Become One of Our 20 Founding Businesses
Help Us Launch Hidden Finds in South East Kent
Hidden Finds South East Kent is being built to showcase the independent places that make this part of Kent worth exploring. Become one of the original businesses shaping a new way to discover the region's finest independent businesses.
Why We're Looking for Founding Businesses
Applications are now open for just 20 exceptional independent businesses. Hidden Finds is launching with its very first regional collection, celebrating the independent businesses that make South East Kent one of Britain's most remarkable places to explore.
Rather than launching Hidden Finds with hundreds of listings, we're building a carefully curated collection of businesses that represent everything we want the platform to stand for. We're looking for businesses with genuine character.
The places people discover by chance...
...and then recommend to everyone they know.
Whether you're an independent café, artisan maker, farm shop, gallery, brewery, bookshop, workshop, experience or unique place to stay, we're looking for businesses that visitors remember long after they've gone home.
If that sounds like your business, we'd love to hear from you.
Applications are now open for our first 20 Founding Businesses.
Hidden Finds UK launches by celebrating Britain's most remarkable independent makers.
Why We're Starting in South East Kent
This area of Kent is home to hundreds of remarkable independent businesses, and it's also my home!
The family-run cafés.
The artisan makers.
The farm shops.
The galleries, workshops and hidden places that give the region its character.
Yet many of these wonderful businesses rely almost entirely on word of mouth.
Hidden Finds was created to help more people discover the places that make South East Kent so special, while giving independent businesses the professional online presence they deserve.
We're hand-selecting just 20 businesses that represent everything Hidden Finds stands for.
Businesses with passion.
Businesses with heart.
Businesses people genuinely recommend.
Is Your Business a Good Fit?
We're looking for businesses that visitors love talking about.
✔ Independently owned
✔ Passionate about customer experience
✔ Proud of what you do
✔ Built on quality rather than quantity
✔ A business people recommend to family and friends
✔ Helping make Kent somewhere worth exploring
If that sounds like your business...
We'd love to hear from you.
What Makes Us Special
More Than a Business Directory
We aren't building another business directory. - We're creating a destination.
Visitors won't simply search for a café or a pub.
They'll discover a Hidden Finds Trail - complete days or weekends out:-
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A vineyard followed by lunch.
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A historic village with an artisan bakery.
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A garden, a farm shop and an afternoon tea.
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A coastal walk ending in a traditional pub.
Every business becomes part of a much bigger story.
What you'll receive as a founding business...
As one of just 20 Founding Businesses, you'll receive everything you need to establish a professional online presence while becoming part of the very first Hidden Finds collection for South East Kent.
Your Own Professional Website... yes really
A bespoke 3-page website designed specifically for your business. A completely stand alone website you can use and have ownership of forever.
Including:
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Professionally designed 3-page website
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Domain name registration
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12 months website hosting
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Mobile responsive design
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Contact form
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Image gallery
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Google Maps integration
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Basic on-page SEO
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Website launch support
Normal Website Price: £1,995
SEO-Optimised Website Content - (Getting you found on Google!)
We'll create professionally written website content that's tailored to your business, your customers and the services you offer.
Every page is written using carefully researched keywords to support your search engine optimisation while still sounding natural, engaging and true to your business.
The result is a website that's built to help more customers find you online.
Every Founding Business works directly with me, Vick, to create a website and online presence that truly reflects what makes their business special.
Hidden Finds Featured Profile
Every Founding Business will receive a premium profile within the South East Kent Collection, including:
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Dedicated business feature page
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Business story
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Photography (where included)
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Website and social media links
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Contact information
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Location map
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Priority placement
Visibility & Promotion
As a Founding Business you'll benefit from:
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Inclusion in relevant business categories
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Featured in future themed collections
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Inclusion in curated Hidden Finds trails
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Editorial opportunities
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Social media promotion
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Valuable backlink to your website
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Ongoing listing updates
Exclusive Founder Benefits
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FREE first year on the Hidden Finds platform
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25% lifetime discount on future annual platform fees
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Exclusive Founding Business Badge
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Permanent Founding Business recognition
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Priority consideration for future campaigns
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Early access to new Hidden Finds opportunities
Founding Business Investment
£1595
As one of our 20 Founding Businesses, you'll receive everything needed to establish a professional online presence while becoming part of the very first Hidden Finds UK Collection.
Your Founding Business Package Includes
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Professional 3-page website (normally £1,995)
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Domain name registration
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12 months website hosting
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SEO-optimised website content
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Search engine optimisation foundations
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FREE first year on the Hidden Finds platform
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25% lifetime discount on future annual platform fees
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Premium Hidden Finds business profile
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Priority placement within the South East Kent Collection
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Inclusion in future themed collections and trails
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Launch promotion
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Exclusive Founding Business Badge
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Permanent Founding Business recognition
Your website alone would normally cost £1,995.
As a Founding Business you'll save over £400, receive your first year on Hidden Finds free and enjoy exclusive Founder benefits that will never be available again.
Why We're Including a £1,995 Website
I've worked with small businesses for over 10 years, and I've seen the same problem time and time again.
Brilliant independent businesses often have websites that don't do them justice. They're outdated, difficult to find on Google, and only ever get visited by people who already know the business exists.
I want to change that.
Every Founding Business will receive a professionally designed, SEO-optimised website that not only showcases what makes your business special but also becomes part of the wider Hidden Finds network.
Your website won't just exist online. It'll be connected to business profiles, regional collections, curated trails and editorial content, creating valuable links and helping more people discover your business.
We're not just building twenty websites.
We're building a connected collection of remarkable independent businesses that will grow stronger together as Hidden Finds grows.
Once all 20 places have been filled, the Founding Business Package will close permanently.
