Ria Johnson decided to shake up Newcastle's taste buds when she left Newcastle Business School.
The 22-year-old, who lives in Jesmond, has opened Shakamaka - a milkshake and smoothie shop that allows customers to create their own combinations of fruit, chocolates, sweets and nutrition bars.
Ria Johnson
Business is already booming at the shop, in Dean Street, with a steady stream of regular customers eager to try out the cocktail of flavours.
Ria believes that the marketing skills she picked up while a student at Northumbria University have prepared her for the difficult task of starting up her own business. She said:
"I'd been down south and seen all these milkshake shops everywhere and thought it was a brilliant idea. I researched it over the summer and decided to turn this shop into Shakamaka.
I have always wanted to own my own shop. My mum and dad had a background in franchising and I had always been interested in business.
I was a little bit scared to start Shakamaka because running a shop is a lot to take on your shoulders but my Business and Marketing degree made me feel qualified to do it.
The marketing aspect of my course has really helped me. Business is going well, many of our regular customers work nearby and lots of tourists come in. I expect things to be even busier when the students come back.”
The three-year Business with Marketing BA Honours degree is provided by Newcastle Business School based in Northumbria University's award-winning new City Campus East. It allows students to combine key business subjects while specialising in the functional area of marketing. Ria added:
"Whatever happens, whether this is a success or not, it is a great start to learning how to run a business. If it is very successful I will think about franchising."
Date posted: Oct 2008