Kitty’s Herbery, based in Camelford, has been awarded the £22,000 investment to develop their business premises.
The new premises will include a retail shop, as well as a workshop and kitchen so that they can manufacture their products on-site.
Specialising in high-quality herb-based products, Kitty’s Herbery manufactures a range of products including perfumes, toiletries and skincare for him and for her. They also make herbal teas and artisan chocolate, which means that you can purchase pretty much everything you need for an indulgent pampering session in one place.
This new business has created 3 full-time jobs and is led by siblings Albert, Betty and Minnie Alexander – Kitty’s Herbery is very much a family affair.
Of the funding, Albert commented “There are a lot of upfront costs involved with starting a new business. Thanks to the Start Up Loan, we can now set up a physical retail shop which will be the headquarters of the business, and allow us to interact with all of our customers on a personal level (plus let them smell our products!). I’d like to thank our business manager, Mark, who supported our loan application – we couldn’t have done it without him”.
SWIG’s business manager Mark said “Since their online trading was launched mid-March, the business has already proved to be successful and is on track to exceed the first-months sales estimate, which is a huge achievement for any start up”.
Richard Bearman, Managing Director at Start Up Loans, said: “Start Up Loans is here to help people like Albert gain access to the funding and support they need to start a business. What Albert has achieved with Kitty’s Herbery is commendable and I’m proud Start Up Loans has played a part in helping him and so many others across the country to realise their ambition of business ownership.”
About SWIG Finance
SWIG Finance is a people-based lender that provides loans and support to help smaller businesses in the South and West Country grow. We base our lending decisions on potential rather than collateral, which means that we can often support businesses when others can't.
We’re growing every year. In 2024/25, we lent £14.8m to 501 businesses, helping to create and secure over 1,272 jobs and generate £75.7m in social impact. Download the report here.
If you’d like an informal chat about your funding requirements, get in touch with our friendly and professional team to see how we can help: info@swigfinance.co.uk / 01872 227 930