Business Name: Stella’s Little Bit of Greece

Support received: Start Up Loan and Start & Grow

Location: Chelmsford, Essex

Visitors to Chelmsford town centre now have the chance to sample a taste of authentic Greece since Stella Coutsavakis launched her dream business in December 2016.

Stella’s Little Bit of Greece is a unique Greek coffee house and patisserie located on Moulsham Street.  Having always enjoyed hosting parties and making the food from scratch, friends and family encouraged Stella to pursue her natural talent and flair for creating dishes inspired by her heritage.

We spoke to Stella to find out more about her new venture.

What motivated you to start your own business?

I have a real passion for what I do.  I love creating dishes, seeing my customers’ enjoyment of them, and hearing their feedback.

My father has his own Greek Restaurant, so cooking definitely runs in the family!

How did Nwes support you?

I had no prior knowledge of running a business, so I approached Nwes.

I was put in touch with local Business Advisor Gillian Austen.  Through 1-to1 support and advice sessions, e-mail and phone support, I was finally able to take the important step of writing a business plan and understanding finances.  I also successfully applied for a Start Up Loan, which really injected momentum into the new business venture.

The Start Up Loan meant that I was able to secure premises, equipment, stock, as well as paying for insurance, marketing, and some alterations to the shop to ensure it was fit for purpose.

Did you encounter any challenges?

My start-up journey hasn’t been without some challenges; some of the equipment for the shop was too large so I had to store it until a buyer could be found.

The hard work was worth it though when I held the launch event, which was a great success.  Now, the same customers keep coming back which is great!