Deena Keric
While waiting for an appointment in her doctor's surgery Deena ripped out a picture from a magazine for a piece of artwork she planned for her new home. However, after working as a fitness instructor on cruise ships Deena's career was cut short by a debilitating mystery illness, which has only recently been, diagnosed as Coeliac Disease. However, during a long and painful journey to better health Deena decided some therapy was in order and returned to that scrap of paper and a dressmaker's dummy decorated in mosaic tiles.
"Over the years I kept searching and searching for this product but could never find it. When I had a lot of time on my hands I decided to have a go myself and spent a long time experimenting in the bathroom, tracking down unusual tiles and grouting. After consulting Train 2000, the women's enterprise centre on Merseyside I turned the idea into a business It was a lot of hard work but eventually by word of mouth people started to put in the orders from as far afield as London and Dubai.
Each dress form is completely unique and handcrafted, which is why they cost from £500. Last November I was short-listed for the Best Business idea in the Business Link award and got down to the last five from 500 nominations and now business is booming. I work with the interior styles of people's homes and the dress forms become part of the Interiors. To me every model is unique, I even give them names. Not only has that creative force I helped me get well again it has provided me with a business and a career again but this time, I am the boss!"