South Devon start-up shortlisted for Entrepreneur for Good Award category at Great British Entrepreneur Awards

Good Things, an award-winning start-up based in South Devon, is celebrating the news that their founder Lucy Willoughby is one of four finalists in the Entrepreneur for Good Award category at the 2020 Great British Entrepreneur Awards for the South West.

Good Things seeks out ethical and planet-friendly gifts, toys and games and shares their inspiring stories of social and environmental impact in their online store. The start-up is on a mission to make it easy for people to find feel-good gifts, and reduce plastic waste. The enterprise’s founder Lucy Willoughby, is one of four finalists in the Entrepreneur for Good Award category. This award is given to an entrepreneur leading a business that is implementing pioneering ideas and business models to help drive positive change.

Founded in 2013, the Great British Entrepreneur Awards acknowledges the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and businesses in the United Kingdom. The Awards have celebrated some outstanding entrepreneurs who have gone on to become household names. Previous winners include the founders of BrewDog, Tangle Teezer, The LAD Bible, Clearscore & The Cambridge Satchel Company.

Judges of the awards include Hayley Parsons, who founded Go Compare, Cath Kidston, Lord Bilimoria of Cobra Beer and Kanya King, the founder of the MOBO awards. This year, with face-to-face events challenging, the regional heats will be celebrated online on September 23rd. Winners of the regional Awards will go on to the national final in London in November.

"It's incredibly exciting to be named a finalist in this category," explains Good Things founder Lucy Willoughby, "It's been an eventful first year and this is a lovely opportunity to celebrate the positive impact we've made thanks to everyone who's supported us."

"I’m inspired by the projects we champion and support, from opportunities for disabled people in Tanzania to turning waste plastic into new toys, instead of polluting our seas. It’s a privilege to be able to share our suppliers’ stories of positive change and I continue to be driven by a belief that what we buy can change the world for the better."

Good Things launched in July 2019 after a successful crowdfunding campaign. Since then the start-up has won Devon's Fast Track to Growth Award, the SJL Foundation's National Start-Up competition at the House of Commons and was featured on BBC One's Sunday Morning Live in November. In the last three months the enterprise has seen an average 30% month-on-month increase in sales despite the pandemic. Among them, Good Things’ suppliers provide a new start for orphaned young adults in Rwanda; validate the work of disabled artists in the UK; and create eco-friendly recycled cards that plant trees too.

Founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Francesca James, said: “Given what we’ve seen over the past few months, the 2020 edition of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards is arguably the most important. Now, more than ever, it’s vital that we celebrate the achievements of the country’s entrepreneurs and their determination in the face of such adversity.”

“So many entrepreneurs will have been fighting to keep their business afloat over the past few months, and indeed will be over the coming months. I want to send my congratulations to each and every single entrepreneur who has made it to the shortlist this year, and I wish them the very best of luck for the regional finals.”

Find out more about Good Things and browse the range online: https://www.goodthingsgifts.co.uk

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

Good Things: Good Things is an award-winning online shop that seeks out ethical and planet-friendly gifts, toys and games. We share these products and their inspiring stories of social and environmental impact in our online store, and send these products out in completely plastic-free packaging. Our mission is 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. Fin: https://www.goodthingsgifts.co.uk/pages/about-us

Find out more about the Great British Entrepreneur Awards and the Entrepreneur for Good Award here: https://www.greatbritishentrepreneurawards.com/categories/entrepreneur-for-good-award/

For media enquiries, please contact Lucy Willoughby: lucy@goodthingsgifts.co.uk

Call: 0330 113 4775


Attached Media