A Wiltshire mother has revealed her incredible journey from relying on state benefits to running a six-figure business within just twelve months.
The Spark of an Idea
Emily Pomroy-Smith, 37, from Wiltshire, was receiving Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits before her life transformed dramatically. In January 2020, she launched her business, BamBonn, through a free Facebook group dedicated to curly hair care.
Having a background in fashion, Emily found inspiration while in her studio surrounded by fabric. "I was wearing a wrap on my head to protect my hair and I literally took it off my head and knew I could make something better," she told Metro.co.uk.
Unexpected Business Growth
Emily initially set modest financial goals, aiming to earn enough to qualify for 30 hours of free childcare. "That was the height of my ambition," she admitted.
However, her business achieved far beyond her expectations. "At first, I was making £10,000, but a year later I made £100,000 turnover which I had never anticipated happening," Emily revealed. Her company has consistently maintained six-figure revenues with year-on-year growth.
The entrepreneur invested £8,000 in legal fees, design registration and a US design patent, with 50% of her customer base now located in the United States.
Community-Driven Success
Emily's product development was deeply connected to her personal needs as someone with curly hair requiring more TLC than straighter hair types. After creating her initial prototype, she immediately sought feedback from potential customers in the same Facebook group where she initially found inspiration.
She posted her first product design and asked for testers to provide their honest opinions. The mum confessed she had no idea how popular her creation would become, initially just hoping to earn enough to help with daily living expenses.
Emily now reflects proudly on her achievement: "I've gone from benefits to boss, which is pretty cool." Her story demonstrates how identifying a genuine market need and leveraging community resources can lead to remarkable business success.
