Edited by Alan Caulfield news@metroherald.ie Business & Finance DOWNDOWN v$v$ vv DOWNDOWN ISEQISEQ by 17.46 at 3070.47$1.43 0.89 Thats my business Jill FitzGerald Originally trained as a speech therapist, Jill FitzGerald started making wedding cakes in her kitchen in the Dingle Peninsula before founding Cake Toppers Ireland Interview by Joanne Ahern My friends and family were very enouraging and I think they secretly admired my guts for doing it Why did you start your own business? Primarily, I think there was a creative streak in me, waiting to come out it had just not dawned on me that it could be turned into a business. Secondly, my children were at an age where they didnt need quite so much of my time and, probably most importantly, my husbands income had taken a nosedive and we really needed a second income. Why did you choose this particular business? Cake Toppers Ireland happened almost by accident. It started as a hobby, which sat nicely with my existing very small Wedding Cakes business I realised after a while that the Toppers had far more potential they can be ordered online, posted anywhere, and customised exactly according to my customers specifications really appealing to the bride and groom with a great sense of humour. What kind of a reaction did you get from friends and family? I was working away at home, quite quietly really, and under the radar people I knew thought it was a nice little sideline. It was only when I was selected for RTs Higher Ground series in 2009 (focusing on new rural businesses), that people really got to see what I was at they were very encouraging and I think they secretly admired my guts for doing it. What did you do before you set up your company and how did it prepare you for this line of work? I had been more or less a full-time mum to my three kids since the mid 90s my background was in food and catering, and I did a little catering from home. In 2008 and 9, I did a Diploma in UCC in Speciality Food Production. I was really looking around fo r a business idea. part way through the course I realised that not only had I already started my own business, but that it wasnt even a food business my Cake Toppers are all handcrafted from non-toxic clay, so are very robust and definitely not edible it means you get to keep them as a souvenir. How long did it take you to get it off the ground? Year 1, it was just a hobby, secondary to my Wedding Cakes. 2009 started well, but after Higher Ground, things really took off and Im aiming to bring it up another notch next year. How did you finance your company launch? Fortunately, there wasnt much need for capital investment I had a little bit of money saved, but also had great support from my local Enterprise Board, who part-funded my website, www.caketoppersireland.com. Whats the best piece of advice youve gotten along the way? Someone once told me it would be impossible to have a successful part- time business (which was my initial aim) they were right. What advice would you give to people setting up their own company for the first time? Find something youre passionate about and enjoy. And really important approach your local City or County Enterprise Board. Anything else? In 2010 I plan to target the Irish Abroad market I have already had a few orders from the USA. I am also branching into Cake Toppers for other special occasions christenings, birthdays, communions theres a potential Cake Topper for any special occasion. Orders placed in January quoting Metroget a ten per cent discount. Cake Toppers will be exhibiting in the Bride Of The Year Show in the RDS on Jan 30 and 31. www.caketoppersireland.com Business Bites Around 150 workers at Fujitsus Northern Ireland base walked out yesterday in a row over pay and jobs. Unite union members are striking at proposals for redundancies, a pay freeze and plans by the company to close the pension scheme to new workers. The strike is planned to last for another four days, following a one- day stoppage last month. It is the first ever national strike in Northern Irelands IT sector. D Friday, January 8, 2010 Business 19 Brought to you by Ryanair journeys up 13% last year By Roger Weathers Forecast: OLeary RYANAIR said yesterday it could slightly raise its full-year earnings forecast after a strong third quarter of last year, and left the door open for a possible resumption of talks with Boeing over aircraft orders. In a briefing to investors yesterday, the Irish budget airline said its December traffic grew 12 per cent to 4.9million passengers com- pared to the previous December, while traffic grew 13 per cent to 65million over the whole of last year. Load factor the percentage of seats filled on flights grew two per cent to 82 per cent in 2009. The airline said it planned to return at least 1billion cash to shareholders from 2013 as it cuts capital expenditure by more than 90 per cent after ending talks to buy 200 aircraft from the US plane maker. We expect our current cash reserves of 2.5billion to grow substantially by March 2013 and we plan to distribute surplus cash to shareholders from that date, a spokesperson said yesterday. But Europes biggest low-cost airline, fronted by chief executive Michael OLeary, denied reports it was preparing a third bid for part-privatised former Irish flag-carrier Aer Lingus while the Irish Government holds onto its 25 per cent stake. Web content management company TerminalFour yesterday announced it has secured 1.6million of equity funding to create 15 new jobs by 2011 and finance research and development. The investment was led by The Ulster Bank Diageo Venture Fund, with investment also provided by The AIB Seed Capital Fund and with grant aid from Enterprise Ireland. Cable company Chorus NTL yesterday announced it has created 50 jobs at its customer services centre in Limerick. The majority of the new positions have already been filled with another 12 people to be recruited by the summer. More than 300 staff are already located at the offices at the Limerick Enterprise Development Park. The jobs announcement was also marked by the awarding of a Fs Excellence Through People Award. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html