A successful businesswoman has received two awards in the space of a week, after what started as a sewing side-hustle generated an annual income of £35,000.
Earlier this month (July 2023), Tracy Fishburn - owner of Lower Stondon's Tracy’s Treasured Keepsakes - won New Business of the Year at the 'biz4Biz Awards' and Most Thoughtful Sentimental Gifts Business 2023 in Bedfordshire at 'The Perfect Gift Awards'.
Tracy left her previous job following the success of a side-business she created during maternity leave.
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She now creates 12-15 keepsakes for her clients each week, by sewing items such as bears and cushions out of old baby clothes.
After focussing on the business full-time, Tracy made it her goal in 2023 for Tracy's Treasured Keepsakes to become an award-winning business.
The businesswoman has now received two awards for her endeavours.
On Friday, July 7, Tracy attended the the biz4Biz awards at Tewinbury Farm, near Welwyn Garden City.
She had been nominated for two awards, missing out in The Best Small Business category, but winning New Business of the Year.
The businesswoman said: "To have been nominated for the second year running felt like such a huge achievement for my business, but to be announced as the winner for this category felt like an Oscar moment.
"I just could not believe my business name was being displayed and as I walked up to collect my award, I could feel myself welling up.
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"All my hard work was being recognised.”
The awards' organisers added: "The award was in recognition of Tracy’s hard work and commitment to providing others a service and is much deserved”.
After being "in a daze for a good few days" after winning the award, Tracy found out that she had also won Most Thoughtful Sentimental Gifts Business 2023 in Bedfordshire in The Perfect Gift Awards.
She admits that it "had not really sunk in" that she had achieved her goal of becoming an award-winning business.
The Lower Stondon resident will now attend The Best Businesswomen awards, and is a finalist for Best Creative Business.
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