Genuine Jersey jewellery designer Victoria Liddell has received a business boost from retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis by winning a national competition through his online ‘Small Business Sunday’ initiative. Victoria met the famous Dragon and went to a networking event in the UK to learn from fellow small business owners.
Victoria is a self-taught silversmith who decided to turn her hobby into a business in 2014. She has achieved great success, both locally through The Harbour Gallery and online. She has shipped her jewellery to 18 States in America. Her delicate silver designs incorporating gemstones are inspired by nature and reflective of the Island’s shorelines, capturing the attention of Mr Paphitis through his competition handle #SBS.
The celebrity businessman started the competition in 2010 as a way to help small business owners. Every week, six winners are selected to have their business retweeted to his 500,000+ followers. One tweet from the retail mogul can not only increase a business’s Twitter following, but can provide positive media publicity and increased sales.
As a winner, Victoria was invited to attend a networking event in Birmingham, made up of the 1,600 small business winners, to listen to a range of inspirational speakers and to meet the Dragon himself.
Mr Paphitis said: “We are thrilled to welcome new Small Business Sunday members every week and highlight just how important it is to support our small businesses. Our website will also give a valuable profile to the winners chosen and I wish Victoria Liddell Jewellery all the success.”
Vicky said: “The hardest thing I’ve found about being a small business owner is trying to raise my profile. This award and the support from Theo is invaluable and has really helped spread the word. I think what he is doing is great for small business owners.
I currently work part time to balance my business and family life, but I’m hoping to take my business full time next year.”
Victoria joined the Genuine Jersey community upon founding her business, to take advantage of their business experience and to provide her designs with a hallmark of quality and authenticity that is recognised internationally. Like Theo Paphitis, Genuine Jersey aims to support and assist their small business members in building up their businesses, showcasing their products and the local talent that can be found in Jersey.
Victoria’s design can be found for sale at the Harbour Gallery, Amazon, Etsy and her own website, www.victorialiddell.com
