Music & More
Introduction
Eighteen months ago, Anne Mortimer (proprietor) nurtured an idea; to open a music shop in the heart of Rutland. Today, thanks to a great deal of support from the Welland Enterprise Agency (WEA), Anne is at the helm of a successful and steadily growing business, which still has many opportunities for growth.
Description of Business
Music & More commenced trading as a sole trader business on 21st January 2006. The business trades from a high street position in the rural market town of Oakham, Rutland.
Its key activities are the retail of musical instruments, accessories and printed music whilst offering instrument rental schemes, a repair service and, due to popular local demand, classical CDs.
Anticipated turnover for the initial 16 month trading period was £80,000. As the end of this trading period approaches, the actual figure is expected to be in the region of £117,000.
Its key markets are local musicians, parents and schools.
How the business came into contact with the WEA and issues discussed
During a visit to Lloyds TSB Bank to discuss business finance, marketing material from the WEA was offered and discussed. As a result, the proprietor attended a WEA information evening to investigate further the ESF funded Earn Your Own Living (EYOL) programme, the New Entrepreneur Scholarship (NES) and opportunities for generic course attendance. The evening was professionally executed, with a presentation from the WEA and also a previous participant of the New Entrepreneur Scholarship.
During the evening, expert advice was readily available and forthcoming as to the advantages of the programmes for each individual. It was clear that the EYOL would help to fill gaps in existing business knowledge and enable the production of a comprehensive business plan.
What happened as a result of this contact between the business and the WEA?
The proprietor completed the EYOL programme, produced a comprehensive business plan and received £500 personal training grant and £500 capital equipment grant.
What benefits has the business found in having assistance from the WEA?
The EYOL programme gave the proprietor an opportunity to refresh existing business skills and fill the gaps in business knowledge. This provided the confidence needed to launch the business without worrying about risks, because these had all been thoroughly thought through and addressed whilst preparing the business plan.
The personal training grant was used for instrument repair courses, which enhanced product knowledge and sales skills. The capital equipment grant contributed towards computer equipment and enabled purchase of the latest technology, which has been invaluable in terms of stock management, business information and the imminent launch of e-commerce.
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Music & More
4 Melton Road,
Oakham,
Rutland,
LE15 6AY
01664 454044
The WEA also provided, and still provides, opportunities for ‘networking’. At the first meeting, the value of networking soon became very apparent to the proprietor and that networking with confidence was a skill that had to be acquired very quickly if the business were to survive. The very first meeting was a huge wake up call and a reality step into the world of business. It taught the proprietor to believe in the business, look people in the eye and to be confident at all times. This was probably the most valuable business tool ever acquired. Networking has allowed the business to establish a sound reputation in its locality and it is genuinely believed that the business has grown as a result of this.
In September 2006, businesses within the Welland region were invited to apply for various awards supported by the WEA and sponsored by local businesses. As a result, the proprietor was awarded the Personal Growth Award which was an invaluable boost to the business in terms of press coverage, which raised awareness of the personal achievement. This also helped to raise the profile of the WEA.
Since completing the EYOL, the WEA have provided constant support. Regular emails inform businesses of courses, events and opportunities. Music & More have recently taken advantage of an opportunity of reduced rates for trade stands at the Leicestershire County Show. The show is expected to attract 60,000 visitors and this is an opportunity to raise the profile of the business, which may otherwise have been missed.
The Future
The WEA have executed every aspect of their agenda with total professionalism. As Music & More moves forward with its imminent launch of e-commerce and its search for low-rental-cost tuition rooms, it is sound in the knowledge that the help and support of the WEA is only an email away.
Anne Mortimer has just recently won Personal Growth Award at Welland Enterprise Awards
Click here to find out more and see the pictures |
1st Class Tyres & Autocare Ltd.
Comments from Russell Errington, Director of 1st Class Tyres & Autocare Ltd
"Tackling the stresses of opening my own business, leaves me little time to look around for any opportunities there may be available within the community and beyond, regarding support packages for new business ventures like my own. This is where having 'Welland Enterprise Agency' at my side has been invaluable!
With the minimum of fuss, their support and guidance has already saved me over £1000, with projects and schemes that I never would have had the chance, or knowledge to source myself.
I thank all at 'Welland Enterprise Agency' for their efforts and would recommend to anyone to take any advice they can get from this great organization.
It's great having them by my side!"
Russell gave Mrs Cooper a bouquet of flowers for being the 1000th customer at Easter 2006. |
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1st Class Tyres & Autocare Ltd
Old Sorting Office
(Rear of 27 High St / Misterton Way
Lutterworth
Leicestershire
01455 559007
A picture of Russell Errington's workshop.
Russell presenting Mr May with the Satellite Navigation system he won in the Christmas 2005 competition.
Russell Errington was one of the finalists of the Most Promising Business Start-Up Award at Welland Enterprise Awards 2006
Click here to find out more and see the pictures |
Strategic Spur
Based in offices in converted stables on the family farm near Melton Mowbray, Strategic Spur was founded on her dining table in October 2004 by Tricia Pedlar after a 20 year career in senior marketing and management roles for FTSE 100 companies Smith and Nephew and Boots and provides Marketing Consultancy for a range of clients, specialising in working with equine, rural, creative, social enterprises, health & beauty and women entrepreneurs. 2 ½ years on, Tricia describes the role the Welland Enterprise Agency has played in the establishment and growth of her business.
Armed with a business degree and experience of running multi million £ global health & beauty brands, I was not short on specialist marketing expertise, but a complete newcomer at the practicalities of starting, running and managing the growth of a new business.
This is where the Welland Enterprise Agency really helped.
From an initial meeting with Mike Nix, one of the business advisers, helped to review my business plan and uttered the immortal words “I think it will take you twice as long and cost you double to start up than you are forecasting”… wise words indeed, which proved completely accurate.
But Mike went on to talk through how there were small grant funds available for start up marketing and IT projects, a few hundred pounds, which made a big difference to affording the professionalism of the website, the logo, stationery, business cards, leaflets and a distinctive ad on the back of my 4x4.
This support, and being made aware of useful local networks led to joining WiRE ( women in rural enterprise) where I discovered a graphic designer in the next village and several other suppliers and collaborators.
The Welland also helped make sense of the jigsaw puzzle of business support available and connections made via them also delivered the first few key projects. Leaflets co-funded by the Welland at the WiRE national conference delivered the opportunity to tender and win a European funded Leader+ project “Willows in Powys” in rural Mid Wales, helping Willow growers and basket makers identify and exploit profitable new markets, like willow coffins.
In July 2005, Welland Enterprise again helped the business. We entered and won the “Most Promising Business Start-Up” award, presented at the CLA Game Fair at Belvoir Castle, a great showcase for my business.
A Welland organised stand in the marquee at the Game Fair, where we displayed the award also led to another contact which delivered work as a registered expert support provider for the defra funded “Enterprise four Inclusion” programme, helping four East Midlands Social Enterprises from Spalding to Owston to Bakewell and ongoing links with the Plunkett Foundation, a leading rural development organisation. |
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Strategic Spur
Marketing Constulancy
Melton Mowbray
01949 861724
As the business grew, Welland Enterprise Agency has continued to be a source of practical information and support, helping with a business forecasting and cash flow spreadsheet and advice, tailored to the needs of a knowledge based business.
A Welland Growth Grant also helped the business expand with support for additional market research, marketing materials, upgrading ICT provision, including a PDA to be able to send / receive email when out of the office.
Strategic Spur has now grown well outside the Welland boundaries, delivering business in Wales, East of England, Cornwall and the North West as well as being a finalist in the Leicestershire ukti Passport to Export awards, November 2006, for work researching the market for our consultancy in Shanghai, China and the newer member states of the EU.
Recently, I attended the Business Boot Camp, part of the Enterprising Welland Women Initiative, designed especially to help rural women grow successfully established business, this is paying big dividends, helping me to focus on clear growth strategies and contacts made within the course have resulted in me working with two other consultants to develop a distinctive business mentoring programme to roll out Nationally.
We’ve had two student placements from Leicester and Toulouse working in the business, and are now signposting our own local contacts and clients to the Welland service. The most recent of these is my own sister, swooping a career as a physio to build a business using posture development to enhance sporting performance; she starts her “starting in business” course this week!
Across the Welland, people face similar challenges, especially relating to access to services which the Welland Enterprise Agency understand and they design support that makes real sense and a real difference.
Leicester may be my County centre, but its 26 miles away and as it’s on track to become Europe’s first majority non-white City, the issues of businesses there are very different.
The support from the Welland Enterprise Agency has been the key to the success of Strategic Spur and remains a useful source of information, advice and support for us. I would really like to see them continuing to build and develop their service.”
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