Nogard Creations
From Passion to Purpose – How Nogard Creations can continue keeping precious memories alive with the support of a loan through the Growth Guarantee Scheme with Let’s Do Business Finance.
Based in Cambridgeshire, Nogard Creations is a family-run business dedicated to crafting bespoke keepsakes that preserve life’s most treasured moments. Founded by a husband and wife, Jamie and Laura McGrath, the business specialises in flower preservation and cremation jewellery, turning sentimental items into lasting mementos.
The idea for the business first began as a small side project back in early 2020, where Jamie had the idea to make gift items with resin to make a bit of holiday money. After buying a bunch of flowers from the local florist, with some trial-and-error along the way, they began transforming preserved flowers as well as nuts, bolts, and screws, into functional and decorative items. Soon after, Jamie had begun to practise with preserving 3D flowers, over time improving the technique.
“We were asked by some people who had really old flowers which they wanted to preserve, and from funerals of family members who couldn’t attend, and so they wanted to preserve some flowers to give to friends and family which we did. Then in December 2020, we lost our baby, and we preserved his funeral flowers.”
After seeing orders skyrocketing, with constant requests to preserve flowers, the two took the decision to leave work, and see where this journey would take them. Starting with just £50 on a credit card to buy the first materials, as their expertise in flower preservation grew, they transitioned from small gift items to high-end home décor and furniture, catering to a growing clientele of customers.
Despite their rapid success, Jamie and Laura faced challenges scaling up due to limited financial resources. The demand for their products outpaced their ability to invest in essential equipment and larger workspaces, prompting them to seek external funding.
The next challenge the pair was faced with was securing financial support from high-street lenders. As the business was entirely self-funded, and with traditional lenders requiring homeownership as a prerequisite which Jamie and Laura did not meet, they were recommended exploring government-backed financial options by their accountant.
“The main struggle for us was applying for finance – even with the bank I had been banking at for 15 years, we went to them and filled out a form which went ‘Sorry, no’. With Let’s Do Business Finance, they actually looked at the business as a whole rather than ‘Do you just tick all our boxes’.”
The Growth Guarantee Scheme is the successor to the Recovery Loan Scheme. The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) was introduced by the UK Government in April 2021 as part of its response to the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The RLS proved to be a lifeline for many businesses during the critical recovery period. However, in August 2023 as the UK economy moved into a post-pandemic phase, the government rebranded and restructured the scheme to become the Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS), giving SMEs access to £10 million funding. While it retains the fundamental purpose of supporting businesses through financial assistance, the new scheme focuses on driving growth and innovation. Let’s Do Business Finance are an accredited Finance Provider of the Growth Guarantee Scheme under the British Business Bank, where we can offer business loans from £25,001 - £150,000 to aid your business growth.
Through Let's Do Business Finance, they successfully applied for a £40,000 loan under the Growth Guarantee Scheme. Unlike conventional lenders, Let's Do Business Finance evaluated their business potential rather than relying solely on asset-based criteria.
The loan has aided Nogard Creations with:
Investing in industrial equipment, including wet sanders and polishers, significantly reducing manual labour and improving efficiency.
Expanding their product offerings, creating high-ticket furniture items such as tables and chess sets.
Booking national wedding shows, increasing brand exposure and generating over 100 direct customer inquiries.
Upgrading their website and marketing efforts, leading to a 91% increase in web traffic and a 27% rise in orders over the last year.
Establishing referral partnerships with florists, driving additional business through a commission-based collaboration model.
“From the very outset it was a delight to work alongside Laura and Jamie who are both lovely people. Not only was I very interested to learn about their business journey (which dated back to Covid) as well as being able to deliver a suitable funding package to help fuel the next stage of the growth of their very unique business. I am very much looking forward to continuing to work alongside Laura and Jamie in the future as the business grows.”
Thinking of their future plans, Jamie and Laura aim to continue the businesses expansion by further refining production processes and securing more corporate partnerships. Their long-term goal for Nogard Creations is to begin transitioning from hands-on work to business management, allowing them to scale sustainably while maintaining high-quality craftsmanship, and feel more of a work/life balance.
The support from Let's Do Finance and the Growth Guarantee Scheme has been transformative for Nogard Creations. With strategic financial backing, the company has moved from a small home-based business to an established brand in flower preservation and bespoke resin artistry. Their journey exemplifies how tailored financial solutions can empower small businesses to unlock their full potential and thrive in competitive markets.
Want to find out more about how Let’s Do Business Finance can help your business with expansion? Contact our expert team today!