Celebrate International Women’s Day this March, as we engage in conversations with inspiring female entrepreneurs in Wimbledon. Discover their remarkable achievements, and how they’ve overcome challenges, and hear their aspirations for the future of women in business.
Wimbledon Dental Wellness
The founders of Wimbledon Dental Wellness on Wimbledon Bridge, are Dr Pooja Pillay and Dr Yushmee Ramburrun, a team of two sisters who are passionate about making dentistry accessible for all and providing the best care for patients. Pooja shares her thoughts.
Q: As we celebrate International Women’s Day, what do you hope to see change or improve for women in the business world?
A: As a new business owner, I have seen a massive increase in women-owned businesses, especially in dentistry and healthcare. This is very refreshing to see as women can juggle so much, be it family, home, business, self care and children. At our dental practice, we have a core team of mainly women, and we all try to have each other’s back when it comes to managing the home and work life balance. In the world of Dentistry, women still need to penetrate more specialist jobs such as implants and surgery. As a new implantologist, I feel that the number of women placing dental implants can still improve with the introduction of more AI in healthcare.
Q: In what ways does your business contribute to the community or support social causes?
A: A group of us get together once a month to make hot meals for homeless people in Central London. We aim to freshly make and deliver 60-80 parcels of hot food, fruits, and water the last Saturday of the month at The Strand. There is a huge demand for this, and it is a great way to serve the community. We are exploring ways to get more involved locally and now that we are more established as a dental practice, we are looking at helping schools, local communities, and charities where we can, so please feel free to reach out to us.
Roxie Steak
Sue and Rich opened their Wimbledon restaurant in 2018 to serve the most incredible steaks, in a setting that feels close to home. Roxie Steak is an independent restaurant located opposite Elys on Wimbledon Hill Rd.
Q: What advice would you give to other aspiring female entrepreneurs wanting to start a business in Wimbledon?
A: Be brave. Overcome fear and embrace failure: if things don’t go exactly as you planned, don’t let this overwhelm you. Dust yourself off, ask yourself what lessons you have learnt, and move ahead – a concept known as ‘failing forward’. Promote yourself as a female-led business. Consumers want to support women business owners, particularly other women. Make sure you are the face of your company and that your story is a strong part of your marketing.
Q: Can you share a particularly proud moment or achievement in your business journey?
A: My husband Richard and I started Roxie together and worked as a solid team for the first 8 years to fully develop & grow the concept. He decided to embrace a new challenge a few years ago and stepped away from the business. The thought of running everything on my own was totally daunting, yet wildly exhilarating at the same time. I was filled with so much self-doubt as to whether I could do it, but I now have a much clearer understanding of the business as a whole – only because I was forced to dive into the deep end and fully trust my strengths – and we are financially stronger than we have been in a long while. He is still my sounding board and my absolute rock when things get tricky, but I’m astounded and proud of just how much I’ve learnt on this incredible journey.
The Much Company
Much Coffee, is a delightful mobile coffee van, specialising in serving scrumptious hot beverages and treats. Presently stationed outside Wimbledon Quarter, it has become a cherished part of the neighbourhood since owner Becks, joined Wimbledon in 2023.
*Please be aware that at the time this was published, the information provided was accurate. Becks no longer operates her coffee van in Wimbledon.
Q: What advice would you give to other aspiring female entrepreneurs wanting to start a business in Wimbledon?
A: Go for it! Wimbledon is a great location to start a business and the support that Love Wimbledon offers is second to none, assisting with your organic growth as a business. It is a social hub with fantastic community spirit, in addition to an ever-growing business culture promoting independent small enterprises.
Q: What green initiatives do you have in place for your business?
A: We are fortunate that our used coffee grounds are upcycled by Rooftop Farm Wimbledon (situated on the roof of Wimbledon Quarter), for their oyster mushrooms to grow and we also sell the honey produced by the bees on the roof. All of our packaging is compostable, and we are proud to hold a Silver Recycling Standard with our waste supplier. And finally, to combat our zero-waste policy, our bakes at the end of the week are delivered to one of the emergency services to thank them for their work.
Jiva Health
Jiva Health is a holistic studio on Wimbledon Bridge run by Tish & Lisa. They first started their business back in 2007 and now have 45 classes a week between Wimbledon and Earlsfield, offering yoga, Pilates and the best of movement medicine with movement therapists.
Q: What inspired you to start your own business in Wimbledon?
A: Tish had an opportunity to work with Gina Conway Salon in Wimbledon bringing a holistic side to the business. When it relocated, we knew we could collaborate and continue to provide yoga and Pilates to our lovely client base and expand the community, opening our doors to those in pain, needing fitness and mental support.
Q: In what ways does your business contribute to the community?
A: We offer Yoga and Pilates classes with fantastic teachers with a wealth of knowledge, many of whom have trained and work in other movement based healing modalities such as Gait Therapy and Corrective exercise. We also have a treatment room with therapists offering a range of specialist treatments and holistic healing practices. The studio is incredibly friendly and supportive to all of the clients that come through our doors so we really feel we offer the local community a welcoming space that can benefit body and mind.
Siam Retreat
Siam Retreat is a wellness spa located on Wimbledon Broadway near the Premier Inn Hotel, founded by owner Jira in 2023. They specialise in Thai massage techniques from traditional yoga massages to invigorating deep tissue therapies.
Q: As we celebrate International Women’s Day, what do you hope to see change or improve for women in the business world?
A: As we commemorate International Women’s Day, I hope to see a transformation in the business world where women are provided with equal opportunities, recognition and support to thrive. I envision a future that promotes gender equality and allows women to access leadership roles without barriers.
Q: What inspired you to start your own business in Wimbledon?
A: I chose to launch my business in Wimbledon because living here has shown me a strong sense of community and mutual support among residents. Observing Wimbledon’s distinct atmosphere and its favourable business environment, I felt compelled to establish something that not only resonated with my passions but also contributed to the community. It was an opportunity to create a space aligned with my values while making a positive impact on the local economy. Starting my business here felt like a natural and right decision.
