Member Article

Reiki business continues to Inspire

Just over a year ago Liz Cairns visited the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) with dreams of setting up her own business offering holistic therapy, Reiki.

Liz discovered Reiki, a Japanese technique which involves hand placements to release energy through the body and found the results to be so beneficial that Inspire Holistics soon became established.

After being appointed business adviser, Debbie Simpson Liz started her own business and hasn’t looked back since, the BIC caught up with Liz to see how the business is going a year on.

Liz explains: “A lot of my time within the last 12 months has been working hard to get my name well known within the community. When I look back I hadn’t thought about the time scale, I imagined you would set the business up and boom customers would automatically know who and where you are and come this has been the biggest eye opener.

“I have been focusing hard on promoting the business through social media, networking and attending various events all over the region.”

And it’s paying off as Liz now boasts of 100 clientele including a famous soap star to her list of regular customers.

Liz continues: “I began the business in one little room but now I offer Reiki at Dembry & Macey as well as Totally Tranquil and will soon, to keep up with demand, be working in South Shields too.

“When I first met Debbie she told me to think big and I remember one of my dreams was to have a ‘feel good factory’ where people come in feeling one way and leave feeling so much more better.

“Well I am so pleased to announce that this is occurring right now. I am in talks with some big businesses around Sunderland to offer a one stop shop for bridal packages as well as prom and hen nights. A VIP room so to speak.

“I am also writing a monthly blog for Tyne the Knot bridal magazine on stress management which is really exciting.

“I never thought within a million years I would be where I am now with the business. It is all so positive and I am so grateful to Debbie’s belief in my dream to make the business a success.

“One thing I have noticed whilst being my own boss is how much other companies will help each other out. Everyone is so happy to boost each other’s business and you just don’t get that in bigger companies but being a part of the local community is fabulous and inspiring.”

Debbie adds: “Its hard to believe that a year has gone by and how much Liz has achieved, I still remember her first meeting in my office she was and still is a ray of sunshine and her passion for Reiki and for her business rubs off on everyone she meets.”

The Business Support in the North East project is being part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007-13.

The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sarah Spence .