Karine Torr has been nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year in the South African Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2013. Read her profile and vote for her here.
High School: Johannesburg High School for Girls
Tertiary Education: N/A
Qualifications: Damelin Public Relations Diploma – First Class, Greenoaks Finishing School Diploma
Lives In: London
Company Name: Darling Magazine UK (With titles for Wimbledon, Cobham & Esher and Kingston Upon Thames)
Title: Publisher Darling Magazine and Editor Darling Magazine Wimbledon
Duration of time within company: 5 Years
Professional Membership held: Member of the Merton Chamber of Commerce
Previous positions:
What are your main achievements in the category you are being nominated for?
Founder and owner of the Darling Magazine UK franchise,which I started in 2008 with no capital, making a profit from the first issue. A women’s lifestyle community magazine for local women BY local women, started in Wimbledon and now with a franchise in Cobham & Esher and a Kingston franchise springing up in February 2014.
Starting an original magazine up from scratch in the middle of the recession with a view to supporting small businesses and local women in all walks of life and providing interesting, well crafted and relevant content that engages people – not just a vehicle for pages of advertising. I run it single handedly which means selling all the advertising, seeking out the editorial and putting the magazine together with my current South African graphic designer, Talitha Minchin.
What makes you most proud about your business?
Community Involvement:
Directorship / Leadership positions: I am a serial entrepreneur and my own manager.
Recent Awards: In 2010 I was a finalist in the first Merton Business Awards for Entrepreneur of the Year and Best New Business and in the newly launched Merton New Business Awards I was a finalist in both Entrepreneur of the Year and Extra Mile categories.
Favourite Business Quote: ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get’ – something i regularly tell my kids and they use it against me often!
Mentor: My brilliant writer/ex advertising husband Gordon who can always be relied upon to come up with a snappy headline and a mot juste.
Voting for all nominees has now closed. Each comment posted in response to the CV/bio of your chosen nominee, which is connected to a unique, legitimate e-mail address and IP address, will be counted as a vote. Comments made by the public will contribute to 30% of the total vote. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 28 November.
Entry, voting, participation and judging of the South African Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2013 are governed by the Rules and Regulations.