10:00am Saturday 9th October 2010
By Mike Wilkinson
Trowbridge woman Liz Mortimer has told how setting up her own business has changed her life, after she had been working as a shop assistant.
The 22-year-old opened Spectorize, her handbag and accessories store in Church Walk on June 26, bucking the trend of the recession that has hit many businesses hard.
She said: “I had always dreamed of running my own shop but I never thought I would be the one to do it.
“I had been working as an assistant at an opticians and my family said that I should just go for it. They have been really supportive in helping me get it off the ground.
“The business has been building up slowly but it all seems to be going well at the moment. It was a bit quiet recently but then I know other people in Trowbridge are saying the same.”
Miss Mortimer, from Ashton Street, has received the backing of her boyfriend Tom Elliott, also 22. The pair, who have been together for five years, were born within just a few hours of each other on the same day, December 17.
She said: “With something like this you need to have your family behind you.
“Before I opened up the shop I did a lot of research and I asked around other local businesses to get a bit of advice.”
Miss Mortimer studied childcare at Trowbridge College, but said: “It had always been in the back of my mind that I’d want to do something like this. It just shows that anything is possible if you really want something to happen.”
The shop stocks handbags and accessories, as well as jewellery which is made locally.
David Baker, president of the Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce, said: “In these incredibly difficult times it is absolutely fantastic to see that people are looking for opportunities here in Trowbridge to open up new businesses.
“It is even more amazing when you consider that this young lady is only 22 yet she has set up her own shop. It’s heart-warming to see that she’s committed to her own career while also benefiting the people of Trowbridge.
“I think we may well find more and more people looking to use their entrepreneural skills by setting up their own business since there are few jobs going around at the moment.”
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