WBG chairman Graham Card (centre) with Business Edge winners Holly and Graham Clarke (left), Julie Daniel and Velta Lacis of Heavenly Chocolates (right).
Holly’s Funerals of Cranbrook has won the first Business Edge competition, staged by Wealden Business Group.
The Business Edge scheme was designed to help start-up businesses launched in the past three years.
Holly’s Funerals wins a year’s membership of the Group, and free one-to-one sessions with its business advisers, including specialists in marketing, finance, law and IT.
In their presentation to WBG members, Holly and Andy Clarke, the principals of Holly’s Funerals, said there had been a fundamental shift in the style and focus of funerals, which they said should always be “a supportive and loving experience”.
Their business was launched two years ago – previously Holly had been an artist and sculptor, while Andy was a marketing manager for an investment firm.
They said that their first question to clients was “what do you want to achieve with the funeral”, and offered advice on where the ceremony could take place – not just a church or crematorium, but also the more intimate surroundings of a garden, marquee or even a private home.
Runners-up in the competition were Ashford-based companies Heavenly Chocolates and style coach Julie Daniel.