Joe Brady took out a £10,000 Start Up Loan in two parts in October 2020 and January 2021 to launch Essence of Hartland, an eco-friendly home fragrance brand.
Previously working in marketing technology in London, but always having had a side-interest in naturally sourced products, when Joe left his London job in 2019 he decided it was the perfect time to pursue his dream of being his own boss.
Before the pandemic the business survived by selling products at local community markets, so when those had to stop due to lockdown restrictions, Joe focused on growing the business online instead. While they lost out in some areas of business, Joe was pleasantly surprised to find that the growth in UK staycations last summer actually helped Essence of Hartland reach a completely new audience and expand their online presence.
