A PLYMOUTH woman is starting a businesses which is full of eastern promise – a party planning project involving Chinese food.
Lai-Yin Wong Brooks, from Peverell, is calling her venture 8, a number considered lucky in China.
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NEW FIRM: Lai-Yin Wong Brooks
She intends to sell hampers containing Chinese delicacies on-line, and also to visit people’s homes to cook three-course Chinese meals.
Mrs Wong Brooks intends to launch the business in February or March next year.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” she said. “There are a lot of challenges ahead but I’m offering something unique.
“And I want the business model to grow into a franchise.”
She is already working with Plymouth’s Sanjida’s Cash and Carry, off Ebrington Street, to perform cooking demonstrations, and may make these a monthly occurrence. And she has also carried out demonstrations at 88 Oriental Supermarket, at the Barbican, where she worked as store manager.
The 40-year-old is Chinese and very experienced in cookery having worked in her parents’ Chinese takeaway since she was 11, and even written cook books.
Mrs Wong Brooks is starting her business with the help of start-up organisations Outset Plymouth and Outset Finance.
“They really helped me,” she said. “Their courses were very useful. They told me where to find funding and a network of people I could talk to who are already in business.”
