Plastic-free toys and gifts for kids: how our vision won the Fast Track to Growth Award 2019

Plastic-free toys and gifts for kids: how our vision won the Fast Track to Growth Award 2019

Good Things is delighted to have been named the winner of Devon's prestigious Fast Track to Growth Award 2019 

On Thursday, 20 shortlisted Devon businesses gave a Dragon's Den style pitch to a panel of business experts, each competing for £10,000 worth of on-going business support from the Fast Track to Growth partners.

Fast Track to Growth finalists

The Fast Track to Growth 2019 finalists

 

Good Things pitched a vision for doing business differently by championing projects around the world that support people with well-paid work and use sustainable and recycled materials. We explained that we want to make it easy for people in the UK to support these projects when they buy gifts for children. We have ambitious plans to grow and would like to expand our offer beyond products for children in the next few years. 

Pitching our vision for plastic free and sustainable toys

Pitching our vision for plastic free and sustainable gifts that do good things

 

As the only business in the competition that wasn't yet live, pitching was a daunting prospect. Founder Lucy Willoughby explained how the idea had evolved, and her research into the growing demand for ethical and sustainable products. She went on to give details of Good Things' plans to develop following their launch on 15th July. 

"The opportunity to strategically develop Good Things, and benefit from the knowledge, skills and experience of the partners at the early stages of the business is a very special privilege." said Lucy.

“The whole Fast Track to Growth experience has been very rewarding and informative. I was delighted to even be shortlisted, so to win is just incredible. It has been amazing to learn from the partners’ expertise, connect with other businesses facing similar challenges and feel supported now and in the future.”

Lucy Willoughby, founder of Good Things with Astley Media's Dan Pritchard

Lucy receives her award from Astley Media's Managing Director Dan Pritchard

 

We can't wait to start working with the experts and to watch Good Things grow!

Press enquiries

We welcome press enquiries. Check out our press contact page.

Good Things is an award-winning online shop that seeks out inspiring ethical and sustainable products that support charities, empower people and protect our planet. We share these products and their inspiring stories of social and environmental impact in our online store. We want to make it easy for people to find feel good gifts, and reduce plastic waste.

Good Things was founded in July 2019 by female entrepreneur, Lucy Willoughby. After spending time in Nepal and Tanzania, working with entrepreneurs setting up small businesses, Lucy was inspired to let the world know about the ethical and sustainable products she found and the projects they support. Find out more.

Since launching in July 2019, Good Things has been featured in BBC One's Sunday Morning Live, and The Guardian, won the SJL Foundations's Start-Up of the Year Contest, and the Fast Track to Growth Award. Lucy is a finalist for the Entrepreneur for Good Award at the 2020 Great British Entrepreneur Awards for the South West region.

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