A Year of Dates celebrate small business success in a big way.

Last weekend (Friday 26th October) A Year of Dates took date night to a new level with a party to celebrate two successful years of trading.

In today’s retail climate celebrating 2 years is a huge milestone, one that entrepreneur Kate Greenhalgh wanted to share with friends, fellow businesses and family who have supported her during such an intense period of growth and development.

Taking over independent brewery Seven Bro7hers Beerhouse in Ancoats guests were welcomed with prosecco and treated to a pop up gin bar run by sibling company, Four Sis4ers Distillery. Using some of the popular date activities from the gift boxes the revellers enjoyed gin tasting, a selection of board games and a dance floor; having been asked to pick songs before the event to make sure there were no excuses for not joining in!

The busy bar was the perfect location for Kate as the small, family orientated brewery share similar values with A Year of Dates. The 37 year old set up her business, which she runs from her front room in Heaton, following a Christmas gift from husband John who made her a date jar containing 52 envelopes – encouraging them to step out of their busy routines and make time for each other by choose an envelope each week and completing the date card inside.

The activities ranged from doing a jigsaw or cooking each other a candle lit dinner to watching the sunset or going to bingo. The concept hasn’t changed much from this thoughtful gift and through online market places, such as Not on the High Street and social media, the business has seen orders rising steadily since launching in October 2016. More products have been added to include milestone birthdays, date ideas for new parents and activities for families; all encouraging people to spend more time with each other and have some fun.

Kate comments: “When I had the idea I knew it had the potential to be a success, but I expected to be selling at craft fairs and gradually growing awareness online for a lot longer. It’s been hard work – there are late nights and long days but my goal was to be self employed by the time my daughter started school in 2020 so I could be there at the school gates”

This is a dream that has already been realised as earlier this year Kate left her part time job to focus solely on growing the business – something really worth celebrating with the friends she has met along the way:

“During my journey I have met so many amazing people working towards their dream of running businesses in many different fields and celebrating the journey we’ve taken A Year of Dates on in just 2 years will hopefully inspire others that it can be done.”

“In the run up to Christmas, and with uncertainty on the high street, I appreciate every order that we receive and hope more people look beyond the next day deliveries for their gift inspiration as there are so many unique businesses out there with so much to offer.”

The party comes at the end of a successful few months for A Year of Dates after being named Start Up Business of the Year at the Bolton Business Awards in September.