Two Kent businesswoman are undeterred by a failed fundraising attempt, and hope to open Gravesend's first cat café in May.
Nora Camann, 34, and Jennifer Kristiansen, 25, aimed to raise £35,000 for their new business BaristaCats in a month.
Disappointingly, they had received just £1,525 in donations when their Kickstarter page closed at 11.30 this morning (March 31).
The failed Kickstarter page
The ladies remain optimistic and have quit their jobs, Mrs Camann as a librarian and Miss Kristiansen in accounting, to pursue the dream.
Mrs Camann, of Manor Road, said: “We are very lucky to both have very understanding partners who are willing to help us out.”
After the duo missed their target, the 24 Kickstarter backers were not charged, leaving the cash pot for the business empty.
Cats and coffee - pick up a cattucino
The pair need the money to renovate a vacant shop on the High Street, where Miss Kristiansen lives, and fit a kitchen.
Mrs Camann said: “I do not think the target was ambitious. Unfortunately it’s what we needed to get the kitchen.
“I think it’s unfortunate because people in the area were not comfortable using Kickstarter.
“I think crowdfunding was just something that they had never heard of.
“It’s too different, too unknown. People were happy to just put money in my hand.”
Proving that cats always land on their feet, Mrs Camann is now in talks with Bright Ideas, who provide funding and mentoring to entrepreneurs.
She is in the process of applying for their maximum loan.
She said: “I know that it’s very easy to get a loan for the business but crowdfunding is one of those things that was available so we thought we would try it because it could not hurt.”
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She believes they have drummed up enough interest and publicity in the concept, and England’s only cat café outside London.
The ladies plan to adopt five cats and one rabbit, which people could pet whilst drinking hot drinks and enjoying “cat therapy”.
Mrs Camann said: “I think it would be good for Gravesend, it’s good for bringing in tourists because it’s interesting.
"We would like to get open in May."
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