Casting A Spell Over Barnsley: Meet Pearl From Yorkshire Witch
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George Taylor
- 4th February 2022
- 5 minute read
A nurse who has devoted 40+ years to caring for others – has swapped her bandages for broomsticks: she’s created a sanctuary dedicated to exploring the mystical.
Pearl Armstrong opened the doors to her Barnsley-based business, The Yorkshire Witch, on Halloween 2021. And since then, her unique collection of healing crystals, books and potions have been used to challenge everything you thought you knew about the world of witchcraft.
Her business has quickly become an instant hit amongst aspiring witches, and seasoned spell-casters alike.
Following a change in family circumstances during last year’s COVID-19-led lock-down, Pearl decided to explore the idea of running her own business, so she drew on her knowledge of witchcraft for inspiration. Ready to invest her life savings into the venture, the stars aligned for Pearl when she secured the premises that her business desperately needed.
However, Pearl was well aware that she had no prior experience of running her own business, so she reached out to the Sheffield City Region Launchpad (a programme that provides free support, training and access to workshops), – to help her build her dream business.
Working alongside experienced business adviser Nicole Harte, she began to refine her business plans, and take part in a range of courses, helping her to understand what it takes to run a successful start-up. Pearl spent time getting to grips with understanding the finances of running a company, as well as learning how to harness social media to showcase her unusual range of products.
Since securing her dream premises, Pearl has successfully transformed the former hair salon into a sanctuary dedicated to celebrating witchcraft and wiccan. Inside, visitors can treat themselves to specially-created spell bottles, learn more about witchcraft and the healing properties of crystals, AND enjoy a unique blend of coffee, served in a cauldron-shaped cup (which was created especially for Pearl’s fledgling business).
Since opening the doors, Pearl has attracted a loyal following. She’s even recruited her three daughters to help her! However, perhaps more remarkably, is that she continues to balance the pressures of running her own business, with working on the wards in her local hospital.
“When most people think of witchcraft, they tend to think of green faced hags flying around on a broomstick. However, the term really means a healer, who often worked as midwives, and were responsible for using herbs to create medicines,” said Pearl.
“Wiccan is about exploring and celebrating Mother Earth. It’s an ancient belief system where crystals have been used for thousands of years for their healing and spiritual powers. Over the years, it has surprised me to discover how many nurses use crystals to keep them safe during their shifts. I wanted to create a safe place where people can find out more about how it can be used as a force for good,” said Pearl.
“The Launchpad programme didn’t just help me to understand what it takes to run a business, but it gave me an opportunity to explore and develop my ideas. There’s a real sense of community on the programme, and Nicole and the Launchpad team have been amazing. They’re always on hand when I’ve got a question, and they’ve given me the belief and encouragement to believe that my idea for a business could work,” said Pearl.
“Moving from healthcare to witchcraft is quite an unusual career progression, but like many entrepreneurs, Pearl decided to build her business around a subject area that she knew well. The challenge she faced was that although she had a great business concept, she was unsure how to transform her ideas into a reality, so she reached out to Launchpad for help,” said Nicole Harte, a Business Adviser at Launchpad.
Launchpad is the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub’s key business support programme for new businesses. Financially supported by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by local authorities within the Sheffield City Region and the Prince’s Trust, the programme provides free help and support to budding entrepreneurs in the Sheffield City Region who are thinking of starting their own business or looking for help to achieve business growth.
“It can take an enormous amount of time, dedication and drive to transform an idea into a reality, and I think that Pearl’s journey is all the more incredible, because she can still be found doing her bit to support the NHS by working on the wards, and continuing to keep us all safe during the pandemic. I’m confident that Pearl’s business will enjoy a bright future,” added Nicole.
Next year, Pearl is hoping to become a celebrant, enabling her to preside over weddings and funerals. She’s also hoping to launch a series of podcasts where she examines the history and the origins of witchcraft, and an online retail store.
For more information about the Launchpad programme and how it operates throughout the Sheffield City Region, contact the SCR Growth Hub Gateway on 03330 00 00 39 or visit here.
Find out more here: https://www.theyorkshirewitch.com