How it all began
From a young age, I had always been exposed to business. Growing up around my father’s business gave me a taste of what life could be like after school.
Shortly into my teens, I broadened my hobby of truck model collecting into online trading through eBay and found this to be one of the greatest educations I could get, despite what my teachers may have said at the time!
During those impressionable, formative years, I knew I wanted to be in business that enabled me to be exposed to different types of people and cultures and therefore be importing/exporting on the world stage. To achieve, this, I studied German to A-Level and speak the language fluently.
Upon finishing my A-Levels at Bury St Edmunds County Upper School in 2005, my business journey officially began. In wanting to play my part in flying the flag for UK trade, I knew I wanted to somehow include Concorde in my company branding – there was no better advocate of presenting ‘The Best of British’ in my opinion! Yet to include Concorde in the name suggested to me that would place us as being an aviation-related company. And so, I came up with the next thing and “Speedbird” was born.
Speedbird was born
I founded Speedbird as a specialist manufacturer and supplier of niche and unique branded merchandise to the Transport and Logistics industry following years of experience in working in these sectors. Over the past two decades, I have developed relationships with some of the largest blue chip and brand names in these markets and we continue to grow and increase our business.
Whilst initially focusing on replica scale model trucks, our product portfolio has diversified over the years to include relevant but niche products that would appeal to the same clients thereby ensuring we had something to suit every budget.
Having very much embraced my entrepreneurial flare, I always knew my business portfolio would diversify beyond Speedbird Promotions. After supporting the sale of my father’s business to a leading multinational conveyor belt manufacturer, I saw an opportunity to establish a new, independent company entering a new generation phase of providing new and existing customers with an alternative supplier for conveyor belting, specialising in sidewall belts used in steep angle and vertical conveyor systems.
Within a decade, the company has an annual turnover of £2m, exports its products to almost 40 countries globally and has its first overseas office in India – our largest export market.
Over the course of almost 20 years, I have encountered various opportunities to create startup business opportunities as well as acquire businesses for a variety of reasons.
Some of those acquisitions have been embedded within our group of companies whilst others have become new standalone companies. As well as having extensive knowledge in starting businesses, I have a strong acumen for commercial pragmatism, branding and marketing as well as the nuances that mergers, acquisitions and selling businesses can entail.
In recognising my diverse business skillset, I have been delighted to provide tailored advice to companies embarking on new opportunities and chapters to business owners.
If you are looking for informal, friendly yet pragmatic business mentoring or advice, I would be delighted to talk to you.
