From Play Barn to £3 Million: How One Woman Kept a Business – and a Promise – Alive After Tragedy
A Cheshire-based entrepreneur navigated unimaginable grief and business upheaval to sustain a thriving virtual assistant franchise, Pink Spaghetti, built on a foundation of friendship and shared ambition.
Caroline Gowing, 52, recounts how a chance encounter with Vicky Matthews at a local swimming pool while both were on maternity leave sparked a partnership that would ultimately blossom into a £3 million enterprise with 50 franchises across the United Kingdom. Both women, in their 30s at the time, discovered a mutual passion for association and a shared frustration with the limitations placed on working mothers – where flexibility often felt unattainable. They envisioned a business that would empower other women to balance career aspirations with family life, and in 2011, Pink Spaghetti was born.
The founders launched the business with minimal investment – focusing on branding and logo design – and without seeking loans or grants, they launched the business from a local play barn, utilizing their personal phones to manage client communications.
The company’s success was built on a simple premise: empowering working parents to balance career aspirations with family life. “We wanted to be there to bring up our children, but we’re also really capable people who wanted a career and starting a business gave us that opportunity,” Caroline explained. As Pink Spaghetti grew, the founders recognized the value of seeking external guidance. A business coach helped them identify their distinct working styles – Vicky excelled in networking, marketing, and client relations, while Caroline thrived on data analysis and strategic planning. The coach playfully dubbed Caroline a “mushroom,” recognizing her preference for focused, independent work.
This insight prompted a crucial shift in their operational approach. Previously,both women had been involved in all aspects of the business. Though, by dividing responsibilities based on their strengths, Pink Spaghetti experienced critically important acceleration. Caroline emphasizes that replicating this principle – leveraging individual skills and fostering complementary partnerships – is central to her franchise model. She also acknowledges a degree of serendipity played a role in their success.
Though, the trajectory of Pink Spaghetti, and Caroline’s life, was irrevocably altered in 2023 with the tragic passing of Vicky Matthews from a brain tumor. The diagnosis came swiftly and unexpectedly during a holiday the two friends were sharing. After seeking medical attention for speech difficulties, Vicky received the devastating news. She succumbed to the illness less than two years later.
“It has been the biggest challenge of my life,” Caroline stated, grappling with both profound personal loss and the daunting task of assuming vicky’s responsibilities within the company. Recognizing the need for adaptation, Caroline, who previously shied away from public visibility, embraced the role of spokesperson for Pink Spaghetti. “The face of the brand was Vicky.to come out of that in grief has been hard. But, I have developed as a person, I look at things differently, I answer things differently,” she said. the lines between her personal and professional life had become deeply intertwined.
Three months after Vicky’s death, Caroline admitted to contemplating closing the business. Though, a sense of legacy, responsibility to her staff, and financial obligations compelled her to persevere. “I can’t afford to give up work.And I love doing this,so if I give it up,what do I do?” she recalled thinking. she now firmly believes she is a “business owner through and through” and doubts she could return to traditional employment. Caroline also underscored the importance of avoiding major decisions while in the throes of grief.
Pink Spaghetti’s core business model centers on providing support to small businesses by outsourcing tasks that owners find undesirable or time-consuming, enabling them to focus on growth. “By doing that within our own business it’s helped us grow ours, and we always said we would never start on our own so that’s why the franchise model works really well for us as no one has to do it on their own,” Caroline explained. she remains deeply committed to fostering a supportive environment for her franchisees, mirroring the collaborative spirit she shared with Vicky.
Caroline finds solace in knowing she honored their shared vision and that Pink Spaghetti continues to flourish. Her journey is a testament to the power of partnership, the resilience of the human spirit, and the enduring legacy of a friendship forged in the midst of motherhood and ambition.
