An online store (to begin with, hopefully one day it will be bricks and mortar). Vintage fashion and interiors. It will be carefully selected, cleaned and repaired, no overpriced charity shop items here! I sourced the bridesmaid dresses for my Mums vintage style wedding and that kicked it all off.
I hope to eventually start stocking independent designers (especially interested in British) and becoming more of a lifestyle boutique.
I just finished my degree in fashion retail branding so I think I have my visual side down, I just need to learn about the business-y bits now!
I hope to eventually start stocking independent designers (especially interested in British) and becoming more of a lifestyle boutique.
I just finished my degree in fashion retail branding so I think I have my visual side down, I just need to learn about the business-y bits now!
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L
LMDServicesUK
- Original Poster
- #44
This is a great place to ask questions and seek guidance from other businesses, or just sanity check what you think you will need to do..
Key thing is put a lot of effort into your Business Plan, this way you will at least be able to see any potential hurdles, before you encounter them and plan accordingly, although in reality it is only once you start the business up do you discover all the challenges.
Hey but it is way better than being a wage slave I think !
Only you can sack yourself..
Kind regards
Mark
Key thing is put a lot of effort into your Business Plan, this way you will at least be able to see any potential hurdles, before you encounter them and plan accordingly, although in reality it is only once you start the business up do you discover all the challenges.
Hey but it is way better than being a wage slave I think !
Only you can sack yourself..
Kind regards
Mark
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0
Have you tried this site http://www.finddoggroomers.co.uk/ you could also try adwords with a free voucher ?
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Hello all,
I will try and avoid sounding like I am coming to an AA meeting!
My name is Karl and I run my own high impact business development agency LBS (Business Development Services) working with SMEs to expand their client base on a B2B basis by telephone.
Over the years I have been lucky enough to access a selection clients such as: Formula 1 Management, DTZ, Showtime Television, Peel Holdings, Reed Rains, Demontfort Fine Art, Toys R Us, CEX, HMV, Cash Converters etc amongst others.
It would be great to build relationships with local businesses so I can help them win bigger and better things!!!
I am not industry specific, as I am of the belief that business comes from relationships, not the other way around.....
Look forward to hearing about your business!!!
I will try and avoid sounding like I am coming to an AA meeting!
My name is Karl and I run my own high impact business development agency LBS (Business Development Services) working with SMEs to expand their client base on a B2B basis by telephone.
Over the years I have been lucky enough to access a selection clients such as: Formula 1 Management, DTZ, Showtime Television, Peel Holdings, Reed Rains, Demontfort Fine Art, Toys R Us, CEX, HMV, Cash Converters etc amongst others.
It would be great to build relationships with local businesses so I can help them win bigger and better things!!!
I am not industry specific, as I am of the belief that business comes from relationships, not the other way around.....
Look forward to hearing about your business!!!
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Morning,
After our website was hacked a year or so ago we have found it difficult to re-establish our customer base online for Aone Tools.co.uk . We post on Facebook, Twitter, business forums regularly and are ranked highly on products on Google (page 1-3 for most items) that we sell on our site. Our prices are low priced but yet we cannot seem to be getting the visitor hits that we desire and once had.
We have people coming into our shop talking about being on our site and looking at the prices but yet they are not buying from it as they once did.
Can anyone help or offer a some advise how we can establish this base once again?
After our website was hacked a year or so ago we have found it difficult to re-establish our customer base online for Aone Tools.co.uk . We post on Facebook, Twitter, business forums regularly and are ranked highly on products on Google (page 1-3 for most items) that we sell on our site. Our prices are low priced but yet we cannot seem to be getting the visitor hits that we desire and once had.
We have people coming into our shop talking about being on our site and looking at the prices but yet they are not buying from it as they once did.
Can anyone help or offer a some advise how we can establish this base once again?
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Might be a bit of work here, but I would recommend service calls to all of your customers or perhaps you need to entice your customers back with promotions, either way it is important to 'touch' your customers in the right way.
It could be that whilst your products might be cheap, the service is possibly better elsewhere?
Only one real effective way of doing so and that is picking up the phone to them and asking.
Although I appreciate that this might be a daunting task; please feel free to drop me a message and I might be able to help you out.
It could be that whilst your products might be cheap, the service is possibly better elsewhere?
Only one real effective way of doing so and that is picking up the phone to them and asking.
Although I appreciate that this might be a daunting task; please feel free to drop me a message and I might be able to help you out.
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Good Morning
After 5 years doing purchase and sales ledger i've decided I want to do something more enjoyable with my life.
So I'm trying to turn my hobbies into a business.
I've just started LT Entertainment; an entertainment solutions company specialising in presentation and tuition in: Magic, Juggling and Balloon Modelling.
Hope to get chatting to some of you soon
Cheers
LT
After 5 years doing purchase and sales ledger i've decided I want to do something more enjoyable with my life.
So I'm trying to turn my hobbies into a business.
I've just started LT Entertainment; an entertainment solutions company specialising in presentation and tuition in: Magic, Juggling and Balloon Modelling.
Hope to get chatting to some of you soon
Cheers
LT
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F
FirstClassVirtualOffice
- Original Poster
- #52
Our dog groomer promotes her appointment available times on Facebook daily and gets filled up quite quickly that way and then builds up her client retention from that.
This morning she posted on FB to say she is booked out for this week already.
She also posts some before and after pictures of your dog. We found her on Facebook when she got added as a friend (though we don't know her, just saw her through a friends list).
This morning she posted on FB to say she is booked out for this week already.
She also posts some before and after pictures of your dog. We found her on Facebook when she got added as a friend (though we don't know her, just saw her through a friends list).
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0
Some suggestions on your website:
Get rid of the 'this website is under construction' sign. It doesn't look like it is, and that can be misconstrued as 'this website is not yet ready to use'.
The layout needs a bit of a tweak - the 'construction' message and everything underneath it look like it should be in the left hand column under specials, not right at the bottom. And then your Top Sellers box is not aligned with Featured.
Add 01484 to the footer banner - not everyone will know the code for Brighouse.
On checkout, the address fields are in an odd order - post code before city - and can you not default the country to United Kingdom?
Why not say up front that the password has minimum requirements - I entered a four character password and was then told it was invalid.
And this is a biggy I think...VAT is not added until the checkout, which I wasn't expecting. Buying from the Featured boxes or product category listings, it isn't clear that the quoted prices are VAT exclusive. If your customers are DIY types, and I guess some are, then this could be another reason not to complete. I'd suggest either having prices including VAT, or make it clearer elsewhere that they're exclusive.
Some of these things might seem trivial, but small things not quite right can contribute to an overall 'not sure I can trust this site' feeling.
You might also think about installing Google Analytics on your site which will tell you how many people are using your site, and to an extent, how they are using your site. We've found it very useful to watch people actually using our live online store and seeing how they move from page to page.
Hope this is helpful.
Get rid of the 'this website is under construction' sign. It doesn't look like it is, and that can be misconstrued as 'this website is not yet ready to use'.
The layout needs a bit of a tweak - the 'construction' message and everything underneath it look like it should be in the left hand column under specials, not right at the bottom. And then your Top Sellers box is not aligned with Featured.
Add 01484 to the footer banner - not everyone will know the code for Brighouse.
On checkout, the address fields are in an odd order - post code before city - and can you not default the country to United Kingdom?
Why not say up front that the password has minimum requirements - I entered a four character password and was then told it was invalid.
And this is a biggy I think...VAT is not added until the checkout, which I wasn't expecting. Buying from the Featured boxes or product category listings, it isn't clear that the quoted prices are VAT exclusive. If your customers are DIY types, and I guess some are, then this could be another reason not to complete. I'd suggest either having prices including VAT, or make it clearer elsewhere that they're exclusive.
Some of these things might seem trivial, but small things not quite right can contribute to an overall 'not sure I can trust this site' feeling.
You might also think about installing Google Analytics on your site which will tell you how many people are using your site, and to an extent, how they are using your site. We've found it very useful to watch people actually using our live online store and seeing how they move from page to page.
Hope this is helpful.
Upvote
0
Good morning
I'm new here. I've recently started a business, End2End Admin, offering flexible admin support to small businesses, sole traders, trades people, clubs, charities in the Calderdale/Halifax area. I'm here for hints and tips, especially on how and where to market my business. But also to learn all manner of things about running my own small business.
Thanks
Tania
I'm new here. I've recently started a business, End2End Admin, offering flexible admin support to small businesses, sole traders, trades people, clubs, charities in the Calderdale/Halifax area. I'm here for hints and tips, especially on how and where to market my business. But also to learn all manner of things about running my own small business.
Thanks
Tania
Upvote
0
L
LMDServicesUK
- Original Poster
- #55
Hi Tania
Welcome to the Forum and good luck with your Business
Suggest you also check out some of your local networking groups as well (BNI, L4N 4networking etc) as well as the MYCC monthly meetings all great sources of contacts and opportunity for you to promote your new business.
Kind regards
Mark
Welcome to the Forum and good luck with your Business
Suggest you also check out some of your local networking groups as well (BNI, L4N 4networking etc) as well as the MYCC monthly meetings all great sources of contacts and opportunity for you to promote your new business.
Kind regards
Mark
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0
Thanks for the responses. I'm currently networking for England, or it feels like it at least! 2x Ladies4Networking, 2x BNI. I've just signed up for another 2x BNI and a 4Networking meeting too. Not only is it a good way to meet people to tell them about my business, as I mostly work by myself it may be the only sensible conversations I have in a day (talking to the cat doesn't count). I've also found that it's a good way of getting straight in my mind what information about my business is important to others, what they want to hear in a short space of time and what can be left for them to find out about me and my business on my website. It's a steep learning curve but I'm enjoying it!
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Hi All, my Name is Nick Davison and I run High Impact SEO, a small internet marketing company based in Morley that provides content based SEO Services to companies across the UK. We also provide webdesign and produce "ready to roll" optimised websites based on a number of platforms including Wordpress and Joomla.
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My name is Richard,
I am based in the Killingbeck area of Leeds and work within a socially responsible organisation providing training for people with both mental and physical disabilities using print, print finishing and fulfilment as our focus, ultimately I hope UKBF will be able to advise and potentially help us grow our organisation through networking and leads.
I am based in the Killingbeck area of Leeds and work within a socially responsible organisation providing training for people with both mental and physical disabilities using print, print finishing and fulfilment as our focus, ultimately I hope UKBF will be able to advise and potentially help us grow our organisation through networking and leads.
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Hi All
I'm Paul - I arrange business funding from our base in York.
We are truly independent and so can fund from a few thousand for stock or equipment up to many millions for property or development.
Our busiest sector at the moment is property finance, for businesses and for buy to let houses so if you are looking at any form of funding, talk to us for a free, no-obligation quote.
Happy Christmas to all!!
Paul
I'm Paul - I arrange business funding from our base in York.
We are truly independent and so can fund from a few thousand for stock or equipment up to many millions for property or development.
Our busiest sector at the moment is property finance, for businesses and for buy to let houses so if you are looking at any form of funding, talk to us for a free, no-obligation quote.
Happy Christmas to all!!
Paul
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H
HumanistFunerals
- Original Poster
- #65
Greetings everyone. I am quite a mongrel in a way. I returned to the region three years ago after being in Italy for many years where I ran my own estate agency. Looking for more intellectual stimulation I became a writer and that led to me becoming a funeral celebrant for the British Humanist Association in Yorkshire and Humber. Although from Yorkshire originally I am not from these parts and have few contacts, so any 'reaching out' as they say would be welcome.
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G
Gold-Star-Rob
- Original Poster
- #66
Hello everyone.
I'm a copywriter working in York and serving clients nationwide. I've been freelancing for around 3 years now, but only just set myself up as an agency.
I specialise in improving sales copy and I have a team to take on a whole variety of writing projects.
Looking forward to reaching out to other businesses in Yorkshire.
PS.If you contact me and mention you're from UKBF I'll give you a free copy revision. You only need pay if our copy beats what you are currently using. If it doesn't, you don't pay us a penny. (We've beaten 97% of copy put against us.)
- Rob Mckenzie
Gold Star Copy
I'm a copywriter working in York and serving clients nationwide. I've been freelancing for around 3 years now, but only just set myself up as an agency.
I specialise in improving sales copy and I have a team to take on a whole variety of writing projects.
Looking forward to reaching out to other businesses in Yorkshire.
PS.If you contact me and mention you're from UKBF I'll give you a free copy revision. You only need pay if our copy beats what you are currently using. If it doesn't, you don't pay us a penny. (We've beaten 97% of copy put against us.)
- Rob Mckenzie
Gold Star Copy
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B
BusinessFan90
- Original Poster
- #68
Hello everyone,
There seems to be a great vibe and a wealth of knowledge on this forum so I'm glad to have signed up.
I'm 24 and from a small town called Scarborough. Since I left school I've worked running various businesses for one person or another and finally got around to working properly for myself as a freelance website designer. I'll be honest, I'm one of the few people who prefer the business and sales side of it to actually designing the sites! I've got some more projects lined up but I'm hoping this will give me the time and funds to follow through with them.
There seems to be a great vibe and a wealth of knowledge on this forum so I'm glad to have signed up.
I'm 24 and from a small town called Scarborough. Since I left school I've worked running various businesses for one person or another and finally got around to working properly for myself as a freelance website designer. I'll be honest, I'm one of the few people who prefer the business and sales side of it to actually designing the sites! I've got some more projects lined up but I'm hoping this will give me the time and funds to follow through with them.
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I'm Zaen, 23 years old, born & bred in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
I'm currently studying part time at the Open University whilst gaining valuable experience working as a Senior R&D Manager at Charles Wilson Clothes, a men's formal clothing company, established in 2007.
In my spare time, I'm also learning programming via Khan Academy. I also enjoy the odd video game here & there and I'm a bit of a bookworm/movie fanatic. One of my most favourite authors is John Green.
I also like watching education videos on YouTube, my subscriptions include the VlogBrothers, MentalFloss, VSauce, Veritasium, Numberphile, ViHart and many more.
I'm currently studying part time at the Open University whilst gaining valuable experience working as a Senior R&D Manager at Charles Wilson Clothes, a men's formal clothing company, established in 2007.
In my spare time, I'm also learning programming via Khan Academy. I also enjoy the odd video game here & there and I'm a bit of a bookworm/movie fanatic. One of my most favourite authors is John Green.
I also like watching education videos on YouTube, my subscriptions include the VlogBrothers, MentalFloss, VSauce, Veritasium, Numberphile, ViHart and many more.
Upvote
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Hi Guys, stumbled across the forum whilst looking at ways of networking. I'm Hull born and bred, married with 3 children and a huge Hull FC fan! I have years of experience in telecoms and IT, now working as Regional Business Manager for O2.
If anyone needs advice on anything comms, IT, cloud, remote working, collaboration etc please feel free to drop me a PM
- Daz
If anyone needs advice on anything comms, IT, cloud, remote working, collaboration etc please feel free to drop me a PM
- Daz
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Hello, I'm Neil.
I'm from the West Coast of Scotland, now based near Glasgow.
I run a marine services company and have always worked on and around boats and in the port/shipping/marine industry - for 20+ years now.
I find this forum an excellent place for ideas, collaboration and business support.
Feel free to get in touch.
Regards
Neil
I'm from the West Coast of Scotland, now based near Glasgow.
I run a marine services company and have always worked on and around boats and in the port/shipping/marine industry - for 20+ years now.
I find this forum an excellent place for ideas, collaboration and business support.
Feel free to get in touch.
Regards
Neil
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0
Y
Y P Finders
- Original Poster
- #72
Hello everyone
My name is Oliver Woods and I am in the process of starting my business Yorkshire Property Finders, we offer a property finding service throughout Yorkshire assisting people who are looking for a residential property, investment property or are relocating to the Yorkshire area.
I am looking forward to engaging with other people on the forum and gaining as much knowledge as I possibly can. From what I have seen everyone seems very friendly and happy to help.
Don't hesitate to say hello!
My name is Oliver Woods and I am in the process of starting my business Yorkshire Property Finders, we offer a property finding service throughout Yorkshire assisting people who are looking for a residential property, investment property or are relocating to the Yorkshire area.
I am looking forward to engaging with other people on the forum and gaining as much knowledge as I possibly can. From what I have seen everyone seems very friendly and happy to help.
Don't hesitate to say hello!
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M
Mike Wilford
- Original Poster
- #73
Hi All,
I have taken time to read through everyone's messages and there is a great mix of Yorkshire business' on here I'm glad to see!
At Haines Watts we are chartered accountants working in Leeds & Bradford completing audit and accounting assignments. We are part of a national group with offices across the country as we believe working locally really matters.
I have taken time to read through everyone's messages and there is a great mix of Yorkshire business' on here I'm glad to see!
At Haines Watts we are chartered accountants working in Leeds & Bradford completing audit and accounting assignments. We are part of a national group with offices across the country as we believe working locally really matters.
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K
Kasiasaica
- Original Poster
- #74
Hi all,
I work from a recycling depot based in Doncaster. We specialise in the recycling of paper, cardboard and plastics.
Our depot is a small part of a large company that operates from locations in the UK and many other countries.
Also happy to give general advice regarding the recycling industry where I can!
I work from a recycling depot based in Doncaster. We specialise in the recycling of paper, cardboard and plastics.
Our depot is a small part of a large company that operates from locations in the UK and many other countries.
Also happy to give general advice regarding the recycling industry where I can!
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0
Hi everyone, I'm Jonny, owner of Sweet Pizzas based in Leeds.
My dessert business Sweet Pizzas was established in 2014 and we make chocolate brownie pizzas topped with all kinds of confectionary. What started off as a crazy idea slowly became a business and I now have a thriving Facebook page and I'm very active on Twitter. I sell via my website, Facebook and at Farmers markets and small/medium local festivals. Last Christmas I won an award from Theo Paphitis and I have been on local TV and quite recently BBC radio Leeds.
I am looking to network with local people and businesses as I look to get my dessert in more delis/cafes and restaurants in Leeds.
Looking forward to speaking to you all.
Jonny
My dessert business Sweet Pizzas was established in 2014 and we make chocolate brownie pizzas topped with all kinds of confectionary. What started off as a crazy idea slowly became a business and I now have a thriving Facebook page and I'm very active on Twitter. I sell via my website, Facebook and at Farmers markets and small/medium local festivals. Last Christmas I won an award from Theo Paphitis and I have been on local TV and quite recently BBC radio Leeds.
I am looking to network with local people and businesses as I look to get my dessert in more delis/cafes and restaurants in Leeds.
Looking forward to speaking to you all.
Jonny
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0
S
StuartPB
- Original Poster
- #76
Hi everyone, I'm Stuart and I'm a commercial drone operator. I live in and work from Doncaster. I'm married with two daughters.
My work sees me operating UAV's commercially to create aerial photography and video and also to carry out aerial inspections. It combines two passions I have, photography and radio controlled flight so it's something I really do enjoy. I also get to spend lots of time outdoors, which is a bonus! I love the challenges this job presents and creating media that's interesting but also has commercial value.
Until recently I also ran a community interest company, working as the MD, but we're currently in the process of winding that up. We ran community events and activities here in the village I live in, just outside Doncaster town centre. Our largest event was a bonfire night one with almost 3000 attendees every year. I worked on a voluntary basis in this role and it became unsustainable for me, due to the lack of willing volunteers to help. Activities wise, we done a lot of stuff in our local park, for families to enjoy together. It's a shame we're having to wind the CIC up but it's not sustainable.
I joined this forum hoping to meet other business owners, to discuss business issues and hopefully to pick a tip or two up. If I can offer any tips along the way then that's a bonus.
Cheers,
Stuart
My work sees me operating UAV's commercially to create aerial photography and video and also to carry out aerial inspections. It combines two passions I have, photography and radio controlled flight so it's something I really do enjoy. I also get to spend lots of time outdoors, which is a bonus! I love the challenges this job presents and creating media that's interesting but also has commercial value.
Until recently I also ran a community interest company, working as the MD, but we're currently in the process of winding that up. We ran community events and activities here in the village I live in, just outside Doncaster town centre. Our largest event was a bonfire night one with almost 3000 attendees every year. I worked on a voluntary basis in this role and it became unsustainable for me, due to the lack of willing volunteers to help. Activities wise, we done a lot of stuff in our local park, for families to enjoy together. It's a shame we're having to wind the CIC up but it's not sustainable.
I joined this forum hoping to meet other business owners, to discuss business issues and hopefully to pick a tip or two up. If I can offer any tips along the way then that's a bonus.
Cheers,
Stuart
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Howdy,
Rob Kendal here, UK Business Forum new guy and veritable marketing wizard.
I wanted to pop along to the Yorkshire side of UKBF and say hello, introduce myself and my company, CreatedRed Media, and invite anyone in the York/Selby area to pop in for the best coffee this side of the Ouse!
I look forward to making some new connections and talking about all things business, marketing (and coffee!)
Rob Kendal here, UK Business Forum new guy and veritable marketing wizard.
I wanted to pop along to the Yorkshire side of UKBF and say hello, introduce myself and my company, CreatedRed Media, and invite anyone in the York/Selby area to pop in for the best coffee this side of the Ouse!
I look forward to making some new connections and talking about all things business, marketing (and coffee!)
Upvote
0
Hi all, I've been reading this blog for a few years now and thought it was time to sign up and get involved. I'm Jacob Deen, Director and Founder of Jacobdeen, Seo, SEO, Web and Digital Services. We're a Wakefield based digital marketing agency that has been up and running now for over two years.
Upvote
0
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