Bow tie wearing Llamas inspires Lancashire entrepreneur’s book

A book documenting a Lancashire entrepreneur’s journey to success will go on sale in the new year. 

Why Put a Bow Tie on a Llama? will be released for sale on January 10th and author Celia Gaze is beyond excited.

Celia is the founder and managing director of The Wellbeing Farm, in Edgworth, Bolton; a neglected family hill farm she took on in 2013 and transformed into an award-winning wedding venue.

The book, published by Practical Inspiration, offers her honest, warts and all journey of setting up her own business, the highs, the lows and the things she never saw coming!

Celia said: “At the time I was a stressed-out new mum working at a senior position in the NHS. I don’t know if you can call it a mid-life crisis at age 40, corporate burnout or simply exhausted new mum, but I suddenly thought – is this my life?

“From that moment, I vowed never again to have regrets, but to instead always make the most of my life.”

Celia asked her partner Stephen Whitehead if she could transform his farm into something special and began her research; travelling around the country (with a baby in tow) visiting 195 venues to gather inspiration for The Wellbeing Farm.

She said: “The book really does delve into the highs and lows of setting up your own business; the painful process of dealing with red tape issues, handling a unique building projects, as well marketing, staffing and sculpting the business into what you see today.

“I was sick of reading other business success stories, hiding behind a glossy veneer; that’s not real. My story, on the moors, in an old sheep farm, is.”

It was in the spring of 2014, that Celia had what she calls her ‘bow tie on a llama’ moment, after being approached by a couple who asked if they could get married at the farm.  

She had nowhere to put them…but not one to be easily defeated, Celia had a flash of inspiration - why not transform the indoor livery school into a Wedding Barn?

Celia said: “Nobody would ever accuse me of procrastination, the exact opposite in fact, and without really thinking about it, the next thing our former horse arena had been transformed into a Wedding Barn.

“The result is a stunning wedding venue playing host to hundreds of weddings and many more happy times to come!”

Already, Celia has been interviewed by the likes of the Sunday Express, The Huffington Post and The Metro; all intrigued by this vivacious red head with a true lust for life. 

She said: “Interest has been really positive so far. I think that as the book explores so many different avenues, it really appeals to a wide audience.  

“It really is my hope that anyone reading my book will be inspired to embrace their own bow-tie on a llama moment as we embark on a new decade.”

Why Put a Bow Tie on a Llama? by Celia Gaze is available now to pre-order on Amazon for £9.35

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