‘I help students set up their new lives’
Lisa Whitehorn, 53, lives in Waldron, East Sussex. Her son, Elliot, 22, is in his final year at Portsmouth University.
‘Staggering from my car to my son’s university housing, laden with boxes of bedlinen, cooking utensils and food, I stopped to catch my breath. I was exhausted. “This is crazy,” I thought. “There must be an easier way to transport my son’s belongings to his new selfcatering accommodation.” In that moment, my business, Aunipac, which stands for “All you need inside pack”, was born.
We supply a box containing more than 90 items, including a duvet, cutlery, pots, pasta and juice. All the basics a student needs, apart from electrical equipment, is delivered to their new address, so, when they arrive, they can unpack the box and start enjoying student life.
When Elliot got his A level results in August 2014, I had a month to get him ready to move to his new digs. We spent days trudging around the shops, rather than spending quality time together. I felt convinced that if I found moving a child to university so difficult, other parents must, too – especially those travelling by train, or from overseas. It was a simple idea, and after doing research online, I couldn’t find any similar businesses.
While running my own cleaning company, I used Elliot and his friends for market research, finding out what they needed. Cutlery and glasses were essential, while a wok that can double up as a frying pan is a good idea.
TRAINING TIME
I knew it had to be an online business if it was to reach both UK and international students, but my digital knowledge was in need of updating, so I enrolled on a free course funded by my local council. It gave me some valuable training in website design and using social media. I also won a regional competition for new business ideas, and the prize was advertising slots, plus business stationery. After buying my domain name and registering with Companies House, my start-up costs were around £1,000.
Before I could launch, I needed stock and a way to distribute it. I discovered a world of wholesale suppliers and “fulfilment and distribution” warehouses, which pack and ship orders. After deciding on two suppliers and one warehouse, I spent £50 on T-shirts with my business logo, which Elliot designed, and a banner. I took a stall at a local fair and handed out flyers at university open days.
In June 2015, Aunipac officially launched. I used social media to drive people to the website, and was ecstatic when orders started coming in. Each pack costs £295 and, after only two years of trading, the business is thriving.
I still run my cleaning company and often work in the evenings, but I don’t mind as knowing I’m doing it for my future motivates me to put in the extra hours.
Word of mouth has been invaluable. Around 70% of orders come from UK students; the rest are international, and packs are shipped to universities all over the UK. January and the summer months when terms begin are the busiest, so I budget around these peaks and “pinch points” so they don’t cause me issues during the rest of the year, which I devote to marketing to new customers.
I was so proud of Elliot when he was accepted into university, but I never dreamed it would lead to such a successful business for me.’
• aunipac.co.uk
Look for inspiration for a business in your daily life and in any obstacles you come up against; if you find something difficult, chances are other people will, too.
Ask your local council if it offers any free courses in your area, so that you can learn new skills.
Friends and family are an invaluable resource when it comes to market research.