This is the latest in a regular series of Business Q&A features published weekly. This week, we spoke to Rebecca Crallan, owner of The GreenHouse in Ripon.

Tell us in fewer than 30 words what your firm does.

We're a general store selling ecologically friendly products for the home and garden. Our mission is to make being green easier.

I'm not an eco-warrior, but I do my best to make sustainable choices.

We're open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 9.30 to 4.30, as well as the occasional Sunday.

What does it require to be successful in business?

You have to be prepared to do it all and get stuck in.

When you're just starting out and still growing your business, you have to be prepared to mop the floors and do all the mucky jobs. You need to be a jack-of-all-trades.

Also, if you've got your vision and know what you want to do, you need a thick skin to deal with all the naysayers.

What drives you to do what you do every day?

Having said I'm not an eco-warrior, I do care about the impact we're having on the planet.

I have a PhD in cancer research and had a team of 40 working for me as head of statistics for Cancer Research UK in London. I was up in Ripon visiting family when covid hit and the country went into lockdown. I never went back to London.

Havng started the shop, I've found a community of people who want to engage in a greener, simpler life.

What has been the toughest issue your company has had to deal with over the last 12 months?

The same as it's been for everyone: the rising costs of running a business. I've been quite shocked. For example, electricity is already expensive for residential customers, but for commercial customers it's even more so.

As a micro-bsiness you're quite vulnerable when it comes to negotiating costs.

Suppliers' costs have crept up too, so it's been a case of buying in larger quantities and shopping around to find suppliers who can still provide the quality you want but at prices that remain affordable for my customers. It gets quite complex!

Which other local firms do you most admire and why?

I admire Realitea, the Indian tea room, because the food is amazing and it doesn't pander to English tastes – they stick to their values.

Sarita [McDermott], who owns it, also employs adults with additional needs and puts on Bollywood dance classes. It's lovely to see someone being so involved in Ripon's community.

I also really appreciate Ripon BID [business improvement district]. It's been so useful for me to make connections with other businesses in Ripon, and to plan promotions and get people into the city. 

It's really worked – businesses are opening in Ripon, rather than closing, and there's a real buzz.

I've also got to admire any business still going after the last four years, especially in retail. I have huge respect for all of them.

Who are the most inspiring local leaders?

Simon Hewitt is one. He leads Ripon Together, which brings people, companies and organisations in Ripon together to get things done.

He organises the Green Fair and also volunteers for Ripon Theatre Festival. He gives his energy very selflessly to all sorts of different causes in the city.

Another one is Alexa Vernon. I'm a trustee of Ripon Museums, and she joined last year as director. It's been a tough time in the cultural sector over the last few years, and the work she's doing is really inspirational. 

She's brought new ideas and new way of doing things, and has injected a boost of energy into the organisation.

What could be done locally to boost business?

Ripon BID is doing a pretty good job, but what would be nice to see across Yorkshire as a whole is each town having its own identity, or niche. Malton is known for food, and York for the Vikings. It wouldn't mean towns couldn't do other things too, but it would be good for visitors to have an idea of what each town had to offer. It would also mean towns might work together rather than compete with each other.

I don't know what Ripon's niche would be. We have the cathedral and Fountains Abbey, and lots of lovely old buildings, and the Hornblower, so maybe something around all that. We'd need to come together and have a think about it.

Best and worst things about running a business from Ripon?

The best is the business community, and that buzz that's been created.

The worst is how small it is, becase it does limit the number of customers we tend to get. That said, its size is sometimes a positive, because it generates that community feel. It's a double-edged sword.

What are your business plans for the future?

I have another three years left on this lease, so for the time being I just want to survive, and then hopefully thrive.

I always try to make sure the shop looks fresh, with new things for customers to discover.

I'd absolutely love to be able to employ some staff, so we could open seven days a week.

What do you like to do in your time off?

I have a spaniel, so I go for lots of dog-walks, usually to The Portly Pig on Kirkgate. Any walk that involves a pub is great.

I also have an allotment, which keeps me busy.

Best place to eat and drink locally?

I like the new Café in the Park. The mobile street food company, Squid & Tonic, has taken over the café in Ripon's Spa Gardens, and that's at the top of my list at the moment.

If you know someone in business in the Harrogate district and you'd like to suggest them for this feature, drop us a line at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.