Name of Business: A Spoonful Ltd

Location: Orion Business Park, North Shields

Line of Business: Organic Baby Food

Director(s): Amanda Wight

Where did you go for business advice? 
TEDCO's Building up Business team and Business Link

How did you decide which line of business to enter?
I was frustrated by the lack of organic fresh baby food available whilst weaning my daughter. I understand that parents these days often have busy lifestyles but still want the very best for their children so I decided to do something about it.

How did you come up with the company name?
There was lots of discussion between family/friends about the name. I wanted something that was relevant to the products and that would attract attention. A friend came up with A Spoonful and I loved it.

What’s the best thing about running your own business?
It’s great having total creative power and the ability to see your ideas becoming a reality. I’ve learnt so much and met so many people. The only restrictions are financial but I know exactly where I want my business to go and love seeing it all coming together. We also had such positive feedback and interest throughout the set up process which fills me with confidence that this is going to be a real success.

What is the worst thing about running your own business?
Working long hours and having nobody to delegate work to. On the plus side though, I can work any hours. I like to have flexibility to spend quality time with my daughter with the option to work when she goes to bed.

What advice would you give to anyone starting out?
Do your research and as much groundwork as you can before you commit to leaving your job! I thought that I’d be up and running within 3 months and 12 months later I m only just seeing a launch date. It has been difficult to manage without any income so be realistic about timescales. Building up Business has really helped me through this frustrating time.