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…..