Sandra Ashby’s attempt to build a business has been given a helping hand by the Isle of Wight Lottery.
Sandra bought Yarmouth Garden Machinery last November, turned to the Isle of Wight Lottery for help with funding, and was awarded an interest free loan of £8,000.
“It has been a real lifeline,” she said. “We were new business owners and we couldn’t get help from the bank. But thanks to the loan, we have been able to buy the stock we needed, and a van for our delivery and collection service.”
Sandra bought the business by scraping the money together from savings and from selling many of her possessions.
Now her dedication is being rewarded.
“We are growing quickly now,” she said. “It is very hard work seven days a week, but our turnover is looking good and the word seems to be spreading about the quality of our service.”
Yarmouth Garden Machinery sells, maintains and repairs equipment, and is now expanding to create a bigger, better showroom.
“The loan from the Isle of Wight Lottery was so important to us,” Sandra said. “The process was helpful, too, because it helped concentrate our minds on our business plan and cash flow. It is early days, but the signs are good.”
