Case Studies - Business Plan
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Total Car Care Ltd
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Stephen Luffrum has always been passionate about the motor industry. He began his career as an apprentice for Porsche Cars in Isleworth. Following this he became a mechanic working for his previous employer in addition to Aston Martin, Jaguar as well as M.G. Other roles soon followed such as service manager, service director and franchise principal. After chalking up these achievements and 40 years experience in the process, Stephen was motivated to set up his own motor garage.
In 2005 Stephen decided to combine his automotive skills with those of Charles Luffrum who after graduating from Exeter University became an IT processor and independently learnt the features of sage accounting.
At present, Stephen and Charles’s motor garage is a family run business, offering extensive garage services ranging from MOTs, full services, valet service, air conditioning repairs, accident and body repairs to wheels, tyres and liquid propane gas as well as LPG conversions. Since it opened the organisation has been building its customer database and has reached break-even.
When beginning, Total Car Care sought advice from Hounslow for Business concerning the setting up, marketing and financing of the company. The business advisors assisted them with the formulation of a business plan via numerous meetings and a number of telephone calls. The business plan put together by Hounslow for Business then enabled Total Car Care to secure £20,000 in funds to develop the business further.
Total Car Care was beginning to make good profits until the dawn of the current economic recession. Nonetheless Stephen believes that the “business has grown in half the time it would have taken without assistance from Hounslow for Business”. Following the company’s dealings with Hounslow for Business, Stephen comments, “I also found the mentors to be very practical in their advice. Their comments were always very helpful and never critical.”
To other potential businesses in the local area Stephen affirms “I would without question recommend anybody who is contemplating starting a business, to contact Hounslow for Business as their combined experience is second to none. I sincerely think that this service is also extremely valuable for established businesses that are small and medium sized and therefore do not have the facilities that many larger companies have. I would like to specially mention both of the mentors that helped Total Car Care Ltd, Hugh Howell and Steve Mathews for their excellent advice and input which has enabled Total Car Care Ltd to move forward.”
Please visit www.totalcarcare.com to learn more about the business.
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Total Car Care - motor garage |
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ARCH 197 LTD
Joshua Francois, a young street dancer from West London, has been passionate about dancing since the age of 14. Inspired by music videos from great artists such as Michael Jackson and Missy Elliot, Joshua pursued his interest by studying a B-Tech diploma in dance and drama. Whilst learning dance, Joshua was also fortunate enough to perform at venues such as the Wembley Arena, Victoria Apollo, Barbican Centre, Richmond Theatre and the Hackney Empire.
At the age of 17, Joshua was teaching street dancing part time at various schools. He soon became inundated with people wanting to learn the art of street dance. However, frustrated from having to travel between inadequately equipped sites, Joshua was motivated to find a place of his own, where he could teach street dance. Joshua teamed up with his mother, Jackie Batista, and Joseph Brown to find a premise. They soon discovered a disused railway arch, which they were drawn to immediately. With the intuition that they had found the perfect place for the business, they leased and renovated the arch.
The arch has since been converted into a dance studio, boasting a high-tech sound system, a professionally laid dance floor, mirrors, theatre lighting and a viewing gallery. "With a main focus on children and young adults, our aim is to help them achieve their fullest potential and to do something positive and creative with their lives. We want to promote a safer city and get the children of west London off the streets and into a safe environment to learn how to express themselves, and most of all enjoy the passion and discipline of dance" -Arch 197.
Prior to the establishment of the business, Arch 197 had contacted Hounslow for Business to ascertain what would be required of them in order to embark on the business. "We met Hugh, who was fantastic and sent us off in the right direction and then the next step was the business plan. The business plan is the core of any business, we still refer to it today, and in every part of the business it has been a 100 percent asset." Hounslow for Business's assistance in preparing the business plan then enabled Arch 197 to secure £25,000 in funds to start the business.
Arch 197 has recently celebrated the opening of their street dance studio. They have recently commented on their latest achievement by stating, "Arch 197 is the only Street Dance studio in west London, it can be hired out and all kinds of other dancing can be taught and practised there. We are so proud of it."
Please visit www.arch197.com to learn more about the business and keep up with its progress.
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Arch 197 - street dance studio |
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