Holly Dawson, a mum from Greater Manchester, now makes over £500,000 a year after starting over when her family's business crashed. The 40-year-old from Bury studied International Business at Manchester Metropolitan University and worked as a digital marketer for her family's hen party supply business from 2010.
Google update caused crash
The family business was growing rapidly and ranked top of Google search results. But a major Google update penalised the way their website was built, causing web traffic to crash. Holly said: "Our main source of our income got switched off. We disappeared off the face of Google."
With the business struggling, Holly saw an opportunity. She said: "I said I'll take the t-shirt side and I'll buy the t-shirt equipment. I used my last wage coming from that business to set it up on my own. I had maybe £1,000 that I invested in equipment and stock and the website."
Rapid growth online
Holly started her own custom t-shirt and clothing company, Rock On Ruby, while living with her parents. She used her marketing skills and blogging to build the business. She joined Etsy as a marketplace first, then joined Not On The High Street in 2015.
Holly said: "That first Christmas that I joined Not On The High Street, I joined in November, and I took £50k in the first month. In a month, it was unbelievable." The business expanded to include sweatshirts, baseball caps, and handbags, and was featured on ITV's This Morning as a Mother's Day gift idea.
Business success and advice
Holly now runs Rock On Ruby with her husband Graham, 40, and employs four others at their premises in Tottington. The business brings in £500k a year in sales, and during the pandemic, they had their most profitable year, bringing in over £1 million.
Holly says a degree isn't necessary to start a business: "You don't need to go to university and have a degree to start a business. I would say don't ever let fear hold you back." She encourages people to buy from independent businesses and advises anyone with an idea to "just start".
