Business Ventures

Not every entrepreneur is a multimillionaire, and yet many of us expect them to be. The word 'entrepreneur' is a French word, meaning 'to undertake' and that's exactly what I did. If you've started up a business, from conceptual ideas in your head to making it a reality - then really you are an entrepreneur. Not every venture will be a commercial success, but it's the 'get up and go' attitude which is a common trait of many entrepreneurs. I'm relatively new to the world of business, but in the short time I've been doing it, I've learnt a lot. It was the lessons I learnt from my first business that saw me start my second major business - which I am still successfully running today.

I started up my first business after the second semester of my first year of University. I wanted to try something new, something different and just have a go at it. Having always been good at drawing cartoons I decided I'd have a go at making my own greeting cards and selling them online. In the end I tried exploring a lot of avenues to sell my products, including markets, craft fairs and local shops. I also contacted the submission departments of many leading greeting card companies in the UK and abroad.

Click here for more about JustJet Cards.

Whilst not commercially viable as a business, my first venture did provide me with some necessary key skills and some experience of business and it grew my confidence immensely. I wanted to try a retail oreintated business - having always loved buying toys for my dogs, I wanted to try selling dog products online. I applied all the lessons learnt from my first business, which mainly included starting small, testing the market, researching the products carefully and formulating a solid business plan and and a unique selling point.

Click here for more about Cool Canine.

So why the degree? Everyday we see businesses succeeding and failing, and I believe in having a backup plan should things go wrong. Also, I do enjoy Biology - and this was part of the reason for studying for a degree in the subject - as well as being able to enter graduate level jobs should I need to.

I was 19 when I started, and I'm in now doubt that others my age have created bigger and better companies, but everybody who wants to try enterprise has to start somewhere and any experience is good experience.