Oct 5, 2007

New store for Durham e-traderBy N-E-Life.com

A Durham entrepreneur is branching out to open her first ‘bricks and mortar’ store – just months after she was named as a finalist in an online trading competition.

Kate Dawson from Dipton, was one of 10 budding entrepreneurs from across the region who each won £2,000 to start their own business via eBay, in a challenge run by regional development agency One NorthEast and e-business champions the North East Regional Portal.

The idea of the ‘YouTrade’ competition was to encourage online entrepreneurship across the North East and now, only six months after launching her business Spirit Unique, selling jewellery and accessories, Kate has diversified into other products and will open The Spirit Gallery and Giftshop in Eshottheugh on Saturday.

“I’ve attended a number of events and fairs promoting the business and am now supplying a hotel with jewellery for their staff,” she says. “I’ve found eBay to be a very competitive market place for jewellery so I’ve diversified into other products such as watches and home accessories, which are proving to be popular sellers.

“I’ve also got my products into a number of local galleries and art centres, and I’m offering Spirit Unique jewellery parties.

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