Magic Panda is a Chinese grocery shop and takeaway on Caledonian Road that also sells other Asian drinks and snacks.
Lucy started Magic Panda with the aim of it becoming a hair and beauty salon. However, before they could open, the pandemic forced them into lockdown. She therefore decided to move towards becoming a food shop which would mean they would not be forced to close should further lockdowns happen.
Inspired by the number of Asian students in the local area, she could see the market for having a place where they could buy foods from home that they wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else.
The funding Lucy received from the Inclusive Entrepreneurship Programme enabled her to buy cooking equipment, water heaters, stock and helped towards redecorating the shop to be fit for her new business purpose.
Although the business has faced several challenges, including staff shortages due to injury and flood damage to the store, it is still running, and Lucy is continuing to work hard to make her business a success.