Anna Hayward makes glass beads at her home studio in Northwood. She started making jewellery in 2005 using beads that she had bought. She soon learnt how to make her own beads at home, using glass rods and heat.
“I’ve been trying to build up a business of making jewellery with the beads,” Anna says. “No two pieces are the same so it’s a unique and individual product. It’s been more of a self-supported hobby really. It’s quite hard to get a business established in the marketplace.”
Anna works part time as a teaching assistant. She has business experience too, having run a hair salon in the 80s and 90s. Anna came to the Over 50s Start Up Programme looking for help on how to move her ideas to the next stage.
“I wanted to expand my business,” Anna says. “I was reading Island Business magazine on the Red Jet and I saw that the Chamber was offering start up courses. I was looking for help and advice on growing my business. I also want to move into running workshops so I had questions about health and safety, ventilation and oxygen. I also had questions about things like business rates and working from home.”
Anna attended the course which she found very useful. Since then she’s met regularly with Fiona her business mentor. Anna’s business is already changing. She’s made new connections, launched a new website and moved into on-line selling. The business has also changed its name, from Little House Jewellery to Anna Hayward Glass Bead Designs.
“Having tailor made support is brilliant. My business is changing and Fiona has made some great suggestions. It’s great to be able to talk ideas through with somebody. I don’t always enjoy selling and the mentoring has made me more focused and more confident too.”
You can find Anna’s work on sale at Quay Arts and some mainland outlets. Her next challenge is to open up her home studio, to visitors and aspiring Island artists who could use the facilities.
“I want to expand it enough to make a living rather than a hobby. I’ll know next year!”
