I would like to announce that our web-site is now up and running as of the 25th July 2009 and we have had THREE orders which I think very good!
Please check it out at:
www.cactus-products.com
Feel free to order!
Ray
Friday, 31 July 2009
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Entrepreneurs Form 'If We Can You Can Challenge'
Well the results are in and I’ve actually won something for about the first time ever!
I’m obviously very pleased especially for my Mam, Dad, Girlfriend and beautiful, 9 month old daughter Olivia!
I’m told we did very well on the voting, so thank you to everyone who voted. I used a fair bit of free time to gather the votes. Everyone in Hartlepool and beyond knows about the challenge now, and how big it is, because I’ve DRONED on about votes for 4 weeks!
It was tough because the family is quite small but I’ve tried everything I could in my spare time. I even went to a charity function on bank holiday Sunday and stood up and asked everyone to text vote. There where about 300 people at the event, but as everyone was about to send someone shouted, ‘it’s a FIVER to text’
I couldn’t believe it as everyone was on their feet ready to press ‘send’. In the end about 20-30 did. Thanks to those who did text vote and it wasn’t a ‘fiver’. Is was £ 7.50!
I tried getting votes from as many continents and countries as I could and think I managed all the continents and about 20 different countries. I’m not sure I’ll ever find out exactly. I also tried to get someone famous???
The If We Can You Can Team noted that Christine and Paula from Restoration & Beyond (the competitor!) and myself both voted for each other! I’m pleased they noted this as we are rather proud to live in Hartlepool and wanted to represent out great town, as best as possible. I think we did that….
I wish Christine and Paula all the best in the future. Look forward to seeing you soon
I have some advice now. As soon as you see next years competition – ENTER IT. Now I have come through it (although it still goes on) I understand just how big and important it is. It exercises some very good skills from pitching, writing, speaking to the camera, IT – writing on blogs and photographic opportunities. I’ve had great coverage of our product for no cost…
Along the way everyone will meet some famous names, talk to influential people and see how, in my view, to organise event as grand as the Entrepreneurs Forum does.
I wish I could demonstrate how good the Entrepreneurs Form has been but my skills in writing could not do it justice
Thank you all
Ray
I’m obviously very pleased especially for my Mam, Dad, Girlfriend and beautiful, 9 month old daughter Olivia!
I’m told we did very well on the voting, so thank you to everyone who voted. I used a fair bit of free time to gather the votes. Everyone in Hartlepool and beyond knows about the challenge now, and how big it is, because I’ve DRONED on about votes for 4 weeks!
It was tough because the family is quite small but I’ve tried everything I could in my spare time. I even went to a charity function on bank holiday Sunday and stood up and asked everyone to text vote. There where about 300 people at the event, but as everyone was about to send someone shouted, ‘it’s a FIVER to text’
I couldn’t believe it as everyone was on their feet ready to press ‘send’. In the end about 20-30 did. Thanks to those who did text vote and it wasn’t a ‘fiver’. Is was £ 7.50!
I tried getting votes from as many continents and countries as I could and think I managed all the continents and about 20 different countries. I’m not sure I’ll ever find out exactly. I also tried to get someone famous???
The If We Can You Can Team noted that Christine and Paula from Restoration & Beyond (the competitor!) and myself both voted for each other! I’m pleased they noted this as we are rather proud to live in Hartlepool and wanted to represent out great town, as best as possible. I think we did that….
I wish Christine and Paula all the best in the future. Look forward to seeing you soon
I have some advice now. As soon as you see next years competition – ENTER IT. Now I have come through it (although it still goes on) I understand just how big and important it is. It exercises some very good skills from pitching, writing, speaking to the camera, IT – writing on blogs and photographic opportunities. I’ve had great coverage of our product for no cost…
Along the way everyone will meet some famous names, talk to influential people and see how, in my view, to organise event as grand as the Entrepreneurs Forum does.
I wish I could demonstrate how good the Entrepreneurs Form has been but my skills in writing could not do it justice
Thank you all
Ray
Cactus Products Limited
Where did the Cactus come from?
Three years ago I took ownership of my first home. The house I chose bordered a public footpath that links the local park
I was quite concerned about this footpath and was my only issue with the house
Soon after buying the house I saw a publication in the Hartlepool Mail about using prickly plants to defend against intruders. A schedule of dates where the public could gain information about prickly plants where listed. It was hosted by Hartlepool Crime Prevention
After visiting the event I gained some knowledge of what the plants could do for the property but the down side was:
Cost £ 300
Take 2-3 days to plant
Plant inside my property and not outside – planned to start family!
3-5 years growth required to give desired protection
From here I spoke to some relatives about my concerns and they told me to put up carpet grippers. This was not a consideration as would not want to cause serious injury and they look terrible
I thought some more about the problem and as I owned a injection moulding company I came up with a plastic spiky strip the would give human intruders, cats and birds something to think about
Why did it take three years to develop?
At the time of the Cactus idea the moulding company I owed, Solutions-Injection Moulding Ltd was still in phase one of start up. We where reporting high sales but it was hard work keeping on top of the production side. Coupled with a new home with no lawn, floor coverings, curtain and blinds I was rather busy!
The Cactus came alive six months ago with the economic down turn ‘Credit Crunch’. Rather than sit and do nothing when sales where down 80% and customers decided not to pay invoices I decided it was time to motivate myself and stimulate some activity by coming up with our own product.
My Uncle Brian had told me previously that he’d ‘invested in the last recession and it got him through……’
Where is the Cactus now?
Now in production, and we have the capability to manufacture 4,000 Strips per day in any colour
Sales so far are over 14,000 strips
Stocked in ten local shops. Middlesbrough – Seaham. Available on Ebay and have reported sales every day since first listing.
Great response from everyone approached and feedback of, ‘it’s the cheapest, legal, easy to fit device that has been seen…’
Achieved grant funding to produce a dedicated on-line web-site with buy now facility and have already made investment in conventional marketing tools to aid bulk sales
Three years ago I took ownership of my first home. The house I chose bordered a public footpath that links the local park
I was quite concerned about this footpath and was my only issue with the house
Soon after buying the house I saw a publication in the Hartlepool Mail about using prickly plants to defend against intruders. A schedule of dates where the public could gain information about prickly plants where listed. It was hosted by Hartlepool Crime Prevention
After visiting the event I gained some knowledge of what the plants could do for the property but the down side was:
Cost £ 300
Take 2-3 days to plant
Plant inside my property and not outside – planned to start family!
3-5 years growth required to give desired protection
From here I spoke to some relatives about my concerns and they told me to put up carpet grippers. This was not a consideration as would not want to cause serious injury and they look terrible
I thought some more about the problem and as I owned a injection moulding company I came up with a plastic spiky strip the would give human intruders, cats and birds something to think about
Why did it take three years to develop?
At the time of the Cactus idea the moulding company I owed, Solutions-Injection Moulding Ltd was still in phase one of start up. We where reporting high sales but it was hard work keeping on top of the production side. Coupled with a new home with no lawn, floor coverings, curtain and blinds I was rather busy!
The Cactus came alive six months ago with the economic down turn ‘Credit Crunch’. Rather than sit and do nothing when sales where down 80% and customers decided not to pay invoices I decided it was time to motivate myself and stimulate some activity by coming up with our own product.
My Uncle Brian had told me previously that he’d ‘invested in the last recession and it got him through……’
Where is the Cactus now?
Now in production, and we have the capability to manufacture 4,000 Strips per day in any colour
Sales so far are over 14,000 strips
Stocked in ten local shops. Middlesbrough – Seaham. Available on Ebay and have reported sales every day since first listing.
Great response from everyone approached and feedback of, ‘it’s the cheapest, legal, easy to fit device that has been seen…’
Achieved grant funding to produce a dedicated on-line web-site with buy now facility and have already made investment in conventional marketing tools to aid bulk sales
Friday, 5 June 2009
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Leaving Stadium Plastics
At the end of 2000 I was offered an opportunity to join a company called Omega Plastics in Gateshead. Omega where the market leader in the manufacture of Rapid Cut Tooling, due to their technology, and the way they worked
I was tired of Stadium at this point and it was time for a new challenge, and a little more pay! It was also an opportunity to hook up with a few guys I knew. Paul McMorris, Richard Peacock who where ex-Stadium and Scott Newbegin who was a friend.
Omega was formed from a DTI led visit to Detroit, USA. Many businesses went over to the States and one of them, the Express Group, spotted an opportunity to do a joint venture with Omega USA
Omega had a market niche, great operating principals and employed the best people they could find in their field – I was just lucky! Express Group had a sales formula for success in the UK engineering and Omega grew in a few years from first order to about £ 2 Million turnover.
When I joined it was growing rapidly but it needed someone of my background commercially to bring some consistency to the way they worked. I would say it worked and in 2 years I think we grew the business to about £ 4M
Omega empowered their employees to make decisions and had confidence in our ability. Myself, Rich and Scott would leave home at 5.45am and normally not get home till 7.30pm as we loved the job and travelling together (we spent a few bob at Easington Services, they must miss us)
Some nights we’d work late brokering deals with Omega USA who where 5 hours behind us and have to either sleep on the floor, at work or book a hotel – it used to be fight for the single bed as we’d booked one room for TWO and the other ONE would climb in through the window.
Omega’s success was incredible in my view; they just nailed every part of the business from incoming enquiry to delivery of the product. It had a wonderful image and environment to work, hence the employees gave everything – it was the best decision I ever made, going to work there
Once the business got to £ 4M mark things changed and a plan was put in place to add other companies to Omega and offer a complete turnkey package from design to mass production (Omega was more prototyping) this was a huge mistake on their part and I feel it driven by greed.
There where ten of us who new it wasn’t to work but we could not prevent the Americans being bought out and this new company evolving.
Right from day one it was an expensive nightmare for the investors. The culture of all the separate business’s who joined us where completely different, there where more Directors and Managers than employees. Our right to make decisions where taken away and sales and profits tumbled.
To cut a long story short I left, walked out as I wasn’t willing to put my reputation on the line. I think something like 30 left in the next few months. The company went under a couple of times over the next few years, but for me I was just glad to be out of it – it was the second best decision I ever made, leaving
I had no plan of what I was going to do. I sat in a meeting on the Friday and told the directors of the company what I thought of them and never returned again. I had the job held open for me and they paid me for 3 months, but I would not return.
Within a few days of leaving my Grandmother died, a cousin got married and decided when talking to family to go away for a while. I floated around the Caribbean and USA for a couple of months and came home. I had a call to back to Stadium for double the money I’d left for 3 years earlier but declined.
I decided I would set up my own company manufacturing small injection mouldings and teamed up with now called Kannect Precision Services. My business, which I’m still running is called Solutions-Injection Moulding and is based in Hartlepool.
In the six years of trading we have won ‘Hartlepool’s, Best New Business’ developed over 200 new products for our customers and manufactured over 30 Million components. We’ve achieved ZERO defects status, had no customer complaints and 100% on-time delivery.
I was tired of Stadium at this point and it was time for a new challenge, and a little more pay! It was also an opportunity to hook up with a few guys I knew. Paul McMorris, Richard Peacock who where ex-Stadium and Scott Newbegin who was a friend.
Omega was formed from a DTI led visit to Detroit, USA. Many businesses went over to the States and one of them, the Express Group, spotted an opportunity to do a joint venture with Omega USA
Omega had a market niche, great operating principals and employed the best people they could find in their field – I was just lucky! Express Group had a sales formula for success in the UK engineering and Omega grew in a few years from first order to about £ 2 Million turnover.
When I joined it was growing rapidly but it needed someone of my background commercially to bring some consistency to the way they worked. I would say it worked and in 2 years I think we grew the business to about £ 4M
Omega empowered their employees to make decisions and had confidence in our ability. Myself, Rich and Scott would leave home at 5.45am and normally not get home till 7.30pm as we loved the job and travelling together (we spent a few bob at Easington Services, they must miss us)
Some nights we’d work late brokering deals with Omega USA who where 5 hours behind us and have to either sleep on the floor, at work or book a hotel – it used to be fight for the single bed as we’d booked one room for TWO and the other ONE would climb in through the window.
Omega’s success was incredible in my view; they just nailed every part of the business from incoming enquiry to delivery of the product. It had a wonderful image and environment to work, hence the employees gave everything – it was the best decision I ever made, going to work there
Once the business got to £ 4M mark things changed and a plan was put in place to add other companies to Omega and offer a complete turnkey package from design to mass production (Omega was more prototyping) this was a huge mistake on their part and I feel it driven by greed.
There where ten of us who new it wasn’t to work but we could not prevent the Americans being bought out and this new company evolving.
Right from day one it was an expensive nightmare for the investors. The culture of all the separate business’s who joined us where completely different, there where more Directors and Managers than employees. Our right to make decisions where taken away and sales and profits tumbled.
To cut a long story short I left, walked out as I wasn’t willing to put my reputation on the line. I think something like 30 left in the next few months. The company went under a couple of times over the next few years, but for me I was just glad to be out of it – it was the second best decision I ever made, leaving
I had no plan of what I was going to do. I sat in a meeting on the Friday and told the directors of the company what I thought of them and never returned again. I had the job held open for me and they paid me for 3 months, but I would not return.
Within a few days of leaving my Grandmother died, a cousin got married and decided when talking to family to go away for a while. I floated around the Caribbean and USA for a couple of months and came home. I had a call to back to Stadium for double the money I’d left for 3 years earlier but declined.
I decided I would set up my own company manufacturing small injection mouldings and teamed up with now called Kannect Precision Services. My business, which I’m still running is called Solutions-Injection Moulding and is based in Hartlepool.
In the six years of trading we have won ‘Hartlepool’s, Best New Business’ developed over 200 new products for our customers and manufactured over 30 Million components. We’ve achieved ZERO defects status, had no customer complaints and 100% on-time delivery.
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Leaving School...........
I didn’t have a clue what I would like to do after school. I sort of liked school but I was ready to leave. College didn’t excite me one bit.
The only one idea I had was to gain an apprentiship like my Dad had done. In 1987 this was not an easy thing to achieve, there was a decline in the amount of apprenticeships but it was still a logical choice for many.
I would go to the likes of ICI and British Steel, where there must have been 5,000 other kids going for the same 20 apprenticeships. The first selection process took about 2 weeks to examine everyone.
Week after week we would apply and be examined, running into the same kids all the time. I don’t think I got very far and the situation was looking desperate
When summer approached I had nothing sorted but an opportunity came up working for David Manners of Manners & Harrison for a few weeks. Luck had turned, I loved the job and in some ways if I hadn’t been offered a place at the EITB in Billingham I would have stayed.
It took the pressure off getting into the EITB as most people who attended for one year found an apprenticeship. It wasn’t easy though and competitive. When job opportunities and interviews came up it was a case of competing with your friends. I think we where paid £ 30 / week. It was a fortune
A job came up in Hartlepool at Stadium Plastics. Four of us went for the job and I was the only one from Hartlepool. My Doctor was a good friend of our family and knew one of the main directors of Stadium very well. I got the job….
I enjoyed being an apprentice and learned loads of different disciplines such as electrical, pneumatics, hydraulics and toolmaking. I still use them today, and have been essential at different parts of my career.
After being at Stadium for a year I was introduced by my Mam to a lady that wholesaled watches. I pestered Mam for ages to get me some and then one Friday evening I got my chance.
I bought 100 cheap watches for £ 55.00 and then some better ones with ticking golf balls and things on them. In total it came to £ 107.00 of Mams money! Dad thought we where both mad and said we would not sell them. I sold them all by the Saturday night
A new part time business was formed and am still remembered for it now on occasions. For the next 5 years, from the beginning of August till the 24th December I was selling watches, Xmas wrapping paper, socks, ornaments, pearls, shirts, torches and a whole host of other things.
Stadium was my hot bed as many women worked on the line. I think there must have been 250 or more worked there. I’d cast my net on the Plastics side but then grew with a good contact into the Electronics side (I won’t name you Liz!) I’d adapted my tool trolley in to a ‘lean, mean, selling machine’ and would drop the samples down under Liz’s desk at 6.00am.
Liz would then take orders, which I’d collect in the day. It was crazy, one day I took in a Xmas soft toy I’d seen, its was good for the money. Liz got orders for about 250 in twenty minutes. She’d do the same with watches, all of the stuff really and I’d say we did about £ 500 / week
Due to the success I went to the hospitals and caught the nurses at visiting times (you could just walk in then) I had people in Fisher Price at Peterlee and loads of others. I’d stop anywhere to get a sale, I wouldn’t dare now…
Dad always had a saying ‘spend a bit, save a bit and waste a bit’ I took this advice but tended to save more. It allowed me to buy and sell a few cars as I had the cash but I soon lost interest. I’d been to the car auctions that many times as a boy with my Dad’s business. I was burnt out by 8 years old!
So I bought houses with my Dad. Nights and weekends where spent clearing and fitting them out ready to be rented. It went well, Dad got all the hassle and I got half the money!
We started to sell the houses in 2004 as prices started to rise, then peak. By this point we’d wrote down the tax liability to 60%, 10 years of ownership. The profits helped me get on the housing ladder at a difficult time in 2006.
Stadium Plastics is and was huge miss to me personally, as I had some great friends there. The people where excellent and hard working. It was also a place of opportunity; you just had to take it.
Stadium is a massive loss to Hartlepool and should still be with us. Some people made some poor decisions and it was sold to a couple of very smooth operators who basically cleaned it out.
I do believe this situation is being investigated by the DTI and hopefully they will get what they deserve.
From apprentice I became time served, gained some experience and the moved into the Commercial side which was really lucky, and out of the blue. I wasn’t great at what I did maintenance wise to be honest and I didn’t really like it either. I must note the guys where great…Jimmy, Steve, Graham, Mally, Alan, Barny, Windy, Rab C, George, Lol, Col and Stan – sorry if I missed anyone
One job, five applicants and two of us got the job. We both had totally different skills but ticked all the boxes. Richard Peacock (the other one) is a great mate and has helped me loads.
It’s quite funny though in a way as I’d get the long hours, crappy jobs, on call all the time and Rich would get the company Xmas card to design! Every one would be amazed and he would be celebrated as the new kid on the block.
Rich was a bloody good artist and I got some of the cards framed and are by my desk. Of course I hide them if Rich is coming to visit! Rich is cracking guy and just been on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, with his DOG! Sorry Rich
I worked through all the departments at Stadium and had much to do with winning new business which would secure its future for 5 years.
I left Stadium at the end of 1999 and went to work for Rich at Omega Plastics, Gateshead! I never actually left in some ways as Stadium would now become a customer of mine and three years later I would be a supplier to them!
The only one idea I had was to gain an apprentiship like my Dad had done. In 1987 this was not an easy thing to achieve, there was a decline in the amount of apprenticeships but it was still a logical choice for many.
I would go to the likes of ICI and British Steel, where there must have been 5,000 other kids going for the same 20 apprenticeships. The first selection process took about 2 weeks to examine everyone.
Week after week we would apply and be examined, running into the same kids all the time. I don’t think I got very far and the situation was looking desperate
When summer approached I had nothing sorted but an opportunity came up working for David Manners of Manners & Harrison for a few weeks. Luck had turned, I loved the job and in some ways if I hadn’t been offered a place at the EITB in Billingham I would have stayed.
It took the pressure off getting into the EITB as most people who attended for one year found an apprenticeship. It wasn’t easy though and competitive. When job opportunities and interviews came up it was a case of competing with your friends. I think we where paid £ 30 / week. It was a fortune
A job came up in Hartlepool at Stadium Plastics. Four of us went for the job and I was the only one from Hartlepool. My Doctor was a good friend of our family and knew one of the main directors of Stadium very well. I got the job….
I enjoyed being an apprentice and learned loads of different disciplines such as electrical, pneumatics, hydraulics and toolmaking. I still use them today, and have been essential at different parts of my career.
After being at Stadium for a year I was introduced by my Mam to a lady that wholesaled watches. I pestered Mam for ages to get me some and then one Friday evening I got my chance.
I bought 100 cheap watches for £ 55.00 and then some better ones with ticking golf balls and things on them. In total it came to £ 107.00 of Mams money! Dad thought we where both mad and said we would not sell them. I sold them all by the Saturday night
A new part time business was formed and am still remembered for it now on occasions. For the next 5 years, from the beginning of August till the 24th December I was selling watches, Xmas wrapping paper, socks, ornaments, pearls, shirts, torches and a whole host of other things.
Stadium was my hot bed as many women worked on the line. I think there must have been 250 or more worked there. I’d cast my net on the Plastics side but then grew with a good contact into the Electronics side (I won’t name you Liz!) I’d adapted my tool trolley in to a ‘lean, mean, selling machine’ and would drop the samples down under Liz’s desk at 6.00am.
Liz would then take orders, which I’d collect in the day. It was crazy, one day I took in a Xmas soft toy I’d seen, its was good for the money. Liz got orders for about 250 in twenty minutes. She’d do the same with watches, all of the stuff really and I’d say we did about £ 500 / week
Due to the success I went to the hospitals and caught the nurses at visiting times (you could just walk in then) I had people in Fisher Price at Peterlee and loads of others. I’d stop anywhere to get a sale, I wouldn’t dare now…
Dad always had a saying ‘spend a bit, save a bit and waste a bit’ I took this advice but tended to save more. It allowed me to buy and sell a few cars as I had the cash but I soon lost interest. I’d been to the car auctions that many times as a boy with my Dad’s business. I was burnt out by 8 years old!
So I bought houses with my Dad. Nights and weekends where spent clearing and fitting them out ready to be rented. It went well, Dad got all the hassle and I got half the money!
We started to sell the houses in 2004 as prices started to rise, then peak. By this point we’d wrote down the tax liability to 60%, 10 years of ownership. The profits helped me get on the housing ladder at a difficult time in 2006.
Stadium Plastics is and was huge miss to me personally, as I had some great friends there. The people where excellent and hard working. It was also a place of opportunity; you just had to take it.
Stadium is a massive loss to Hartlepool and should still be with us. Some people made some poor decisions and it was sold to a couple of very smooth operators who basically cleaned it out.
I do believe this situation is being investigated by the DTI and hopefully they will get what they deserve.
From apprentice I became time served, gained some experience and the moved into the Commercial side which was really lucky, and out of the blue. I wasn’t great at what I did maintenance wise to be honest and I didn’t really like it either. I must note the guys where great…Jimmy, Steve, Graham, Mally, Alan, Barny, Windy, Rab C, George, Lol, Col and Stan – sorry if I missed anyone
One job, five applicants and two of us got the job. We both had totally different skills but ticked all the boxes. Richard Peacock (the other one) is a great mate and has helped me loads.
It’s quite funny though in a way as I’d get the long hours, crappy jobs, on call all the time and Rich would get the company Xmas card to design! Every one would be amazed and he would be celebrated as the new kid on the block.
Rich was a bloody good artist and I got some of the cards framed and are by my desk. Of course I hide them if Rich is coming to visit! Rich is cracking guy and just been on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, with his DOG! Sorry Rich
I worked through all the departments at Stadium and had much to do with winning new business which would secure its future for 5 years.
I left Stadium at the end of 1999 and went to work for Rich at Omega Plastics, Gateshead! I never actually left in some ways as Stadium would now become a customer of mine and three years later I would be a supplier to them!
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Ray Liddell, Cactus Products Limited
Hi I'm Ray at Cactus Products Limited
Obviously I'm thrilled to be a finalist of the challenge and looking forward to the nitty gritty vote getting, writing our small article each week for the press and taking part in the Forum event on Thursday 21st May
Loads of issues with the new company from web-site requirements such Distance Selling Terms and Conditions through to actual production..
Starting a business, even if prepared and having done several times before is not easy. Often finding that important decision making can delay the whole project...
Fortunately all the elements are fitting into place and we're actually selling our product every day by other means away from web
The benefits of this business is that I'm actually out and meeting people of all types in the local area. We've spent quite a lot of time fitting devices for free to the old and vulnerable, giving out crime prevention advice and donating devices to people in hard hit and problematic areas - I suppose its nice getting the kind feedback.....
Anyway I don't want to you all to fall asleep with business, business, business and loads of detail. Well not at this point as we're just getting to know each other!
I looked at why I pushed myself down this route of my own business recently due to the 'Challenge' and I have to go back about 30 years to try and find out why. This is my story and goes from the age of about 6 years old through to about 15...
Quite frankly its also away to thank as many people as I can who touched my life for the better and probably didn't even know!
I think I was inspired at an early age from my Mam and Dad. Dad served his apprenticeship at Richardson and Westgarths in Hartlepool when he left school but soon was inspired by cars. Apparently 35 years ago or so many men wanted to become car dealers as cars became affordable to the working class.
In the break between his working shifts he would repair accident damaged cars, helped by our neighbour Joe Luke who taught Dad much of what he learnt in his part time car dealing years. Incidentally Joe and his wife Jean have donated a massive amount of time to other’s all their lives free of charge and still are now…as well as having a successful business
From here Dad started his own second hand car dealership. Kildale Car Sales in Mainsforth Terrace, Hartlepool which he continued for 12 years
Having been used to seeing Dad coming in late and Mam at this time working a Toy Shop they co-owned in York Road, I was very much embroiled in business. It excited me that my Mam and Dad had a garage and a toy shop!
I decided to sell spring onions for a time at around 6 years old. From the back of our house in Kildale Grove, Seaton Carew, I remember well going out to the field and pulling them from the ground, bundling them up and selling in the street for 10p ago. I’m pretty sure know one wanted them, but they bought all the same – thanks!
From here I joined the Cubs followed by the Scouts. They where great and we went all over the place camping, hiking, canoeing and sometime drinking! I used to unpack my rucksack of clothes and fill it full of Skol Larger. I must name and shame Michael Hair as my accomplice!
As most people are aware the Cubs and Scouts raise money each Easter by going out for ‘Bob a Job Week’. This was my mission to work as hard as I could, and take on anything to get the most money. I think the winner got a fiver! I did pretty well each year, raising about twenty quid or so and was crowned champ!
The Cubs and Scouts taught me a great deal about achieving goals, discipline and taught me many skills I would not have developed by any other means. I have to thank Peter Lidster and John Cole for throwing so much time in running these groups as it is unpaid and they got little thanks for their time and effort. John is still actively helping his community at Seaton Church.
In parallel to the scouting years we had a great life in Seaton with my old friends Jammy, Hairy and Splodge. All where up for a scheme and all had different skills that could generate an income to support our ice pop and fizzy drink addiction. Ice Cream Soda always hit the spot.
Spodge was the clever one who knew the gambling machine reels inside out, he just knew when they would win. He could spot a golf ball in the rough from 50 yards.
Hairy was the dare devil, anything mischievous and he was our man.
Jammy was a bit of an all rounder and taught me how to fish, or tried to!
Me, I was good at playing Pool and Table Tennis, and got my reward on the green cloth and table playing these guys!
Sorry to the amusement arcades in Seaton for the money that just fell out of the machines and to the golfers who thought they’d sliced a shot and lost their ball on the golf course. We where young! If it’s any consolation to you, two of us developed webbed feet from spending all of the summer in that stinking golf pond!
As we got a little older Jammy’s Nana used to let us work in her candy floss shop she owned. I think it was called the ‘Rock Shop’ which is still open for business and ran be a lovely lady called Joan, so please stop buy…
We worked in the Rock Shop on a Sunday but got paid the day before so we could go boat fishing. We loved it, but I must admit I was rubbish and caught little, but Jammy used to do well.
We’d share the couple of quid Jammy’s got for his fish. I think was pretty good of him, thanks mate.
Next week I’ll continue tell you all a bit more about the new business and continue my story from leaving school, and a little desperate of what to do…..
Obviously I'm thrilled to be a finalist of the challenge and looking forward to the nitty gritty vote getting, writing our small article each week for the press and taking part in the Forum event on Thursday 21st May
Loads of issues with the new company from web-site requirements such Distance Selling Terms and Conditions through to actual production..
Starting a business, even if prepared and having done several times before is not easy. Often finding that important decision making can delay the whole project...
Fortunately all the elements are fitting into place and we're actually selling our product every day by other means away from web
The benefits of this business is that I'm actually out and meeting people of all types in the local area. We've spent quite a lot of time fitting devices for free to the old and vulnerable, giving out crime prevention advice and donating devices to people in hard hit and problematic areas - I suppose its nice getting the kind feedback.....
Anyway I don't want to you all to fall asleep with business, business, business and loads of detail. Well not at this point as we're just getting to know each other!
I looked at why I pushed myself down this route of my own business recently due to the 'Challenge' and I have to go back about 30 years to try and find out why. This is my story and goes from the age of about 6 years old through to about 15...
Quite frankly its also away to thank as many people as I can who touched my life for the better and probably didn't even know!
I think I was inspired at an early age from my Mam and Dad. Dad served his apprenticeship at Richardson and Westgarths in Hartlepool when he left school but soon was inspired by cars. Apparently 35 years ago or so many men wanted to become car dealers as cars became affordable to the working class.
In the break between his working shifts he would repair accident damaged cars, helped by our neighbour Joe Luke who taught Dad much of what he learnt in his part time car dealing years. Incidentally Joe and his wife Jean have donated a massive amount of time to other’s all their lives free of charge and still are now…as well as having a successful business
From here Dad started his own second hand car dealership. Kildale Car Sales in Mainsforth Terrace, Hartlepool which he continued for 12 years
Having been used to seeing Dad coming in late and Mam at this time working a Toy Shop they co-owned in York Road, I was very much embroiled in business. It excited me that my Mam and Dad had a garage and a toy shop!
I decided to sell spring onions for a time at around 6 years old. From the back of our house in Kildale Grove, Seaton Carew, I remember well going out to the field and pulling them from the ground, bundling them up and selling in the street for 10p ago. I’m pretty sure know one wanted them, but they bought all the same – thanks!
From here I joined the Cubs followed by the Scouts. They where great and we went all over the place camping, hiking, canoeing and sometime drinking! I used to unpack my rucksack of clothes and fill it full of Skol Larger. I must name and shame Michael Hair as my accomplice!
As most people are aware the Cubs and Scouts raise money each Easter by going out for ‘Bob a Job Week’. This was my mission to work as hard as I could, and take on anything to get the most money. I think the winner got a fiver! I did pretty well each year, raising about twenty quid or so and was crowned champ!
The Cubs and Scouts taught me a great deal about achieving goals, discipline and taught me many skills I would not have developed by any other means. I have to thank Peter Lidster and John Cole for throwing so much time in running these groups as it is unpaid and they got little thanks for their time and effort. John is still actively helping his community at Seaton Church.
In parallel to the scouting years we had a great life in Seaton with my old friends Jammy, Hairy and Splodge. All where up for a scheme and all had different skills that could generate an income to support our ice pop and fizzy drink addiction. Ice Cream Soda always hit the spot.
Spodge was the clever one who knew the gambling machine reels inside out, he just knew when they would win. He could spot a golf ball in the rough from 50 yards.
Hairy was the dare devil, anything mischievous and he was our man.
Jammy was a bit of an all rounder and taught me how to fish, or tried to!
Me, I was good at playing Pool and Table Tennis, and got my reward on the green cloth and table playing these guys!
Sorry to the amusement arcades in Seaton for the money that just fell out of the machines and to the golfers who thought they’d sliced a shot and lost their ball on the golf course. We where young! If it’s any consolation to you, two of us developed webbed feet from spending all of the summer in that stinking golf pond!
As we got a little older Jammy’s Nana used to let us work in her candy floss shop she owned. I think it was called the ‘Rock Shop’ which is still open for business and ran be a lovely lady called Joan, so please stop buy…
We worked in the Rock Shop on a Sunday but got paid the day before so we could go boat fishing. We loved it, but I must admit I was rubbish and caught little, but Jammy used to do well.
We’d share the couple of quid Jammy’s got for his fish. I think was pretty good of him, thanks mate.
Next week I’ll continue tell you all a bit more about the new business and continue my story from leaving school, and a little desperate of what to do…..
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