How Free Small Business Support Transformed Kate’s Bridal Business

Today we’re sharing Kate’s journey to building Kate Edmondson Bridal! It’s a story that shows the power of determination, hard graft, and how game-changing the right business support can be.

Let’s dive in!

Early Years

Kate always knew she wanted to design wedding dresses. After studying at London College of Fashion and Epsom School of Art and Design, she landed roles with smaller bridal brands, but quickly hit a ceiling. Although she loved the industry, there wasn’t scope for her to design – and that was her true passion.

Having decided to take the plunge into entrepreneurship, Kate was lucky enough to receive a grant from The King’s Trust. With this funding, she set up her bridal business from her spare room, complete with second-hand sewing equipment and big dreams!

She began promoting her business to local brides, but launching wasn’t easy. She said: “It was quite overwhelming… I felt isolated and didn’t really know where to turn.”

Despite this, Kate persevered, quietly honing her craft and working to steadily grow her business locally.

The Search for Support

For more than a decade, Kate continued building her business alone. She tried various support programs, but nothing clicked. Most support providers “just didn’t get what [she] was trying to do” and made her feel boxed in rather than empowered.

Despite years of hard work and undeniable talent, Kate felt stuck. After 10 years in business, she was still searching for help that truly understood her challenges as a creative founder. People said her work was great, but she couldn’t reach the right audience.

Finding Support That Actually Works

Then came 2020. Following the Pandemic, Kate decided to give business support another shot – and this time, everything changed.

A Google search led her to Grow London Local, who referred her to Digital Boost. The experience was completely different from anything she’d encountered before!

“It was just like a different space… and I was thinking, how didn’t I find [Digital Boost] before?”

Kate joined Digital Boost’s Begin programme – a collaboration with NatWest and Buy Women Built that supports female founders developing product-based businesses. Having received cookie-cutter support previously, Kate now had access to personalised mentoring from experts who understood her industry, valued her creativity, and supported her to lean into her strengths as a founder.

For the first time, business support clicked for Kate!

Getting Crystal Clear on Customers

The Begin programme immediately helped Kate shift her perspective on her business.

“It was so refreshing, especially on the marketing side. I hadn’t really spent time on my sales funnel or strategy – I’d been focusing only on the product.”

The support helped her narrow her focus and identify exactly who her ideal client was. The programme opened up new avenues for Kate to explore: “Yes, there are brides out there – but who is your bride? Where is she? Where does she hang out?”

This focused approach helped Kate see her brand in a new light and helped her get unstuck!

Fast Results and Renewed Confidence

With a clearer understanding of her customer and a real strategy in place, Kate started seeing results almost instantly.

“I feel confident enough to do the marketing myself, which I never thought I’d be able to do.”

Kate also discovered tools that made content creation far easier – a major win, especially as a dyslexic business owner. AI tools helped with grammar and idea development, reducing her reliance on copywriters.

“I used to pay someone to write my blogs. Now I’ve found tools that help me do it myself – it’s just like, wow.”

Game-Changing Mentoring

Kate’s transformation accelerated when she started working directly with Digital Boost’s mentors. An SEO mentor helped her understand the technical aspects of her website that she would never have known previously. This meant that when the time came to build her website, Kate was armed with the technical knowledge to confidently brief her website team!

“I knew what to ask… even if I didn’t do it myself, I could communicate clearly with the [website] expert.”

However, it was her mentoring session with Riannon Palmer, the founder of Lum-uhn PR and Digital Boost mentor, that delivered the most dramatic impact. When an influencer approached Kate about a social media collaboration, despite her initial excitement, something didn’t feel right. She trusted her gut and reached out to Riannon through Digital Boost for advice.

Riannon talked Kate through the process of working with influencers, explaining what to expect from collaborations and red flags to watch out for in contracts. Armed with this knowledge, Kate requested payment upfront – only to discover the influencer didn’t actually have the money to pay her.

That one session potentially saved Kate thousands!

A Real Success

And where is Kate now? She’s running a thriving business. It’s not an overnight success because it’s real.

Her dedication to learning, growing and adapting has paid off. She’s armed with stronger messaging and targeted marketing, she’s attracting her dream clients (including a famous film producer’s daughter!), and she’s more confident than ever.

And with this targeted messaging, Kate now she knows who she’s speaking to, how to reach them, and that her voice matters.

“I can tell my story – no one can tell it better than me.”

Hearing real founder stories like Kate’s are so exciting! They show just what’s possible when passion combines with the right support 🩵

If you’ve been inspired by Kate’s story, why not see how Digital Boost’s free mentoring could take your business to the next level?

All images credited to Kate Edmondson Bridal. Sources used: website and LinkedIn