and record fairs they continued their mission into bricks and mortar. C SIDE has found its creative home in Brewery Square, selling preloved and upcycled clothing, recycled jewellery and items created by small businesses and younger individuals.

Any advice for women starting out in their career?

Pursue something you’re passionate about and recognise that the rewards come in many ways. Having a space that is yours is an incredible achievement. You should focus on doing what you love and don’t solely fixate on financial gain.

Louise Cowan, Loco Loves Boutique

As Loco Loves marks it’s 5th year in Brewery Square, we take a moment to reflect on the inspiring journey of its founder.

Louise’s journey began in the world of fashion buying. Following redundancy, the desire to do something personal and meaningful led her to explore her passions. Starting with Loco Craft and later evolving into Loco Loves Boutique, the business became a reflection of everything she loves.

A pivotal moment for Louise was when a previous job didn’t work out and she found herself with a newfound confidence, reinforcing the belief that she could venture further.

What inspired you to start your business?

Doing something for yourself and having that extra push from her children.

Any advice for women starting out in their career?

If you have that desire just go for it as you have nothing to lose. Take the plunge as you will always think about the ‘what if’s’, so you might as well go for it. You will be knocked down but you’ve got to keep going, and once you find something that drives you, you’ll find that fight to keep going. Be more self-confident and don’t doubt yourself.

Nikki Skinner, Nikki’s Little Play Cafe

Nikki’s Little Play Cafe opened in January 2024, creating a calm, muted, sensory sympathetic play space for children to enjoy.

Nikki’s experience comes with insightful advice for other women, especially mothers. She encourages them not to lose themselves in motherhood. Nikki observed that many first-time mothers tend to forget their identity amidst their new roles. Her message is clear – be who you want to be.

Were there any challenges when starting your business?

Nikki encountered some challenges when opening NLPC, as nothing moved as swiftly and fast as anticipated. The most significant hurdle was time scales.

Marcia Smith, Vinyl Van

Vinyl Van started with selling vinyls from their VW Campervan at local festivals, events, and markets. After an incredible summer, they stumbled upon their current premises in Brewery Square.

They consider themselves fortunate to share this passion with others. The dream of working with music, once just an idea, has become their reality.

Were there specific challenges you faced when establishing your business, and how did you overcome them?

With limited capital, the journey started in a campervan as a mobile business and we evolved over time into a permanent location.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs based on your own experience?

Follow your passions, if you do what you love then you’ll love what you do. Start small to test the water and build things up as you can. Market stalls etc are great and affordable ways of trying things out before committing to a long-term venture.

Any advice for women starting out in their career?

Be your authentic self and love what you do. Passion and authenticity show.

As we celebrate these incredible women on International Women’s Day, our hope is that their stories serve as inspiration for all, setting examples for young girls and demonstrating that anything is possible with dedication.