Three years ago, Vikkie Richmond launched her new, home-based virtual assistant business. The East Kent branch of Pink Spaghetti PA Services is an independently owned and run territory under the umbrella of the national, multi-award-winning Pink Spaghetti PA services franchise. Vikkie has received the accolade of ‘Franchisee of the Month’ twice and was also awarded the ‘Community Champion’ and ‘Butterfly Business Transformation’ Awards at the Pink Spaghetti conference in October 2022.
Just six weeks after starting her business, the country went into COVID lockdown. Vikkie had already made lots of new contacts and despite the shock of all that was happening, secured her first few two clients. She quickly realised the importance of being online and having already trained to work remotely using tools such as Zoom and Teams, Vikkie set to work offering free virtual training and support sessions to small business owners.
“Nobody really knew what was going on in those early days,” she said. “I just knew that I had to build on the connections that I had already made during my first six weeks in business and continue to try and help people to get online. I set up a Facebook business support group and ran admin support and marketing sessions, including guest speakers, to help people to take their businesses in a new direction, so they could stay afloat.”
“I did a lot of free work at the start,” Vikkie said. “Most of the people who attended my support sessions appreciated the help; indeed many of them came back to me as customers as time went on and businesses got back on their feet.”
With a variety of service options, including pay-as-you-go, monthly retainers and bespoke support packages, Vikkie offers a wide range of admin and marketing assistance to a diverse mix of clients. Her most popular offerings are blog writing, social media content and management and diary and email management services.
“We are not ‘just’ personal or virtual assistants,” she said of the Pink Spaghetti network. “We are also friends, confidantes and problem solvers. People often ask what we can do for them, well, it’s hard to give a typical example!”
Vikkie continued, “There is a real mix of businesses across Thanet and the Canterbury district, from larger local government employers to educational establishments and many small businesses. Here in Margate especially, there are so many small, artisan micro businesses emerging. It would be rewarding to be able to support more of these entrepreneurs and help them to grow as ultimately, it benefits the whole area.”
“I can take over the essential tasks that nobody started their business to do; Pink Spaghetti exists to allow business owners more time doing what they love and are good at, rather than the day-to-day routine tasks.”
Vikkie has helped over sixty local business owners since she started, many of whom are regular, repeat clients. Her client base is diverse, including tradespeople, artists, consultants, garages, plant nurseries and even an estate agent.
She said, “I’m thrilled to be entering my fourth year in business. Time is precious and if it means you can invest your energy and passion back into your business, gain more time for your favourite hobby or spend time with your family, then our service is priceless.”
To find out more about the Pink Spaghetti services, visit the website – https://www.pink-spaghetti.co.uk/
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