Angela Harker - Fashion Designer

Angela specialises in designing clothes for the Goth and Club market, including many designs with built in lighting! She began by selling her work through local stores, but also decided to give test trading a try at Enterprising Art.

Of Taste of Enterprise, Angela says "They really will go out of their way to help you any way they can, they find courses, help with business advice. The courses were good and I learnt a lot. The Women into Business course was really useful.

I got all the basic knowledge I needed and obviously if there's anything I don't know then I've got my business advisor at NGE, I've had a lot of help from her.”

The chance to test trade her designs also allowed Angela to research new markets. "Unexpectedly, the drag market seems to be as big a thing as the Goth market” and this new outlet has really helped her business.

At the end of her test trading period Angela took on one of the units in the Market Gallery, with the help of a rent grant from Newport City Council. "One of the reasons I stayed here is the support you get from the other traders” she says. "The place has a really nice atmosphere and everybody helps each other out, and you've got the TOE offices just upstairs if you a need a quick bit of advice, or to beg and borrow things. If you want anything it's there.”

Angela attributes a large proportion of her success to Taste of Enterprise support.