Although the number of women starting businesses is growing, women still only make up around 17% of all entrepreneurs in the UK. So just imagine how small that number is for women living with a disability. That’s what makes organisations like Fight for Sight so important. As well as investing in scientific research that could save sight, and social change projects that will change lives, Fight for Sight campaign to change perceptions of what’s possible for people living with vision loss.
For me it was actually my disability that inspired me to start my business, Wanted Wardrobe, a pre-loved clothes boutique. Starting my own business meant I could design my job around my sight loss, and as my condition is degenerative, I thought if ‘I don’t do it now, I never will!’.
You’ve got to be tenacious!
It’s not been easy, we work a lot more than just the shop opening hours, attending events, networking, hosting parties, fashion shows, creating social media posts and messages out of working hours. And not all of our events have been successful! You might spend hours organising and promoting them and then hardly anyone shows up. We have also had many days when not a single person has been into the shop, we’re just sat in freezing cold as we don’t want to pay for the heating! Our wages are low and extra money goes towards PR. With my condition, I get tired quickly as it takes so much more concentration especially when travelling or networking, so I have that to contend with too.
"Starting my own business meant I could design my job around my sight loss, and as my condition is degenerative, I thought if ‘I don’t do it now I never will!’."
I wouldn’t change what I do
Amongst all the challenges, we have also had amazing moments – we hosted a fashion show with all blind and visually impaired models, which appeared on BBC’s The One Show, we won a start-up business award and received a small grant from a local charity to help towards training and a shop move. I have also started a local sight loss support group and raised over £2,000 for my local sight loss charity.
Making connections that matter
We have also met some amazing people who support us, and others with sight issues. I’ve recently connected with Fight for Sight through my work. We spent a brilliant day in the Fight for Sight Chiswick shop running a styling session. They invited another of their supporters, Elizabeth Maxwell, in for the day. As well as fund-raising for then for 30 years, Elizabeth has been sharing her story as part of Fight for Sight’s Christmas messaging, so they wanted to thank her for her efforts. Spending the day with Elizabeth and the Fight for Sight team was fantastic. As well as being a very fun-loving lady, Elizabeth is pretty inspirational, and the stock in the shop was gorgeous, so we had plenty to work with!
In terms of our own shop in Castle Donnington, since moving to the high street location, things have picked up, but it’s always a work in progress and we have a long way to go before it’s a thriving business. I have now trained as a stylist and colour analyst and this is a paid for service we’re excited to launch in the new year!
Showing what’s possible
At the end of the day, I really want to inspire other people facing a sight loss diagnosis. Recently I had a mother of a teenage girl contact me, her daughter has also got Stargardt disease and has felt like her life is over. People like Elizabeth show that a sight loss diagnosis doesn’t have to be the end of the story. I need to show young girls like this that it is still possible to live an amazing life, no matter what’s thrown at you!
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