Young female entrepreneur launches first Asian fusion restaurant in Cardigan
WITH support from the Welsh Government’s Business Wales service, Carman Yates launched Fusion (Cardigan) and has already created jobs in the local area
Originally from Hong Kong, Ching Man Yates (or as everyone calls her – Carman) moved to west Wales after working in Cardiff for five years to set up her own Asian fusion restaurant.
Carman purchased the former Eagle Inn in Cardigan – a traditional 18thcentury drinking establishment, which had been closed since 2016. She transformed it into a modern, contemporary restaurant and bar, while still maintaining the internal character of the building.
Fusion is the only restaurant within a 60-mile radius of Cardigan to offer cuisine from Hong Kong and Japan, including freshly-rolled sushi, DimSum treats and Japanese Katsu curries, making it an attractive offering to the local community and to visitors alike. Alongside running Fusion, Carman has been a role model for other Asian young women who want to set up their own business.
She said: “Initially, we faced many challenges, especially as I was pregnant with our first child and we were moving home. We were so fortunate to have the amazing support from our Business Wales growth adviser Lisa Williams, who provided us with invaluable advice and information.”
Lisa Williams has supported Carman every step of her business journey from pre-launch assistance with brand design, social media, business and financial planning to support with recruitment, bookkeeping and future plans as the business looks to establish itself on the west Wales dining scene.
“We have fully implemented all her suggestions and recommendations, and we look forward to reviewing our plans with her in the near future as we look at our growth strategies for 2018 and beyond,” explained Carman, who is hoping to increase the menu range and offer the venue for private party hire in the coming months.
Lisa Williams commented: “Carman is an inspirational young entrepreneur who has overcome so many challenges to set up her business. With her drive, passion and knowledge, backed by the wealth of business support available to her, I am sure that Fusion will be a roaring success and I look forward to working with the team in future.” Carman’s top tips for anyone looking to start or run their own business:
Seek support from organisations like Business Wales. It was a valued resource for us, helping us ensure we got it right from the start.
Develop a business plan with clear objectives. These need to include key dates of achievement and who is responsible for the direction.
Cash-flow is crucial – ensure you plan ahead and build in a back-up fund for unexpected items.
Pay attention to your marketing. Engage across a wide mix of platforms, conventional to digital, ensuring you attract a wide demographic.
Ensure you continually review what you set out to achieve and apply areas of stretch as you plan forward. Short, mid and long-term objectives are a must – enjoy the experience.
Business Wales, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, supports the sustainable growth of SME’s across the country by offering access to information, guidance and business support. To find out how it can help start or develop your business, call 03000 6 03000, follow @_businesswales or @_busnescymru or visit www.businesswales.gov. wales/ or www.busnescymru.llyw. cymru/ for further information.