Duke & Fortune-Help Us Get Started

Aim

As a new business which I started just before Covid-19 struck, I need help to get my business off the ground!

Where It Started...

The idea for Duke and Fortune came after a difficult time. After running a successful art and framing shop for nearly 5 years, this was all destroyed after a contiuous water leak from the flat above that the landlord did not fix, leaving a ceiling that deteriorated and got to the point where it was unsafe to open. I used a clause in the lease which would allow me to leave however, our landlord refused and threatened to come after me for money. After 7 months of further battles (and finding out he had done the same thing to his last tennant) and no help from our insurance we were finally allowed to leave our lease. However, not being able to earn for 7 months was difficult but I managed to stay afloat. Emotionally, it was very difficult and upsetting to have built up a successful business and have that taken away from you but a situation out of your control. It was also difficult to have to close down a shop that supported over 50 artists, makers and designers.  

(My previous shop which was a Top 100 UK Small Business with Small Business Saturday which took us to Downing Street. I also was a Top 25 UK Indie Shop in 2018.)

After going through this, I knew I wanted to run my own business again but something a little different. After seeing what kind of items people were looking for when they came to our shop, I set out looking into how to create candles, wax melts and other items for the home. This is where Duke & Fortune was born!

Vision

My vision for my business is to be creating and selling fun home fragrance kits and items for people to enjoy at home. For me, crafting and making your own items has really helped me have a focus and help with my anxiety which is something I have struggled with most of my life. I want to be able to share and create fun items for people, although it doesn't solve people's problems I'd like to share something that will allow people respite from daily life worries and anxieties! ❤️

Items I Want To Sell

As someone who loves Disney and Harry Potter, I saw a lack of items in the UK that catered to those who share this love.

The items I want to create and sell will bring people's memories and imagination to life ❤️

These kits will be available as candle kits, wax melt kits and hopefully reed diffuser and room stay kits so people can make their own items at home.

In the future, I hope to go from having more themed sets based on books and theme park areas as right now each kit only has 4-5 options.

Environmentally Friendly

One of the big things in my business is trying to ensure all the items and packaging I use is as eco friendly as possible. From using glass bottles and aluminium caps to bags that are compostable are just some of the components I am using. My aim is to ensure as many of the items/components will have the least impact on the environment as possible.

What will the money be used for?

Whilst I have made a start, I need help with getting stock of materials such as thermometers, wax, pouring/melting jugs, fragrances, wax to develop all the kit ideas I have.

I also need to get equipment that will allow me to photograph my kits properly such as backgrounds boards and set ups to go online as well as allowing me to properly and professionally video how to videos.

I'm not wanting anything too fancy but something very small scale that will provide me with better quality than my phone and my battered dining table as a background.

I also want to be able to scale up the business so I can sell these kits etc wholesale to small independent shops, as well as selling them on my own website, Etsy, Folksy and hopefully one day Not On The High Street ❤️

This project successfully funded on 4th May 2020