Careers Success stories T re re
he Vintage Patisserie was born from how I already live my life. I love to cook and look after my friends, and I’m a collector of vintage and have been since the age of 13. I think my family inspired me from a young age. My mum is from a family of seven and all the sisters were very glamorous and sexy, and so was my grandma. I liked the sassiness they all had! I started buying clothes in boot sales that
refl ected an older look when I was really young and the older cuts suited my shape. Friends that worked for large companies would ask me to host parties and I did for fun, then I realised that I had the basics of running a business. Ten years ago I started a vintage night, called the Angel Adoree Vintage Experience, and I converted my home from an old school house into a boutique where I cooked for people and they bought vintage clothes from me. This ran for around six years, then I decided to open a gift service in 2007, known as the T-Shirt Patisserie. This brand has been laid to rest, but the product is still very strong. From this, in 2008, Vintage Patisserie was born and everything I do trades under this brand. I always had my vision of cre
o a b g I d reating a vintage e e experience
and I’ve never lost this, but to pay my bills, I worked as a management accountant for small companies. I’ve pretty much worked two to fi ve jobs at a time my whole life in order to support myself and follow my dream. I love watching Dragons’ Den, so I decided to apply for the programme. On my pre-interview I said I wanted an offer from Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis 50/50, and possibly James Caan, and that’s pretty much what happened. It was the most terrifying experience of my life, but strangely, when I walked up the stairs, I felt a calmness coming over me. It felt like I was being guided and I had the words “be yourself” ringing in my ears. I got £100,000 from Theo and Deborah in exchange for 40% of equity. After the programme was aired I received thousands of emails congratulating me, which felt amazing. B. But mt more personal to me was the support of friends and family, who were so proud. Now I’m looking at a turnover this year of at least double on last year,
fe o P h fe re
possibly triple. Tea parties on Saturdays are booked up around two months in advance and at any one time we are looking at around 30 events in our diary. The best things about being self-employed are the satisfaction of seeing a
business grow and being able to take a day off without asking, though this is a double-edged sword, as I can’t remember the last time I had a day off and I often work a 20-hour day! Within the next six months, we’re going to open a Vintage Patisserie
store in Soho, London. At the moment, Deborah is more hands on with the company, but I know when the store needs the attention it will be Theo’s time. My plan for the future is to expand the product range and events side. I want to have stores around the world, but in the meantime, I will do everything I can for the business and do it to the best of my ability.
Whether starting a successful business or climbing to the top of the career ladder, these working women have all triumphed in business
Angel Adoree set up Vintage Patisserie,
www.vintagepatisserie.co.uk, hosting tea parties, making bespoke cupcakes, chocolates and T-shirts and selling vintage china. She took the Vintage Patisserie on BBC’s Dragons’ Den and got funding from two of the Dragons.
TODAY’S BUSINESS WOMAN 41
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