The Power of Community and networking
In November 2023, The Pink Elephant began a brand-new chapter — one that started with a leap of faith, a barn, and a dream. After years of building the business from the heart of West London, I made the decision to leave behind the city that had shaped me and move to a beautiful barn conversion in Nash Mills, just outside St Albans. Nestled down a pretty little lane called Bunkers Lane, this peaceful corner of Hertfordshire has become the home where The Pink Elephant has truly been able to grow, evolve, and scale.
A journey down a country lane that led to connection and community.
From a One-Bedroom Flat in West London to a Barn in the Countryside
Running a grazing business from a one-bedroom, fourth-floor apartment in Chiswick was… ambitious. At that point in our journey, space was tight, fridges were overflowing, and creativity was being stifled by city living. It became clear that to grow, something had to change.
Selling my apartment was a huge decision — not just financially, but emotionally. London had been my home for years. It was where the business was born, where every early order was prepped, and where I’d built so many connections. But deep down, I knew that if I wanted The Pink Elephant to reach its full potential, I needed room to breathe.
And so, I moved to Hertfordshire.
People often ask me why Hertfordshire? The honest answer: I didn’t really know at first. I found the barn conversion by chance, fell in love with it instantly, and trusted my gut. I didn’t know a single person here. I just knew that it felt right — that this was where I could build something bigger.
Finding My Feet
Those first eight months were about settling in, finding rhythm, and learning how to live outside of London. It was a strange shift — from the constant buzz of city life to the quiet hum of the countryside. There were moments of doubt (“What have I done?”), but there was also a growing sense of peace.
Suddenly, there was More space. More time. More clarity. The barn became not just a workspace but a sanctuary — a place to think, to create, and to plan how to take The Pink Elephant to new heights.
Living here has given me balance. London will always hold a piece of my heart, but it was simply too busy for the kind of growth I needed. Out here, surrounded by greenery and good energy, I’ve found both peace and purpose.
Building a New Network
Moving somewhere new, especially when you don’t know a soul, can be daunting. But if you want to grow — personally and professionally — you have to put yourself out there.
The first local network I reached out to was the St Albans Chamber of Commerce. I still remember sending a very simple email asking about membership. That one message changed everything.
From my very first call with Claire and Emma, I felt so welcomed. Before long, I was attending coffee mornings at The Beech House in St Albans, meeting like-minded business owners, and slowly finding my place within a new community.
Since then, our relationship with the Chamber has blossomed. We’ve provided charcuterie for their Future Leaders Network, catered their Business Week events, and built some incredible partnerships that continue to this day.
And it’s not just formal networks that make a difference. Around the same time, I discovered First Thursdays, a brilliant initiative by Helen Whittington, owner of DJ’s Play a soft play for children across Hertfordshire. Helen created it as a relaxed, no-membership meet-up for independent business owners — a chance to connect, share ideas, and support one another over a drink on the first Thursday of each month. It’s genuine networking at its best and a wonderful way to meet other local entrepreneurs.
Connections That Inspire
Through those connections, new opportunities began to open. One of the most memorable was our charcuterie and wine tasting event at Bubble Hub — a vibrant co-working space in St Albans — in October 2024. We brought the grazing boards, they brought the atmosphere, and together we created a wonderful evening of flavour, laughter, and community.
Not long after that, we connected with Katie and Sabine from We Are Harpenden — two amazing women with a story that deeply resonates with me. They started their community platform during the pandemic to connect local people with local businesses, and their energy and authenticity are contagious.
I met them properly at their Christmas party last year, where I also met Faye — who happened to work with the Ovo Theatre. That meeting turned into a beautiful partnership this summer, where we provided charcuterie boxes for 70 shows at the theatre. It’s proof that when you show up, talk to people, and engage in your community, incredible things happen.
And it’s not just about independent networks — we’re proud that through these connections we also support corporates. We are now so proud to work with Emily and her team at Taylor Walton and other organisations across the country.
The Power of Networks
Networking isn’t just about exchanging business cards; it’s about building real connections. Since joining these local networks, The Pink Elephant has had the privilege of working with so many inspiring people.
From We Are Harpenden’s summer events, to collaborating with the St Albans Chamber Of Commerce for multiple projects, to now joining The Harpenden Collective — every partnership has added a new layer to our journey.
Next month, we’ll be catering a breakfast for one of The Harpenden Collective’s networking breakfast events, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring a taste of The Pink Elephant to a brand-new community.
Word of Mouth: The Heart of Growth
If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that word of mouth is everything. It’s how we grow, how we connect, and how we continue to support other small businesses who share our passion.
A perfect example of that came through Lisa Bates who Founded Lisa Bates marketing, who was previously President of the St Albans Chamber Of Commerce. Lisa reached out to the Chamber looking for a caterer for an event, and Emma kindly recommended The Pink Elephant. That one recommendation led to proud collaboration — working with Queen’s House, a stunning new workspace in St Albans.
If you haven’t visited Queens House yet, you absolutely should. Savvas and the team have created something truly special — it’s elegant, inspiring, and full of energy. And for us, it represented yet another example of how relationships and recommendations can turn into something extraordinary.
Another wonderful example of the Chamber’s support came when Emma kindly recommended me to Wendy for TEDx St Albans Day. We were delighted to co-sponsor the VIP breakfast for 100 guests, providing the catering. It was another perfect example of how being part of these networks opens doors to new opportunities and collaborations.
What This Move Has Taught Me
Looking back, leaving London wasn’t just about finding space — it was about finding perspective. The countryside has given me a different kind of focus. I’ve learned that growth doesn’t come from waiting for opportunity to knock; it comes from creating opportunities, from showing up, from believing in your story even when it feels uncertain.
Through all the coffee mornings, collaborations, and events, one thing has remained clear: community is everything. When you support others, they support you back. When you show up with passion, authenticity, and consistency, doors open.
Looking Ahead
The Pink Elephant’s story is still being written. We’re continuing to expand across Hertfordshire, St Albans, London, the surrounding counties and beyond — with dreams of scaling this globally.
We want to bring our signature grazing experiences to more workplaces, more celebrations, and more people who appreciate food made with love and creativity. And we’ll do that not by shouting the loudest, but by connecting the strongest — through trust, collaboration, and genuine word of mouth.
So, if you’re reading this and thinking about your own business journey — take this as your sign. Step out of your comfort zone. Reach out to your local network. Go to that event. Send that email. You never know which conversation might change everything.
Because growth doesn’t happen when you sit still — it happens when you show up.
Final Thought
Moving from a fourth-floor flat in London to a barn in Hertfordshire might sound like a dramatic shift — and it was. But it’s also been the most rewarding, grounding, and transformative chapter yet. It absolutely come without its hardships, incredibly hard days and challenges along the way but I’ve learnt to never give up no matter how hard it gets.
The Pink Elephant was built on creativity and connection, and this move has only deepened both. I’m endlessly grateful to the local networks, the incredible women and men I’ve met along the way, and every single person who continues to support this dream of mine.
Here’s to more collaborations, more growth, and more grazing. To the next 2 years ahead living in beautiful Hertfordshire!
‘Community isn’t just about who you know — it’s about how you show up. When you support your network, you don’t just help others grow; you create the kind of word-of-mouth that money can’t buy’.
Ian Henderson, Founder, The Pink Elephant