BUSINESS
ECHO
★★★★
Brewing up an expansion plan
Tills are ringing for award winning firm
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Business blooms in Capital
Start Survive Thrive
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LIVERPOOL John Moores University is offering a free business breakfast networking event on November 3rd at Liverpool Innovation Park, from 8am-9.30am, explaining two postgraduate programmes – an MBA in executive leadership and PGCert in business turnaround management – which it claims can bring tangible benefits to a business. Email Dominique Aspey on d.aspey@ljmu.ac.uk for details.
BLOOMING: Flowery Hazel owner Hazel Ellis
THE first small firm to take newly-released space in Old Hall Street’s The Capital building has moved in. Florist Flowery Hazel, run by Hazel Ellis, has taken a stand in the atrium on a flexible five-year lease. It is part of a drive by Liverpool property group Downing to attract a variety of businesses to add to the commercial district’s offering.
ANOTHER ● Response to Redundancy course is
MATT’S MISSION TO ENTHUSE BUSINESS EXCLUSIVE
By NEIL HODGSON Industry Reporter
THE first Christian-themed business conference by a Liverpool entrepreneur will take place in the city’s BT Convention Centre next month. Matt Edmundson’s en-thuse event on November 11-12 will feature former BBC TV Apprentice winner Tim Campbell, Liverpool web design firm Mando’s managing director Ian Finch and former Christian Peoples Alliance
Christian-themed conference set to launch in city
leader Ram Gidoomal as speakers. But Mr Edmundson, who set up sauna and spa business KLAF technical in Brunswick Business Park five years ago, said the event is not ‘cliquey’. He said: “People not from a Christian
background can come and have a good time. It is very accessible and relevant and features people talking about their experiences in business. “Ram Gidoomal will talk on win-win negotiation and general business topics.” Mr Edmundson said the initial idea for the conference came to him a year ago and he was determined that the first of what he hopes will become an annual event was staged in his home city. “I was very keen that we did it in Liverpool rather than London and really keen we did it in the Arena and
Convention Centre. “I volunteer there with the Red Cross and I love it as a facility for our city.” He said he hopes to attract around 100 attendees at the event staged over a Thursday evening and Friday day and evening. He said: “We are committed to all business people, whichever stage they find themselves in, from the chairman or CEO of a multinational who needs some extra spark to inspire them, to the teenage student who dreams of running their own company, we hope en-thuse will be a platform from which they leap to the next level.”
being run by Acorn Training Academy from October 25 for 18-65year-olds who have been made redundant or are at risk of redundancy. The course is free to anyone in receipt of benefit or who has just been made redundant. A fast track course in motor mechanics tyre fitting is available at Acorn’s Kirkdale site.
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WIDNES-BASED global bulk logistics firm Suttons has appointed a new managing director for its UK road tanker division. Tony Leighton joins the company from Hoyer UK, where he spent 15 years leading their food and petroleum operations. His appointment follows Suttons’ £7m investment in its UK tanker fleet.
LIVERPOOL ● accountants and business advisers Cowgill
Holloway have become part of IAPA, a global association of independent accountancy firms.
2 NEWS
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
★★★★
BUSINESS FIVE TIPS TO HELP DRIVE FLEDGLING VENTURES
RECESSION can offer new openings for creating a venture, but business coach Terry Murphy warns that survival can be down to simple things and how they are applied. Terry, of Achievement Coaching International, believes general business advice is good, the problem lies in being able to recognise it and apply it well. “What will maximise your chances of success will be thinking and doing differently.” He suggests five key tips: first, know yourself – “this may sound like psycho babble, but understanding how you get things done is essential.” Secondly, know your team: “You need to understand how you can work well with the people who surround you.” Third, use a process to get things done: “Make sure everything you do adds value, so it adds to something you've already done and prepares for the next task.” Fourth, value advice: “Think about the advice on offer. Is it relevant to your business?” Fifth, implement the advice: “Select the right advice, at the right time. If not, costly mistakes could happen.” He added: “This is all about not what you do, but the way that you do it that makes the difference.”
HOPES HIGH IN GREEN AWARDS
MERSEYSIDE features strongly in next Tuesday’s North West Business Environment Awards in Manchester. Kirkby-based KME Yorkshire Copper Tubes, Liverpool architects Studio Three, Benson Signs on Great Howard Street, and The Printroom UK in Bootle are all in the running for awards. Mark McManus, managing director of Wirral’s Stiebel Eltron, is also shortlisted for the environmental leadership award.
SMALL
BUSINESS of the Week
F
OR someone who didn’t drink tea until three years ago Phil Kirby has come a long way, opening two dedicated tea bars with plans for a third coming nicely to the boil. Phil, 28, turned his back on a life of mergers and acquisitions with accountants KMPG having graduated with a first class honours degree in financial economics from the University of Liverpool. But during a corporate meeting in a Starbucks coffee shop he got the idea for Brew, his tea bar chain which launched in Liverpool’s St Paul’s Square in August 2008, followed by a second outlet in Bold Street a year later. He said: “We would have a meeting in Starbucks and lots of people would have meetings there because it was a place to meet, even though people might not like coffee. “I thought there had to be room in the market for a tea concept, even though I didn’t drink tea at all.” Phil quit KPMG to research his business plan – and tea. While he threw himself into tea tastings and learning, almost ‘Grasshopper-style’, from a tea master, his recently graduated brother John travelled to Asia to experience tea culture, where he was exposed to a range of different products such as tea milkshakes and which provided inspiration for the embryonic Brew. “We decided to create our own style, for example, putting popcorn or chilli in tea, or doing a tea latte, and making the tea drinker feel like they are a bit cooler.” Over the past two years the range has developed to include 35 loose leaf teas, such as Scousers’ Breakfast comprising teas from Liverpool’s old trade routes, iced teas, a hot fruit punch sangria – minus the alcohol unfortunately – and an upcoming Christmas brew flavoured with pine needles, and all blended on the premises. It is part of Brew’s aim to try and get customers to “buy into the tea concept”, and sales indicate they are. “As we have grown people have converted more and more to tea, which was perceived as a dull, boring, cheap alternative to coffee. “But by doing it properly people have said, ‘I will give this a go’.” Sales of Phil’s signature brews, like the fruit punch sangria and tea lattes, have risen from 5% to 25%. Customers are also more aware of the differences in blends: “There are different teas for different times of the day. “Breakfast is a good, solid drink, but
Phil’s move from the corporate world suits him to a tea Neil Hodgson talks to Phil Kirby, founder of funky tea bar and lounge Brew mid-morning and in the afternoon we have lighter options that can make you feel different and don’t sit on your stomach in the same way. “It’s good that people understand that, and we have seen a big rise in people buying teas to take home.” Customers are also becoming more adventurous: “Scousers’ Breakfast is our best seller, but in take home it’s not in the top 10. People tend to go for the funkier flavours. “The idea is to open up peoples’
understanding of tea. “White tea isn’t tea with milk, it is a style of tea. We’re trying to show the difference between what is in a tea bag and loose leaf teas. “We aim to give people a top quality product and encourage people to try tea. We will ensure the quality, and if they are really interested we will tell them all about it.” Bold Street’s Brew turns over twice as much as the St Paul’s Square site in the city’s commercial quarter, but Phil
explains: “They are completely different markets. Bold Street doesn’t really start until 1.30pm and its busiest hours are 4pm to 5pm. “The busiest time for St Paul’s is on the way to work and lunch.” Events such as an evening French conversational club, weight loss group meetings, networking and beauty treatment sessions are also establishing the brand among the surrounding offices. Phil added: “The shops are performing to plan. “Since the economic situation it is really tough, but Bold Street was up 8% in its first like-for-like month.” Business is also extending beyond the shops through a website that despatches orders as far as Brighton and Durham and a wholesale arm. Phil explained: “Within six months of opening we had calls from people like the Hard Days Night Hotel asking
Knowsley ‘green’ project helps reduce waste costs KNOWSLEY COUNCIL is offering help for businesses to manage their waste and energy better. The Environment Network (TEN) is a team of private and public sector partners providing advice on how to become more eco-friendly and cut their bottom line. It will help with getting
finance for energy efficient machinery or on how to recycle and re-use waste. Knowsley’s cabinet member for regeneration, economy and skills, Cllr Dave Lonergan, said: “This is all about sharing ideas that work. “Most businesses know they’re expected to recycle and reuse more of their waste
and use less of the fossil fuels that produce the carbon that’s linked to global warming. “But they don’t always know how to do this or have realised that being more environmentally friendly can give them an edge on their competitors.” TEN was launched by Knowsley Chamber of
Commerce chief executive Lesley Martin-Wright, who said: “The private sector has played an important and proactive role in creating TEN. “Here in Knowsley we are creating a shared vision and pathway to environmental sustainability, and believe that TEN has invaluable input into
helping businesses to use less, recycle more, and to find more renewable sources of energy.” “Already a waste exchange has been set up by some companies to divert their waste and rubbish to other businesses that can use it.” For more information contact Knowsley chamber on 0151-477 1356.
★★★★
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
ENGINEER’S TEACHERS’ OPEN DAY
STIRRING: Phil Kirby in the Brew tea bar
if they could serve our tea in their restaurants. “Since then it has absolutely grown and grown, with clients from Scotland to the south coast. “We now serve 65 outlets with loose leaf teas, including National Museums Liverpool and Barcelo, one of the top 10 hotel groups in the world.” Brew has also clinched a contract with Total Foodservice, a distributor with 1,500 customers across the north of England: “Our product goes really well in little delis as a take home item and drinks, and also spa hotels, where our detox and skinny teas do well.” And with an estimated 180m cups of tea drunk throughout the UK every day compared with 60m cups of coffee it represents a healthy potential market. Phil is already working on a range of new projects such as pre-bottled iced tea drinks, involving input from Liverpool Hope University on customer research and marketing. “We’re also working on a range of ‘chariteas’ with the North West Cancer Research Foundation, created by ‘celebriteas’ blending their own tea under their name with a portion of takings going to the charity.” And then there’s the third Brew Tea Bar and Lounge opening: “We have a couple of outlets we are interested in where we could open in the next six months, preferably in Liverpool.” He added: “It is easier to create a brand within the city. If we went to Manchester or Chester it would be like starting again.”
NEWS 3
Do you want to be our Business of the Week? Contact Neil Hodgson 0151 472 2451 or email neil.hodgson @liverpool.com
CUPPA: Phil Kirby (left) with a drink from his St Paul’s Square tea shop Brew (above)
SOUTHPORT-BASED manufacturing company Unipart Rail-Dorman is opening its doors to local schools next month to highlight careers available in the sector. In collaboration with the Manufacturing Institute, the firm, which specialises in rail and road signalling, is staging a teacher placement event on November 18, as part of the Institute’s ‘Make It in Manufacturing’ campaign. Campaign manager Nicola Eagleton Crowther said: “Events such as this are crucial in ensuring that teachers have upto-date industry knowledge and experience which, in turn, helps to bring subjects alive in the classroom for pupils. “Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly difficult for teachers to be released from school to take advantage of these types of opportunities which, as teachers play a large part in influencing young people about future careers, means teenagers are not always able to make informed choices about post-16 routes based on accurate labour market information.” For more information on the event contact Stephen Melia at the Institute on 0161-875 2512.
QUESTIONS OF SUCCESSION
OWNERS of small firms are keen to pass on their business to their children, but the older they get the less likely they believe that they will be, new research by the Bank of Cyprus UK shows. In a poll of 500 owners 38% in the north west said they want their children to take over, but only 6% believe that likely. Nationally, 58% of owners aged between 18-34 hope their children would take over, with 40% believing it would happen. But less than 10% aged 55 or over think their children will take over when they retire.
4 NEWS
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
★★★★
BUSINESS
BIG
INTERVIEW
Alex Turner talks to IT entrepreneur Ian Tomlinson about the success of his Knowsley firm
T
HE loudest cheer of the night at the Knowsley Business Awards came when the winner of the SME of the Year was announced. Chairman and founder of Cybertill Ian Tomlinson picked up the award for the way his company has continued to expand and innovate despite the recession. Ian said he was “thrilled and delighted” that the company’s achievements had been recognised. “The Knowsley Business Awards was about doing something local for the staff and letting them share in it,” he said. “It’s the people in the business that make it what it is. “They all work hard and are dedicated, it’s them that have made it possible.” The electronic point of sale (ePoS), e-commerce and mail order solutions firm, has had to work hard in the last couple of years as many retailers struggled and most of the rest were unsure about investing. He said: “It’s tough out there, it’s difficult. Retailers are struggling. We have seen quite a few go into receivership. “In my experience, smaller retailers with about 20 to 40 stores seem to be the ones that are struggling more. “They are more leveraged, while the independent retailers can perhaps cut their cloth more easily. “Retailers are nervous at making investments. We have seen our conversion ratios almost halve on new business. “We have invested more in sales resources, technology and marketing and literature.” There are several reasons why retailers invest in Cybertill’s systems. Ian said: “The stock management means they get a reduction in stock holding – a single store can get a 20% reduction in stock, multi-store can get up to 40%. That’s a major one-off cashflow saving. “Retailers look to increase their gross margin because it shows them what is selling so they can have the right stock, for example making sure they don’t run out of the products that sell well. “Also, Cybertill is all about point of service and how you interact with customers at point of sale, and using the data for marketing. That can lead to a 10% rise in sales.” Ian, 45, started the company in December 2001 after spending his early career in sales which led him to be sales director for a retail software house. From there he felt ready to fulfil his dream of setting up his own business. Cybertill was originally based in St Helens but in 2008 moved down the East Lancashire Road to Stanley
A Ia e
Cybertill’s platform prepares it for rapid growth next year Grange Business Park on Lord Derby’s Knowsley Estate. The move was indicative of Ian’s concerted approach to prepare for the next phase of the business’s growth. That focus also led to his decision earlier this year to become executive chairman, with his
finance director James Ward becoming managing director, to allow him to concentrate on developing Cybertill. “Any founding CEO will start thinking about the future and strategy,” he said. “The business gets established but you get involved in the urgent, but not the
‘The people in the business make it what it is’
important. “You are continually thinking about the future but you always have a customer issue, or a supply issue or a staff issue. “James was a very good finance director but showed that he had the ability to deal with the day-to-day stuff. “James deals with everything internal and I deal with everything external. “I am free to focus on the strategy, from new products to taking the business internationally – I have been starting to talk to
people who can be overseas sales distributors for us. “I have got a potential mass market proposition with an international partner.” Cybertill has restructured its product offers for both small and large retailers. “At Cybertill we pride ourselves that we give retailers a massive amount of power – a lot of bang for their buck,” he said. “But we have been finding that competitors with less functional systems had been reducing prices on first bid. Retail Store One is a
★★★★
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
NEWS 5
IT’S THE
AWARD WINNERS: Cybertill executive chairman Ian Tomlinson (left) with Lesley Martin-Wright, chief executive of Knowsley Chamber
LAW with
Q
I run a large office and have already spent a lot on making adjustments for disabled staff, but somebody mentioned the law is about to change again. Is that right?
A
ON HIS BIKE: Ian Tomlinson at the end of his 150-mile charity bike ride from Bruges to Amsterdam, which raised more than £1,000
reduced-functionality version of Cybertill, it’s easier to use and is lower cost. “The standard Cybertill system has become Retail Store Two. “In the future there will be an enterprise resource planning version called Retail Store Three, which we will bring that to market in the next six to 12 months. “It will be suitable for retailers with 50-plus stores, to give them the extra back office and head office capabilities they are looking for.” To support the growth the company is enjoying it has
increased its workforce, which was under 40 a year ago. It now employs 47 people and job offers have been made to increase it to 49. Sales have also grown, up 23% to £3.4m in the year to March and Ian’s sights are set much higher. He said: “We are aiming for about £4.3m for this year and we are on track for that. With a fair wind behind us we might get to £4.4m or £4.5m. “Next year financially the target is to get to £10m, although if we get to £8m I’d be delighted. It’s got to be new channels and new products.”
KEEP ROLLING: Ian Tomlinson in his Knowsley office
Your sources are right. The first parts of the previous government’s Equality Act 2010, amounting to some 90%t of the Act, came into force on October 1, 2010, and bring some important changes for employers. The Act’s aim was to bring all existing laws on discrimination into one piece of legislation. In addition, the opportunity was taken to update the legislation to take account of recent case law. Introduced are both new and amended definitions including the description of aspects of discrimination which are now referred to as protected characteristics. The nine protected characteristics are sex, race, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnership. There are some significant new changes, including making reasonable adjustments for disabled people. In the past the duty to make reasonable adjustments to protect disabled employees only comprised two elements. These stipulated that employers should take reasonable steps to avoid creating any provision, criterion or practice – including physical features of the premises, such as in your case – which put a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage in comparison with persons who are not disabled. These are unchanged, but a third, which under previous laws only applied to premises and goods and services, has been extended to employment. As a result employers are now bound to take reasonable steps to provide auxiliary aids for disabled people who would be at a substantial disadvantage without them. Where that relates to provision of information employers must provide it in an accessible format. An important change is claims of associative discrimination. For example, a person who is not promoted because he or she has a disabled child and the employer thinks that because of that he or she could not devote enough time to the increased duties that would be involved with the promotion could bring a direct disability discrimination claim in an Employment Tribunal. Another important change relates to the use of pre-employment health questionnaires. To avoid potential for discrimination employers can only issue preemployment health questionnaires once an offer of employment has been made. The Act also makes employers liable for harassment of staff by a third party, like suppliers, customers and clients. For further information, please contact the ELAS advice team on 0161-785 2000.
6 NEWS
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
★★★★
BUSINESS
OURFUTUREIS Tony McDonough on the firms supplying the very latest eco-friendly products
FOCUS T . . . on saving energy
HE best way of persuading businesses to sign up to saving the planet was always going to be to convince them there was either money to be made or saved. And so in recent years a whole range of firms have sprung up to service the increasing demand for energy-saving ideas. John McDonald and Ian Young are directors of Wirral-based TeamLogic that sells a “revolutionary” piece of software that slashes the amount of ink used by computer printers. They claim its main product – Preton – can help an organisation slash between 30% and 70% off its printing costs. Preton allows users to accurately set the print quality on documents. So, if a document was to be sent out externally, then the print quality would be set quite high, but if it was just for internal use then it could be adjusted accordingly. The software also provides companies with precise information about the printing habits of users within their organisation. Every time a user prints a document, all details and images are logged and indexed. TeamLogic’s client list includes North West Business Link, Wirral Primary Care Trust, Envirolink, the University of Liverpool, Knowsley Community College and a number of schools. John McDonald says that the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), a legal requirement on organisations of a certain size to cut their carbon emissions, has led to an upsurge in demand for Preton. He added: “Prior to CRC, companies and organisations weren’t that bothered about the amount of energy they were using. “Now they need audited proof of their energy savings and Preton can provide exactly that.” TeamLogic, which employs 10 people and aims to turn over £1.5m this year, also offers another piece of software – PC Remote Shutdown. This is a sophisticated programme that can send a PC to sleep when it is not being used, with all work being automatically saved. Ian Young said: “The sleep function in Windows does not actually turn the PC off and programmes are still running in the
ECO OPPORTUNITIES: John McDonald of TeamLogic, above, is helping firms to slash their printing costs while John Murray of Morgan Hope, inset, can supply energy-saving lighting systems background using electricity.” Similar to Preton, the software also logs and indexes the usage of each PC on the network, allowing the organisation to accurately monitor and audit energy usage. David Hunt’s Bootle-based company – Eco Environments (EE) – is growing fast thanks to a new Government incentive scheme. EE installs renewable energy systems – like PV solar panels and wind turbines – in homes and businesses across the north of England. It has set up offices in Manchester, Cumbria and now also Tamworth in the Midlands and is on track to turn over £2m this year. The introduction by the Government of feed-in tariffs in April (see panel) has given a major boost to the firm. This means anyone with a solar PV or wind turbine system can
claim money annually back from the government and sell excess power to the National Grid. David said: “Before April there were PV installations totalling 32 megawatts in the UK. Since feed-in tariffs were introduced this has already gone up by another 15 megawatts. “By the end of this year we will be covering the whole of the north of England and by the end of next year we aim to be covering the whole of the UK. “I met the Business Secretary Vince Cable in Liverpool the other week and he told me the Government is committed to extending the feed-in tariffs scheme and that is great news for us.” Southport-based Morgan Hope specialises in the manufacture, supply and installation of eco-friendly lighting and heating systems. It was started in 1992 and now services major retailers, supermarkets and hospitals. Sales director John Murray said:
“One of our major contracts wins was Superdrug, where we won a contract to supply eco-friendly lighting for all their stores. “One of our lighting systems can cut lighting energy costs by up to 90%. “The last three years in particular has seen incredible growth for the company, with sales increasing by 25% year on year. “The last three years in particular has seen incredible growth for the company, with sales increasing by 25% year on year. “This is in part due to the increase in energy costs. When people were paying 3p per KW of energy, then there wasn’t the motivation to be eco friendly and invest in energy efficient systems. “However, now, with costs being around 10 to 13p per kw of energy used, we’ve had lots of clients looking to invest in energy efficient technology which will save them money in the long run. “We have always said that it pays to be environmentally friendly and this is certainly the case in the current market.”
Incentives to go green FROM April this year, the Government introduced its incentive scheme for the installation of solar PV and wind turbine projects. Under the scheme, both domestic dwellings and businesses are paid for every kilowatt hour (kwh) of electricity they generate, whether they use it or not. They will also be paid for any electricity exported to the grid. Eco Environments estimates that on a typical domestic solar PV installation, the householder could register an income/saving of between £800 and £1,300 every year. The rate is fixed for 25 year,
GREEN
NEWS 7
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
★★★★
MONEY MATTERS WHILE most business rates bills will increase by 4.6% next year in line with September’s Retail Price Index figures (announced yesterday), many firms in Liverpool will face significantly higher increases. The Uniform Business Rate is normally linked to the previous September’s RPI in order to ensure that Government receipts from business rates remain constant in real terms. Business organisations are calling on Government to utilise a clause in the legislation which permits a lower than RPI increase to be applied, on the basis that they expect inflation to fall by next April when the new rate bills become payable. There is a logical argument that the increase should be pegged to September’s CPI increase of 3.1%, especially as the Government is planning to utilise CPI as the measure to which benefit payments are linked. According to our research, 1,300 businesses in the Liverpool area will see their rate bills rocket by over 23%.
This increase will apply to those properties which experienced large Rateable Value increases at the 2010 rates revaluation which came into effect on 1 April 2010. Their rates increases are being phased in over up to 5 years but with the percentages growing each year. This year their bills were pegged at a 10.9% increase, but they will be shocked to be seeing a doubling to 23.1% next year.
with Jerry Schurder, head of rating at Gerald Eve
Cost increases of this magnitude are simply unsustainable in these difficult economic times and businesses should be appealing their rates assessments, if their rating consultants advise that there are prospects to achieve savings. There is also an injustice in the phasing scheme which accompanied this year’s revaluation. Those businesses that ought to have benefitted from significant falls in their bills were denied them immediately and are having their reductions phased in. The maximum reduction in rates payable this year was 5.9%, but the effect of September’s high RPI figure is that over 5,000 businesses in Liverpool will see reductions of only 2.3% in 2011/12. Business facing rates increases just at a point in the economy when they expected to see falling costs in line with inflation and other businesses that should have seen a sharp decrease in business rates will be disappointed.
TIME TO CELEBRATE 70 YEARS LENNON YOUNG GLOSSY SIR CLIFF SOUVENIR
SUNSHINE MAN: David Hunt’s Eco Environments is growing fast with solar and wind technology
e A birthday tribut of pop to the Peter Pan
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generating 2,666kwhs a year, giving an income/saving of £1,309. Over 25 years, that equates to a 246% return on investment. A 10kw wind turbine installation could yield £8,527 a year, giving a return on
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8 NEWS
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
BUSINESS
★★★★
ECHO Business to Business Business For Sale
NEAL IN AWARDS HONOUR
Taxis/Cab & Plate
0844 820 0000
Open until 9pm www.blacksbrokers.com BROMBOROUGH - Convenience Store1467 • Busy Parade Of Shops • WT £4,200 • High Quality Fixtures & Fittings • Premier Store • Business £38,995 SAV
ST HELENS - Sandwich Bar 1715
BIRKENHEAD - Newsagents 1627 • Prime Town Centre Position • W/T £ 2500 N/S £412 Payzone £1,500 • Large Trading Premises • Potential To Increase Sales Area • Low Rent £12,000pa, Viewing Highly Recommended • Business £29,995 SAV
WIRRAL - Delicatessen
1473
• Excellent Location, Wt £2,700 • Gross Profit 60% and Rising • Scope To Increase T/o • Refurbished To High Standard • Viewing A Must • Business £64,995 SAV
SOUTHPORT - Restaurant
1643
• Well Established 25 Years • Wt £7,000+ (Under Management) • Enviable Reputation • Immaculately Presented • High Street Location, Viewing A Must • Business £149,950 SAV
PRESCOT - Sandwich Bar
1724
• Excellent trading position , WT £ 1200 • Town Centre Location • High Spec fixtures and fittings • Immaculately presented • Viewing essential • Business £39,950 SAV
ST HELENS - Sandwich Bar 1752
WIRRAL - Restaurant
Excellent Trading Position • WT £ 4000 +, Well Presented Throughout • High Spec Fixtures and Fittings •Sought After Area • Viewing Essential • Business £54,995 SAV
LIVERPOOL - Bar/Restaurant 1763
WARRINGTON - Bakery / Sandwich Bar 1839
WARRINGTON- Convenience 1860
• Well Established, W/T £5000 - £6000 • Well Equipped • Extensive Living Accommodation • Residential Rental Opportunity • Sought After Location • Bus & Prop £949,995 SAV
• Impeccably Presented, W/T £4,250 • Enviable Reputation • High Gross Profit • Huge Scope • Extensive Building • Bus & Prop £299,995 SAV
• Store/Counter News • Established 40 Years, W/T £8,500 • Main Road Location Corner Plot • Limited Opening Hours, Scope To Inc Turnover • Large Residential Area • Business £85,000 SAV
MERSEYSIDE - Hair Salon
1865
ST HELENS - Off Licence/Convenience 1892
• Established 9 Years, W/T£6,500 • Rent Income From Nail Bars • Large Detached Freehold Property • Scope To Increase The Turnover • Viewing A Must • Bus & Prop £369,000 SAV
Well Established
• Wt £1500 (Payzone £700) • Huge Potential • Excellent Freehold Proposition • Well Equipped • Well Respected • Bus & Prop £110,000 SAV
FOR SALE Doric Pub Seaforth
Substantial Property over 3 floors. Offers over £195,000 plus VAT. Freehold. Contact Tom Cunningham 0161 828 6408 www.joneslanglasalle.co.uk
Industry Reporter A MERSEYSIDE family-owned firm set up more than 100 years ago has clinched a national award for its excellence. Robinson Neal was named Retailer of the Year 2010/2011 by the Home Decoration Retailers’ Association. The company, which boasts a 111-year pedigree, sells decorating materials and provides an individual advice and product-sourcing service. Based in Birkenhead’s Lairdside Technology Park, it operates branches in Liverpool, Chester and Bangor and triumphed at national level after the awards’ judges said it “ticks all the boxes required to make the customer feel special”. The company said judges also complimented it on its exceptionally helpful and friendly staff, its personal service, its expert technical advice and its willingness to track down specific products for its customers. Company directors highlighted the firm’s reputation, which was established over the years, for discovering the best new products and then bringing
Family firm’s excellence ticks boxes them to the north west. In the 1940s Robinson Neal introduced Dulux to a luxurystarved post-war public and in the 1980s the company said it was the first to champion the now universally-acclaimed Farrow & Ball range. Their latest import to the north west market is the Paint and Paper Library range which has an enthusiastic following in the south among designers and architects and which managing director Richard Neal and his co-director wife Julia describe as “absolutely brilliant”. At the awards ceremony in Birmingham Mr Neal said: “We feel greatly honoured and really appreciate this recognition. “We are a family business and we take enormous and individual care of our customers. It is why we are in business. We believe that in retail, as in trade, it’s the detail that counts.”
LARGE DOUBLE FRONTED SHOP In busy village. Currently trading as Discounts General Store. Plenty of scope. Offers over £20,000 & stock at evaluation 07879 466023 SUCCESSFUL RESTAURANT Allerton Road, 70 covers, well established. Genuine reason for sale. £100,000. 07721 988339
RESTAURANT FOR SALE Hoylake Wirral, £160pw, 13yrs lease remaining £32,000 ono. 35 covers. 07754 161 063 SANDWICH BAR/CAFE Fully equipped, good business, new refurb, low running costs £12,995 ono. 07551 443134 SANDWICH ROUND & VANS For Sale, turnover £102k. Est 21 years. Excellent business £30k. Tel 07702 922563.
BIRKENHEAD -Counter News 1877
Busy Main Road Parade • W/T £11,000 (Increasing) • Superb Mod shop Unit • Valuable Mostly New Equipment • Very Easily Run, Highly Recommended • Business £64,950 SAV
Commercial Premises
OFFICES TO LET
LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE 750sqft & 1,300sqft respectively
For Further Details Please call 0151 521 3080 (Press Option 2)
SECURE INDOOR CAR EMPORIUM
Ideal for car maintenance & repairs. Units to rent Aintree area. Long & short term lets. Parking space. Close to M57 & M58. £100pw.
Business Wanted
Offices To Let Anfield
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY For Heat/Fuel Merchants. Agents wanted nationwide to market quality heating product in all areas. For more details. email: aidan@hartepeat.com
Loans CASH LOANS Secured against your car. Loans for any purpose. 0 1 5 1 2 2 0 4 4 8 8 www.mobilemoney.co.uk
LIVERPOOL - Off Licence
1632
AVON SETTLE CARS LTD quality cars available in excellent condition £160pw inc insurance and sat nav. 05 − 07 plates. 07943 754640 DAVY LIVER TAXIS Require more full/part time private hire owner drivers. Some company cars still available. Call Alan 07795 417333
LONG COLLAR TX2 Bronze 06 plate. 1 Driver, long collar £280 pw,+ excess. Call Jon 07740882724
PRIVATE HIRE Drivers req’d, busy system, cheap weekly insurance 0151 260 1010 LONG COLLAR TX1 51 plate. Mint condition. £280pw. 07707 474164 D A Y C O L L A R S T X 4 C/O Kirkby, TX2 C/O West Derby 0788 0722845 BLUE LINE TAXISNew drivers wanted urgently. Earn £500 − £800pw. Tel 0151 709 0101 CITY LONG COLLAR W reg TX1 Over 35. 07533 398829 LONG/DAY/NIGHT COLLAR 02 Cab 07873 200893 CITY DAYS,NIGHTS OR L COLLAR TEL: 07789 884399
Prime Town Centre Position
• Wt £18,000 • Established For 15 Years • Large Premises • Potential For Extending Store. • Must Be Seen • Business £109,950 SAV
LONG COLLAR AVAILABLE 07984 039531 DAYS with c/o & Nights or Long collar. 07957 636549
WARRINGTON - Sandwich Bar 1887
FORMBY - Newsagents
KNOTTY ASH TAXIS Owner drivers req’d 0151 259 2000
1896
• Newly Fitted • W/T £9,000 News Sheet £6,000 • Free Parking • Huge Scope • Low Rent, Viewing A Must • Business £90,000 SAV
Wholesale
CITY CAB & PLATE For Sale 07954 360876
Industrial Property UNITS TO LET Bootle Area 5,000−15,000 sqft. Flexible terms 0151 486 0004
Building Trade FRAMELINE TRADE SUPPLY COMPOSITE DOORS UPVC
Call 0151 546 5222 or 07949 134122
Business Opportunities
WIRRAL - Counter Newsagents 1745 • Prime Position, Town Centre • Adjacent Multiples • Audited Turnover, Gp 22% • Counter News, Vast Scope • Opposite Railway Station • Bus £150,000 SAV, Prop £385,000 Or Rent
• Well Established, W/T £1,450 + • Low Rent • Well Equipped • Corner Plot Location • Viewing Essential • Business £50,000 SAV
• Prime Location Within A Busy Shopping Centre • W/T £6,000, N/S £563.75 At Retail, Lotto £700, • Payzone £6,000 Paypoint £14,000 • Recently Refurbished To The Highest Standard • Attractive Opening Hours, Potential Scope For Expansion • Business £65,000 SAV
W O O L T O N L 2 5 Takeaway lease for sale 07826 811558
IS YOUR BUSINESS IN L12, L13, L14 L34, L35, L36 PARCELS DELIVERED FOR AS LITTLE AS *** £2.95 *** Call Mike 07504 105145
LIVERPOOL - Convenience Store 1712 • Freehold In Prime Position • Annual Turnover £ 45,000 • 3 Bedroom Living Accommodation • Massive Potential, Densely Populated Area • Viewing Highly Recommended •Bus & Prop £185,000 SAV
• Excellent City Centre Location • Annual T/o £2 Million • Well Established, World Heritage Site • Scope To Increase T/o • Viewing A Must • Business £1,800,000 SAV
1781
ST HELENS - Sandwich Bar/Convenience 1868
by NEIL HODGSON
ST.HELENS HACKNEY/PLTS st.helens hackney cabs & plts for sale good opportunity with long term settle drivers if req 07944 297501
The Business Sales Specialists
• Large Residential Area • Well Established • Scope To Increase T/o • Scope For Outside Catering • Limited Opening Times, Viewing A Must • Business £16,950 SAV
NATIONAL SUCCESS: Julia and Richard Neal with their award
WANTED LIVERPOOL Hackney plate. Due to several time wasters £39000 offered negotiable. Contact Box 13817. Liverpool Echo, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB
1450 sq ft (approximately) of office space in close proximity to the proposed new stadium at Anfield. For further details or an appointment to view contact Gail McEvoy on
0151 260 3355 T J THOMAS 0151 708 6544 ERSKINE ST close to City centre Business units, 850 − 950 sqft. With or without int Office Space. £106−£125pw + vat. Modern Ind unit, Knowsley Business Pk 2600sqft £13k p.a. www.tjthomas.co.uk
FULLY SERVICED OFFICES To let in Melling. Air con, shared reception. Very high standard £50pw 0151 549 0555
MOSSLEY HILL Shop to let. Suits small business/office 0151 724 2714 or 07764 331435 WORKSHOP TO LET Picton Rd £70pw. 0151 722 3888
SHOPS TO LET Very secure 07785 562496 L4/L21 Units/Offices fr £45pw Secure yard 0792O 461551 L4 GARAGE Unit 2 sets ramps £160pw 0792O 461551 OFFICE TO LET fr £40pw fully inc. 07785 562496 WORKSHOP UNIT To let. Very secure. 07785 562496
Commercial Property T O L E T N E T H E R L E Y Industrial/Workshop Units 506− 1,023 sq ft Rents from £62pw Wheathills Ind Estate. Whittle Jones 01257 238666 TO LET BRAND NEW Workshop/Industrial Units 1499− 2,558 Sq Ft Sefton Business Park, Aintree. Whittle Jones 01257 238666 SHOP & STORE derby Lane L13 OS. 07980 144332
Business For Rent EAT IN & TAKEAWAY SHOP L7 Fully equipped, plus seperate access to 3 bed flat with dg & gch, recently decorated 07930 369048
DOUBLE FRONTED Office/ shop to let. Blundellsands L23. Would suit variety of business. £550pcm. 07799043982
It pays to advertise in
Classified
TOYS ELECTRICS X Rocker chairs. Only 20% ie £100 for £20 T: 0151 298 1859 TOYS GIFTS m&s babywear, below trade price shops Ebay carboot etc 0151 298 1859
Pedigree Pets
TOY POODLE PUPS
KC registered, tiny, rich dark brown pups, reared in family home, lovely temperament, ready now
£500. 0151 428 7760.
WINDOWS, DOORS, CONSERVATORIES. 5 Day Turnaround Tel 0151 546 5577 Fax 0151 546 5588 ACCREDITED WITH BS7412 & BS7950
KITCHEN & BEDROOM FITTINGS from a hinge to a full kitchen/bedroom. 3D plans now available. Showroom & Trade Counter at 3 Rockley Street, Kirkdale, L4 0151−207 0008. www.brosna.co.uk
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
A-F TEL: 0151 472 2746 G-M TEL: 0151 472 2573 N-Z TEL: 0151 472 2377