mustaveparts started this topic @ 15:59 on 30/08/2005
Hi everyone,
Im new to the forums and I hope to not just get advise but to put something back also.
My current situation is : I have started a company up; mustaveparts.com. It is myself and a friend currently working. I work fully on the company and have no ties so can put my all into it. My collegue works a part time job of 18 hours a week and does all the design work for us. I started out on my own in March 2005 and I work from a small lock-up. Our company creates modified car audio interior items. We currently have one such item advertised on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Custom-Saxo-Door-Cards-Pods-Professionally-Made_W0QQitemZ7994713166QQcategoryZ40198QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
All I have to my name in the form of business knowledge is an A-level in business studies. I have aspects of Design both modeling and web based skills and my fabrication is strong.
I have alot of holes in my knowledge know so talking to someone who knows a thing or two would help me greatly. I believe we need direction which I am finding very difficult to provide.
So not sure what im looking for but advice/help/quick chat anything I would be very happy to have.
Thanks in advance
Shaun Gilbert
(mustaveparts.com)
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Shaun Gilbert
(mustaveparts.com)
RE: Hello everyone
James Smith | 30/08/2005 05:13 PM
Hi Shaun,
Probably the best thing to get a discussion going is to ask a specific question about your business strategy. This is very important in providing the framework around which your business operates, and can provide your "to do" list in terms of where you want to get to.
What strategy do you have now? Who are your customers? How do you compete with others? Tell us some more about what you do and what problems you are facing, and perhaps someone will give you some ideas about what to do next.
Regards,
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James Smith
Chartered Accountant
www.jamesesmith.co.uk
01235 536 773
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Your indispensable guide to Small Business Bookkeeping, Self-Assessment & VAT
RE: Hello everyone
mustaveparts | 30/08/2005 05:46 PM
Hi James,
Thanks for taking the time to reply,
Our customer base is predominatly 18-30 year olds, we attract customer from customers who wish to simply do basic upgrades to one or maybe two panels to customers who want a full show car. Whats unique about our service is that we can create designs to the customers specification and providing we have there panels in stock built within 5-7 working days. In terms of competing with others, i am 90% sure that no-one can match us on price however when it comes to spraying and finishing bodyshops would most proberly beat us on quality.
I am facing many problems currently in that, we could in all fairness go all out and take orders on different panels and different car types. Current we have a small product range which is Saxo panels and Mini panels. The web site is currently in production and our main business is coming from ebay (I have had 4 orders alone from the auction that i listed in the first post.
We currently offer a service for leather/vinyl retrimming of panels. Unfortunatly I am untrained in this area so we have a company do all our retrimming, to stay competitive in this area we simply do it at the lowest price possible and make no profit from this area.
I'm looking for as much help as possible on many things I am unsure and am happy to admit that, so hopefully I can put back to the forum by informing people of how we are progressing the forum can help us by informing us.
Shaun
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Shaun Gilbert
(mustaveparts.com)
