North Woman Cottons On To Internet Trading

17th June 2007

A north businesswoman has cottoned on to a new internet business opportunity following the birth of her first grandchild.

Linda Sones from Lairg in Sutherland is literally encouraging parents to 'wrap their children in cotton wool' by buying children's clothing from her recently launched website that specialises in the sale of organic cotton products.

Linda said: "Having a newborn baby in the family made us think about his future which is inextricably linked to trying to safeguard our environment for future generations.

"Intensively farmed cotton is one of the most sprayed crops in the world, creating significant ecological damage. On the other hand, organic cotton is unmatched for softness and quality and its cultivation replenishes and maintains soil fertility and causes no harm to workers who grow and pick the crop."

Linda has given up her job as a community nurse in order to concentrate full-time on the business which sells everything from babygros, dresses and sleep suits to cardigans, trousers and hoodies. A range of baby care accessories and a gift wrapping service are also available.

HIE Caithness and Sutherland has provided Linda with a start up grant of £3,600 along with assistance of £4,250 towards the development of her on-line e-commerce website. She also received valuable advice and attended a business planning course which was funded by the local enterprise company.

Keith Muir, development manager from HIE Caithness and Sutherland said: "Business advice is available to new, developing or established businesses and this can be provided in-house or by our network of experienced and knowledgeable business advisors. This is a new enterprise that uses e-business to create business advantage in a fragile location and is therefore a high priority for us.

"Linda made extensive use of our business advisory services and along with the buoyant market she has identified and the increase in global sales of organic cotton, she has a good chance of success."

Linda added: "Staff at the local enterprise company were very helpful and provided good ideas and support. The course also took my rudimentary business plan and developed it into something that was much more detailed, outlining the marketing and financial aspects of the business. Having attended the course, I am now more knowledgeable about other business aspects like tax."

Photo
LINDA SONES of Little Achfrish, Lairg with 20 month old Grandson JACOB MITCHELL who is wearing one of Linda's Organic clothes designs.

The Organic Range from Linda Sones can be viewed at www.sonesuk.com