When the pandemic struck, Lorna Catchpole, like many others, found herself reassessing her career path. After 15 years in housing and community engagement – and having done a fair bit of travelling – she was ready to explore something new. With plenty of perseverance, and a fair bit of scrolling, she found herself on the path to creating her own business.
“I was looking for a fresh idea, an alternative to just navigating the job market, so I literally searched on Google for ‘business ideas’,” she says. “Number six on the list was gift boxes.”
It was an idea that immediately appealed. “I thought, do you know what? I don’t need premises or a specific qualification; it’s something that I can build. It seemed accessible – something I could start small and grow.”
That spark of curiosity soon grew into Coming From A Good Place – a business that creates customisable gift boxes for companies wanting to thank their staff, impress clients or make a lasting impression at events.
With hardly any business background and few contacts in Sheffield at the time, Lorna reached out to her hairdresser’s sister – a local entrepreneur – to discuss the idea. “We met in a café and started talking about wellbeing and where products come from,” she says. “We were saying how important it is to think about how and where things are made. My business partner said, ‘So really, they need to be coming from a good place.’”
The phrase stuck. “We both just looked at each other and thought, that’s it. That’s the name. It’s a bit of a mouthful, but it’s got meaning. For me, it works on a few levels – it reflects the idea of ‘good’ in the saying itself, is a nod to products being ethically made or locally sourced where possible, and signals quality and care for the consumer.
“For me, it’s a relief that the name says it all. I don’t need to explain it – people can interpret it in their own way.”
As with many startups, the early days weren’t easy. “It’s taken me a long time to get to the point I’m at today,” she says. “When I found myself on my own, I had to navigate everything, from networking to building a website.”
The website, as she puts it, has been a “journey in itself.” “At one point it was fully coded, which at the time seemed like a good idea. It wasn’t,” she laughs. It regularly needed updates and changes – things I was ready to do, but couldn’t figure out how – and every change came with a price. “I went through several versions before finding a company that was a better fit, who then suggested transferring it onto Elementor with WordPress. Over time, I’ve learned how to load products, edit text and do quite a lot myself. I’ve also had to accept that, either way, the website will always be a work in progress.”
Recently, she’s been working on a new digital ordering system, funded through a digitisation grant. “It lets companies order online through a business portal, with sub-accounts and an order tracking system,” she explains. “It makes tailoring the gift boxes and re-ordering much smoother, and also provides a better payment process.”
“It has been very testing at times,” she admits, “but when the orders come in and you get the positive feedback, you remember how far it has come and just how much potential the business has – it keeps you going.”
Seeing her gift boxes at the unLTD Expo earlier this year was one of those moments. “It was great to see them being proudly used as a talking point.”
Looking ahead, Lorna’s focus is on sustainable and scalable growth – not just for her business, but for others too. “I’ve set up a brand ambassador and affiliate network,” she explains. “It’s a way of bringing people and businesses on board that lets them work flexibly, earn commission and promote the products with their own clients. Added value for all involved.”
The idea was inspired by her lived experience and a curiosity about different avenues and business structures for growth. “I was interested in creating something that could benefit people, freelancers and small businesses by enabling collaboration opportunities, where, rather than relying solely on things like Google Ads or constant social media content, the business could grow. I wanted to build a business that supports growth in a flexible way and brings people and businesses on board in a way that works for them too.”
So, what advice would she give to others looking for their own ‘lightbulb moment’?
“When you’re building something, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I’ve had times when I’ve tried to do the accounts while tired, making mistakes that just create more work, or dealing with printer issues like leaking ink and not seeing the wood for the trees when looking for solutions. Over time, I’ve realised the value of stepping back – taking a break, watering the plants, going for a run or leaving it until the next day, whatever it may be. A saying I saw on LinkedIn this morning resonated with me: ‘It’s not about how hard you push – it’s about how smartly you navigate the challenges."
Web: comingfromagoodplace.co.uk
Email: info@comingfromagoodplace.co.uk
Follow: @comingfromagoodplace
