A ‘NON-commercial business venture’ is a rare phrase in today’s tough economic world in which retailers remain vulnerable.
But the Mostly Manx project, which provides an outlet for more than 50 local producers of art, food, drink and clothing, is about supporting creativity and innovation over generating profit.
Audrey Fowler, in her role with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, is in a particularly good position to appreciate the value of a venture like Mostly Manx to local producers, and she has nominated founder Dian Skelton in the family business category of the Flybe-sponsored Pride in Mann awards.
Audrey said: ‘Mostly Manx certainly stands out, as it has brought a number of food producers together. Instead of them working separately, it comes under the branding – producers like Pentti Christian’s Ellersie Oils, Cocoa Red, the Original Manx Fudge Factory, and Sheila Gawne’s jam. And when you walk into the Nelson Street shop in Douglas, it’s absolutely beautiful.’
On Dian, Audrey added: ‘She’s a very driven lady, she puts a lot work and her own money to support Manx industries.’
Dian works full time in the finance sector, and describes Mostly Manx, founded nearly three years ago, as ‘a somewhat philanthropic venture’.
Her parents ran the Laxey Woollen Mills, and her brother still does, but Dian left the family business young. It was in recent years that her outlook shifted, when she was working on a book on the mill.
‘Like lots of Manx people I reached a certain age and became proud of our heritage,’ said Dian. ‘As soon as my son was old enough that I didn’t need to earn for his upbringing, I questioned that the finance sector doesn’t really physically produce anything.’
Coupled with an appreciation of the calibre of artisans in the Isle of Man, and a concern that a lack of retail opportunities could cause this creativity to dwindle, Mostly Manx was born.
‘The individual artisans don’t produce enough to open a shop or stock a supplier. They are creative, they don’t make things to order,’ said Dian.
She remains full of respect for the producers: ‘The foodies are excellent. They are intelligent people who could get jobs anywhere, but they choose to make produce. They believe in it, and you can feel their enthusiasm. I’m just a facilitator.
‘But if there was nowhere to sell it, they would have to stop producing and work somewhere else.
‘Hopefully people see that there is more depth to it than going out to Tesco and picking out the cheapest possible products.’
Great pride is taken in the Mostly Manx hampers, and Christmas trade has picked up from 30 to 40 two years ago to sending 430 hampers abroad over Christmas 2011 – as far overseas as Canada, Australia, South Africa, Singapore and the Philippines.
Does the ‘free’ nature of production make things difficult when the demand can get so high?
Dian sees the bigger picture: ‘I have a strong philosophy: if the Manx bees don’t feel like producing honey this year, then we won’t have any (in the hampers). I would rather do without than import a replacement.
‘The day-job pays the mortgage. It doesn’t need to make money or even break even. It’s a pleasure for me to give freedom to the artisans. That’s the business success, not dividends!’
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Pride in Mann is an awards scheme from Isle of Man Newspapers and Flybe which aims to recognise unsung heroes in the Manx community.
The competition sees the public invited to nominate people they feel are worthy recipients of an award across 10 categories. Each person nominated will be recognised in one of our newspapers and later there will be a public vote to find the categories’ winners.
The categories for this year’s Pride in Mann awards are: Promotion of Manx Culture, Performer of the Year, Teacher of the Year, Sporting Acheivement, Young Person of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Linking with Schools, Customer Service and Family Business.
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Who will you nominate?
You can find a downloadable nomination form by clicking {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/pride_in_mann_1_4040786|this link.}