Susie is an author, speaker and self-worth and resilience mentor, particularly focused on building confidence and well-being for women. Susie recently spoke at an event about how Purple Shoots have helped her develop and grow her business.
When you look at the Purple Shoots website, the first words you see are: “Empowering dreams, enriching communities.” I can honestly say that these are not just words – they are values that are lived out every day through the way Purple Shoots operates.
When I was refused a loan by a bank’s computer system – a loan I desperately needed to grow my business and improve my life – Purple Shoots came to my rescue. Their form of ethical lending is absolutely vital for people who cannot access funding elsewhere. It helps set people free from the barriers that hold them back from building the businesses they dream of and creating the lives they want.
I was once told by a well-known marketing and PR expert that, for a woman to be truly empowered, she must also be financially empowered. Due to a number of circumstances throughout my life, I reached my early sixties without becoming independently financially empowered. That can be a difficult thing to admit.
Being financially disempowered is not only scary, unsettling, and frustrating – it can also be embarrassing. Yet at Purple Shoots, there is never any judgement. Instead, there is empathy, understanding, encouragement, and support.
I have been fortunate enough to receive two loans from Purple Shoots. I vividly remember sitting at a table with three business experts – a bank manager, a solicitor, and an accountant, I believe – with Mike from Purple Shoots sitting opposite me at the head of the table. As I gave my presentation and answered questions, I noticed Mike quietly scribbling notes. He hardly looked up, but throughout the whole process he kept nodding! That gave me confidence, strength, and encouragement when I needed it most.
The loans I received from Purple Shoots enabled me to grow and develop my business in ways that would simply not have been possible otherwise. I genuinely do not know how I would have managed without them.
I am delighted to say that next month I will make my final loan repayment to Purple Shoots, and I do so with enormous gratitude and heartfelt thanks.
To anyone here who is considering supporting Purple Shoots as an Investing Angel, I would say this: don’t think twice. Your support and generosity genuinely change lives. I know, because they changed mine.
Thank you