Real name: Richard Boyd
UKBF user name: An Oasis
Company name: Real Oasis
Company website: www.realoasis.com
Company contact: [email protected] 01606 851740
1. How did you start your business?
I retrained a number of years ago, because I was burned out, bored, had totally lost direction and wanted to do something different. So, I went to horticultural college and studied garden design & landscaping. From there I set up a small practise and on a very bleak winters day in 2005 I caught myself thinking "how do I turn this industry on its head? Garden design & landscaping is at saturation point and price dependant and that's a crap way of running a business".
That day was the turning point. I stood looking out on to the Pennine Hills and it started to snow. I told everyone to knock off early and to go and enjoy their weekend. I went back to the office and started surfing the net, looking at what competitors were hiring in the way of plants.
From there, we started to work with architects and property developers dressing small estates, supplying weddings and parties. We slowly built up a stock of interesting and in some cases unusual plants and enquiries started to come in. In 2006, our work started to came from the mid-sector of the market and we built up a reputation on being able to deliver solutions, rather than just hiring out plants. 2007 saw us branching out into films, photographic shots and exhibitions.
2. What products or services does your business offer?
Providing plants, floral solutions and various related materials to create an impact for projects and events.
3. What were the main challenges you faced when setting up your business?
I knew that it was going to be a bootstrapping operation. I’m done with having to grovel to the banks or filling in ridiculous amounts of paperwork for funding applications, which we are just not quite eligible for. Gut feeling told me that it was important to find the right angle(s) to enter the market. It would have been easy to blow £20-£30K on a few specimen plants that no one wanted or to just copy what our competitors had done.
Nevertheless, like any newbie to a market I decided to hedge my bets, wrong choice this market is not easily defined. No two clients are alike or have the same requirements.
4. How would you rate the success you've achieved?
I’m ecstatic, we have become the leading plant hire company in the northwest, with a very comprehensive range of plants for hire. Our client base comes from all over the UK and our list of blue chip clients is growing steadily.
There are also some very talented people working as part of the Real Oasis team, some of their designs and ideas have been featured in magazines like Vogue and Cosmo.
Our client base increases on a weekly basis and the range and diversity of clients who contact us is nothing short of amazing. The great thing about this is that the challenges become increasingly more difficult and that creates an exciting atmosphere to work in.
Gradually we are gaining the trust of clients who feel that they can turn round to us and say "look here's the budget, what can you do?". That is a great feeling, very motivating and it forces you to constantly stretch yourself to realise new ideas and solutions, which in turn makes work very interesting.
5. Why should customers and clients use your services?
Scope of product, the creativity of the people working behind the scenes and the ideas and solutions that we provide. Real Oasis is a business but it is not all about profit. It’s about creating a balance, looking to develop trusted, long-term working relationships and helping to make events special for the client and their end users.
6. How has UK Business Forums benefited your business?
There is a great mix of people and businesses on UKBF. It is always interesting to read about other businesses points of view, ideas, interests, knowledge. I like the fact that it forces me to be more open minded about how I perceive both individuals and other business.
In addition, on the times that I have asked for advice, the advice or ideas given have been excellent.
7. What are your plans for the future?
In 2008-09, I want Real Oasis to be the first choice for clients when they are talking about events and using plants, floral displays at events. We are nearly at that stage in the northwest but I'm aiming for as much of the UK as possible.
If 2008–09 goes as hoped then 2009–10 I would like to expand the company throughout the UK, at present, the way forward is unclear. However, franchising is certainly a possibility after visiting the Grow Your Own Business expo in Manchester. The other possibility is teaming up with other suppliers; we've already tried this angle and so far not been impressed with the companies that we have spoken to, lots of talk but very little action.
I also run a couple of other businesses which I am looking forward to being able to spend more time on over the next couple of years and I hope that they will both do well.
8. What are your five tips for business success?
Know yourself and be realistic about what you can achieve. Often I see businesses on UKBF with very limited finances trying to take on some of the industry heavy weights, much better to find out the weak spots and go around the big hitters. Look for gaps in the markets - they are easy to get into, this can be done very fast and with little in the way of finances.
Research what you are about to do. As your business develops research and monitor your progress, always look for ways to improve what you offer – once you stop looking for ways to improve this is when your business starts to stagnate.
Think out of the box, just because your competitors do something, it does not mean that it is the right thing to do. They might be a more established company but that does not mean that they know the market.
Know your strengths and weaknesses and make sure that you can deal with the weaknesses.
Oh and drink more tea!
If you would like to feature as a UKBF Member Spotlight email us at [email protected] outlining why we should pick you.
UKBF user name: An Oasis
Company name: Real Oasis
Company website: www.realoasis.com
Company contact: [email protected] 01606 851740
1. How did you start your business?
I retrained a number of years ago, because I was burned out, bored, had totally lost direction and wanted to do something different. So, I went to horticultural college and studied garden design & landscaping. From there I set up a small practise and on a very bleak winters day in 2005 I caught myself thinking "how do I turn this industry on its head? Garden design & landscaping is at saturation point and price dependant and that's a crap way of running a business".
That day was the turning point. I stood looking out on to the Pennine Hills and it started to snow. I told everyone to knock off early and to go and enjoy their weekend. I went back to the office and started surfing the net, looking at what competitors were hiring in the way of plants.
From there, we started to work with architects and property developers dressing small estates, supplying weddings and parties. We slowly built up a stock of interesting and in some cases unusual plants and enquiries started to come in. In 2006, our work started to came from the mid-sector of the market and we built up a reputation on being able to deliver solutions, rather than just hiring out plants. 2007 saw us branching out into films, photographic shots and exhibitions.
2. What products or services does your business offer?
Providing plants, floral solutions and various related materials to create an impact for projects and events.
3. What were the main challenges you faced when setting up your business?
I knew that it was going to be a bootstrapping operation. I’m done with having to grovel to the banks or filling in ridiculous amounts of paperwork for funding applications, which we are just not quite eligible for. Gut feeling told me that it was important to find the right angle(s) to enter the market. It would have been easy to blow £20-£30K on a few specimen plants that no one wanted or to just copy what our competitors had done.
Nevertheless, like any newbie to a market I decided to hedge my bets, wrong choice this market is not easily defined. No two clients are alike or have the same requirements.
4. How would you rate the success you've achieved?
I’m ecstatic, we have become the leading plant hire company in the northwest, with a very comprehensive range of plants for hire. Our client base comes from all over the UK and our list of blue chip clients is growing steadily.
There are also some very talented people working as part of the Real Oasis team, some of their designs and ideas have been featured in magazines like Vogue and Cosmo.
Our client base increases on a weekly basis and the range and diversity of clients who contact us is nothing short of amazing. The great thing about this is that the challenges become increasingly more difficult and that creates an exciting atmosphere to work in.
Gradually we are gaining the trust of clients who feel that they can turn round to us and say "look here's the budget, what can you do?". That is a great feeling, very motivating and it forces you to constantly stretch yourself to realise new ideas and solutions, which in turn makes work very interesting.
5. Why should customers and clients use your services?
Scope of product, the creativity of the people working behind the scenes and the ideas and solutions that we provide. Real Oasis is a business but it is not all about profit. It’s about creating a balance, looking to develop trusted, long-term working relationships and helping to make events special for the client and their end users.
6. How has UK Business Forums benefited your business?
There is a great mix of people and businesses on UKBF. It is always interesting to read about other businesses points of view, ideas, interests, knowledge. I like the fact that it forces me to be more open minded about how I perceive both individuals and other business.
In addition, on the times that I have asked for advice, the advice or ideas given have been excellent.
7. What are your plans for the future?
In 2008-09, I want Real Oasis to be the first choice for clients when they are talking about events and using plants, floral displays at events. We are nearly at that stage in the northwest but I'm aiming for as much of the UK as possible.
If 2008–09 goes as hoped then 2009–10 I would like to expand the company throughout the UK, at present, the way forward is unclear. However, franchising is certainly a possibility after visiting the Grow Your Own Business expo in Manchester. The other possibility is teaming up with other suppliers; we've already tried this angle and so far not been impressed with the companies that we have spoken to, lots of talk but very little action.
I also run a couple of other businesses which I am looking forward to being able to spend more time on over the next couple of years and I hope that they will both do well.
8. What are your five tips for business success?
Know yourself and be realistic about what you can achieve. Often I see businesses on UKBF with very limited finances trying to take on some of the industry heavy weights, much better to find out the weak spots and go around the big hitters. Look for gaps in the markets - they are easy to get into, this can be done very fast and with little in the way of finances.
Research what you are about to do. As your business develops research and monitor your progress, always look for ways to improve what you offer – once you stop looking for ways to improve this is when your business starts to stagnate.
Think out of the box, just because your competitors do something, it does not mean that it is the right thing to do. They might be a more established company but that does not mean that they know the market.
Know your strengths and weaknesses and make sure that you can deal with the weaknesses.
Oh and drink more tea!
If you would like to feature as a UKBF Member Spotlight email us at [email protected] outlining why we should pick you.
