Each month in the Resolve Newsletter we will be showcasing either a client’s company or a company that we work with on a regular basis. If the lockdown has taught us anything it is that we need to support small businesses and so we thought we could do this by showcasing a different company each month. This month we caught up with Everlyn Bateman, who runs Forevergreen, a Young Enterprise company that educates children about the environment and how they can help combat climate change. They do this through a grow your own plant kit called ‘greenbox’, in which also contains a kid-friendly leaflet including the basics of climate change and the environment. Our Co-Founder Stuart Belcher, provides regular business advice to this Young Enterprise group.
What are the pros and cons of running your own business
Forevergreen is a small company which gives us the advantage to work closely as a team and create a space where everyone can speak freely about their own ideas and what they would like to contribute to the business. As we are all still in full time education, balancing school, work and home life has definitely been a struggle, however, this is something we quickly overcome by developing such a supportive group.
What advice would you give to other individuals thinking of starting their own business?
If you can create something that you would want, chances are that someone else out there would also want it. Not only does this set you off with a profitable idea but it makes for a sustainable work ethic.
Another important factor we think is crucial is having a good team. The relationship between whoever you decide to work with is the next largest factor in productivity and success, if there isn’t a stable level of trust and respect then you’ll find the workload distribution to be uneven and productivity will dip as a result.
What lessons have you learnt over the years of running your own business?
I believe we have learnt the importance of teamwork. It’s easy to think you can do everything by yourself but when it comes down to the logistics, being able to trust your coworkers in having your back and help with whatever you need is crucial in a company environment.
How did your company have to adapt during the 2020 pandemic?
Utilising online platforms are a great way to advertise our product freely and efficiently and adapt to changing times. The introduction of social distancing and the cancellations of physical events meant our company had fewer opportunities to sell our products in person. Therefore, Forevergreen made changes to our selling and marketing strategies which resulted in us hugely focusing on our online presence. We currently have a website where people can contact us and easily order, and by focusing on generating a following on social media, such as, Instagram, it is easy for friends and family to share our product.
How do you ensure a work / life balance?
As all members of the company are in full-time education, it can definitely be tricky balancing work school and a personal life. Although some ways in which we manage this is by having weekly meetings where we delegate different tasks to do throughout the week. Although each person has a role, we’ve found it helpful to adjust these as time goes on to ensure everyone has a task, promoting productivity, for example, our HR team have proven themselves very helpful when it comes to proof reading and advertising.
What are the values that drive you?
Our aim is to do our bit to promote environmentalism. This can not only be seen through our product, but also our Instagram. We frequently post advice and facts about the environment and even promote other sustainable companies that we feel share our values.
What is the one piece of advice you always give to clients/customers?
At Forevergreen, we strive to promote the message of living a greener lifestyle and saving the planet from a premature demise. One piece of advice we always give to our customers (whether that is through our Instagram or our product) is that small changes over a period of time are super helpful. We understand that not everyone can go zero waste and have a negative carbon footprint, but at least being informed on what climate change is, is a great step for children to take and hopefully inspires them to do bigger and better things in the future.
To find out more about Forevergreen, please visit www.forevergreenplant.com or email ye.forevergreen@gmail.com.
If you would like to be included in our monthly company showcase, then please get in touch.
Our other company showcases can be found here: Stone Survey Ltd, The Happy Startup School, Vision Properties Weybridge, Adam Richards Magic, Home Transformations.