A woman who started making jewellery as a hobby has turned her passion into a successful business after opening a shop at Ffos Caerffili.
Karen Lam, 38, began crafting jewellery eight years ago when she attended a community centre class in Edinburgh after the birth of her son. Discovering her talent, she continued refining her skills and selling handmade pieces at pop-up markets.
Her business, Karen L’s Creation, only became financially sustainable after she moved to Wales. Last year, she learned about an opportunity at the Welsh ICE unit at Ffos Caerffili and secured a 28-day flexible lease to test her business. The Welsh ICE pop-up initiative helps small businesses assess market demand before committing long-term.
Karen’s trial period was a success, leading her to establish a permanent shop at Ffos Caerffili. In addition to selling her jewellery, she now stocks products from ten other independent local artists.
Originally from Hong Kong, Karen moved to the UK in 2000 with her father. She had worked multiple jobs but never felt she had a chance to build a career until starting her own business.
“For me, it’s a life-changing opportunity,” she said. “I never thought I’d be able to open my own shop—I assumed I would always sell at craft markets. Now, it feels like a full-time career.”
Karen hopes to expand her business further by opening a second shop while continuing to support other independent makers.
“At the moment, I’m learning silversmithing to develop new skills,” she said. “In the future, I want to expand my product range and hopefully open another shop.”
She also praised the supportive community of traders at Ffos Caerffili and encouraged other small business owners to explore opportunities through Welsh ICE.
“It’s a great community here in Caerphilly and across Wales. People help each other, and I’m happy to do the same,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for anyone wanting to start a business. I’d encourage people to give it a go.”
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