Gold Star Produce, Gold Star Success
When most people come towards retirement age they normally start thinking about working less and living a more stress free lifestyle. However Paul and Margaret Brown decided this was the time to start their own business.
Paul and Margaret both come from farming backgrounds. When looking for an opportunity to start a small business, it was at an exhibition that they came across a man selling frozen yoghurt. They liked the taste of this but thought they could make it better. This was a great way to use their connections in farming along with a viable business opportunity to make a living and enjoy themselves. They founded Margaret’s Frozen Luxuries (MFL) in February 2003.
The couple attended many exhibitions and shows with their new product and experienced substantial growing interest in their new line of frozen yoghurt; they say things soon “got out of hand” “we really enjoyed going to the shows but we experienced so much demand that we soon had to hire our own van, although this was very exciting, we quickly realised we needed to get professional advice on how to properly run our business.”
Margaret and Paul came to BDS and received advice from advisor David Brown. David taught the couple everything they needed to know about running their company in an efficient and professional manner, “It was a steep learning curve but with David’s help we learnt everything so quickly, we now know all about our margins and costs.”
BDS has helped the company to receive official recognition of the quality of its product and its success. MFL’s products have all achieved 1* gold at the Great Taste Awards with its natural flavour receiving 2*s. It was awarded the 2008 Mid Essex Growing Business Award and was a finalist in the Essex County Small Business Awards.
As their business has grown Paul and Margaret have returned to BDS on a frequent basis for help in growing their business. In order to reach the wider market they needed to generate funds in order to produce in larger quantities. BDS and our Business Planning Course enabled the pair to develop their business plan and they hope in the coming months to start selling high quantities to large stockists at home and abroad such as Marks and Spencer and InterMarche.
Both Paul and Margaret recognise the essential role Business Development Services has played in its success, “Any small business must come to BDS for advice from the word go. The level of expertise and amount of advice they are able to give you free of charge is fantastic. We wouldn’t be where we are today without it.”
Margaret’s Frozen Luxuries
www.margaretsfrozenluxuries.co.uk
Or contact them by phone on 01787 224865
Market Place