From Retail to Real Estate – Building a Multi-Million Pound Property Portfolio While Raising a Young Family

In this episode of The BEESPACE Podcast, Jade sits down with property developer Shally Singh, who shares her journey from working seven-day retail weeks to building a thriving property business in the heart of Bristol.

Shally opens up about her transition from Laura Ashley's merchandising department to property development, driven by the desire to support her family back in India.

Together with her husband, they made the bold decision to convert their family home into their first HMO – a move that raised eyebrows but set the foundation for their future success.

Now managing multiple development projects including pub conversions, service apartments, and property flips, Shally has achieved an impressive £3M GDV in the past year alone. She shares her strategies for raising private finance, often securing funding within 24 hours from her trusted network of investors.

The conversation covers Shally's practical approach to property development, her eye for design that's added significant value to projects, and how she manages it all while raising two young children – including a 10-month-old baby. Her motto? "Just get on with it!"

Looking ahead, Shally reveals her plans to launch an interior design service for property developers, born from her success in achieving premium values through thoughtful, end-user-focused design.

This episode is packed full of practical insights for anyone looking to build a property portfolio, raise private finance, or balance family life with business growth.

You can connect with Shally on Instagram @isteni_designandbuild or learn more about working with Jade at bee-space.co.uk.