Interesting small companies
Discussion
A while ago I met a chap at one of my Dads drinks parties who had made a tidy life for himself by selling his successful company that made rubber bands that where used by the post office. He effectively had 4 machines that ran night and day making these things.
It gave me an respect for small companies making the small stuff or unglamorous stuff that people need. Usually with some one quietly doing quite well out of it.
Another that springs to mind was when I visited a company to try coating a visor for me. Went to visit one less that 6 miles away from me in sleepy Norfolk. When I was reception I noticed the key from my Tesla and lots of buttons from Porsche, Bentley, Rolls Royce etc in a display cabinet. Got a tour by the MD turned out this relatively small company in a tiny industrial estate made huge amounts of high grade plastic parts for motor industry amongst other things.
Anyone else know any fantastic companies doing well making or providing something that you wouldn’t think? I think sometimes we don’t celebrate enough the industry in this country.
It gave me an respect for small companies making the small stuff or unglamorous stuff that people need. Usually with some one quietly doing quite well out of it.
Another that springs to mind was when I visited a company to try coating a visor for me. Went to visit one less that 6 miles away from me in sleepy Norfolk. When I was reception I noticed the key from my Tesla and lots of buttons from Porsche, Bentley, Rolls Royce etc in a display cabinet. Got a tour by the MD turned out this relatively small company in a tiny industrial estate made huge amounts of high grade plastic parts for motor industry amongst other things.
Anyone else know any fantastic companies doing well making or providing something that you wouldn’t think? I think sometimes we don’t celebrate enough the industry in this country.
I remember delivering a van to a chap who visited scrapyards buying catalytic converters and selling them on to companies that broke them down for the chemical elements in them. He knew what each type was worth and how much he should pay. He had a business relationship with the scrapyard owners so they kept the catalytic converters for him, knowing he was a reliable customer.
I was really surprised at this business and it made me wonder what other similar unknown businesses there were!
I was really surprised at this business and it made me wonder what other similar unknown businesses there were!
Small engineering firm, lovely bloke,but nightmare to deal with,large multinational firms used to go to him with must be done asap jobs,charged a fortune with them ,so could afford to be choosey on smaller jobs,used to chat for ages, particularly about doing up spitfire engines,had people from all over bring them,or he travelled to them,small unassuming workshop,never judge a book n all that
Dealt with loads over the years
Ice cream machine makers, speedway bike engine repairers, niche food exporters
Lorry wheel nut undoing plastic marker thingies, rare paint makers, doctors flogging used hospital equipment
Trick is find something you enjoy and nobody else is doing.
I always ask them how they got into it, it’s either a family business or by chance
Ice cream machine makers, speedway bike engine repairers, niche food exporters
Lorry wheel nut undoing plastic marker thingies, rare paint makers, doctors flogging used hospital equipment
Trick is find something you enjoy and nobody else is doing.
I always ask them how they got into it, it’s either a family business or by chance
My mate has a business making Christmas Puddings, he works September - Mid December and makes enough to for his family of 4 to live well.
He's had offers from big supermarkets and luxury retailers wishing to stock his puds but he's declined every time; as it would change the dynamic of his business and mean working all year to fulfill the massive numbers the retailers would need. Reckons he'll wait until his kids are old enough to take it over and let them decide if they want to go big.
He's had offers from big supermarkets and luxury retailers wishing to stock his puds but he's declined every time; as it would change the dynamic of his business and mean working all year to fulfill the massive numbers the retailers would need. Reckons he'll wait until his kids are old enough to take it over and let them decide if they want to go big.
Have a look at the photo below.
In that collection of black weatherboarded buildings work just two people.
It's the Maldon Crystal Salt Company. They’re processing Maldon Salt - by far the most famous and widely used salt in the world. They’ve another similar facility in Goldhanger - a few miles along the coast. And nearby on a small industrial estate (where the now sadly defunct JD Classics once lived) is their business hub employing less than 20 people.
They turnover £22m a year netting nearly £7m profit. All they're doing is boiling sea water, taking the salt and putting it in boxes.
Whoever does their marketing deserves every penny they’re paid!
In that collection of black weatherboarded buildings work just two people.
It's the Maldon Crystal Salt Company. They’re processing Maldon Salt - by far the most famous and widely used salt in the world. They’ve another similar facility in Goldhanger - a few miles along the coast. And nearby on a small industrial estate (where the now sadly defunct JD Classics once lived) is their business hub employing less than 20 people.
They turnover £22m a year netting nearly £7m profit. All they're doing is boiling sea water, taking the salt and putting it in boxes.
Whoever does their marketing deserves every penny they’re paid!
StevieBee said:
Doofus said:
StevieBee said:
Maldon Salt - by far the most famous and widely used salt in the world.
Until just now I'd never heard of it.
It's like Tiptree Jam and Colemans Mustard - wherever you go in the world you can get it!
In a previous life as a car salesman I had a customer who came to purchase a new MINI for his wife. He was an older gentleman with the confidence and charm of someone with nothing to prove.
We chatted for a couple of hours and whilst he was more interested in me and my successes, he shared a few snippets of his life story. He started out in a ball bearing factory producing nibs for ball point pens. One day he approached the owner and suggested they provide their own range as they were already doing the hard bit. The boss had no interest but suggested if he wanted to take it on as a weekend project they’d go 50/50 on the venture. Whilst I can’t recall the company now, they were a household name and he was set for life. By the 80’s his window fitter brother in law was raving about double glazing and suggested a partnership so he bought a factory, which he also did “very well” from - it turned into one of the national chains.
It became apparent I was sat across from the richest person I’d probably ever met and it all started with pen nibs.
We chatted for a couple of hours and whilst he was more interested in me and my successes, he shared a few snippets of his life story. He started out in a ball bearing factory producing nibs for ball point pens. One day he approached the owner and suggested they provide their own range as they were already doing the hard bit. The boss had no interest but suggested if he wanted to take it on as a weekend project they’d go 50/50 on the venture. Whilst I can’t recall the company now, they were a household name and he was set for life. By the 80’s his window fitter brother in law was raving about double glazing and suggested a partnership so he bought a factory, which he also did “very well” from - it turned into one of the national chains.
It became apparent I was sat across from the richest person I’d probably ever met and it all started with pen nibs.
StevieBee said:
Have a look at the photo below.
In that collection of black weatherboarded buildings work just two people.
It's the Maldon Crystal Salt Company. They’re processing Maldon Salt - by far the most famous and widely used salt in the world. They’ve another similar facility in Goldhanger - a few miles along the coast. And nearby on a small industrial estate (where the now sadly defunct JD Classics once lived) is their business hub employing less than 20 people.
They turnover £22m a year netting nearly £7m profit. All they're doing is boiling sea water, taking the salt and putting it in boxes.
Whoever does their marketing deserves every penny they’re paid!
Google’s how to start a salt company …In that collection of black weatherboarded buildings work just two people.
It's the Maldon Crystal Salt Company. They’re processing Maldon Salt - by far the most famous and widely used salt in the world. They’ve another similar facility in Goldhanger - a few miles along the coast. And nearby on a small industrial estate (where the now sadly defunct JD Classics once lived) is their business hub employing less than 20 people.
They turnover £22m a year netting nearly £7m profit. All they're doing is boiling sea water, taking the salt and putting it in boxes.
Whoever does their marketing deserves every penny they’re paid!
ColdoRS said:
My mate has a business making Christmas Puddings, he works September - Mid December and makes enough to for his family of 4 to live well.
Likewise I knew a Norwegian chap who lived in Spain 10 months a year whose business was Christmas trees. Returned "home" for a few months and made his money to return in the New Year. Seemed a cracking gig.Flyingscotsman88 said:
StevieBee said:
Have a look at the photo below.
In that collection of black weatherboarded buildings work just two people.
It's the Maldon Crystal Salt Company. They’re processing Maldon Salt - by far the most famous and widely used salt in the world. They’ve another similar facility in Goldhanger - a few miles along the coast. And nearby on a small industrial estate (where the now sadly defunct JD Classics once lived) is their business hub employing less than 20 people.
They turnover £22m a year netting nearly £7m profit. All they're doing is boiling sea water, taking the salt and putting it in boxes.
Whoever does their marketing deserves every penny they’re paid!
Google’s how to start a salt company …In that collection of black weatherboarded buildings work just two people.
It's the Maldon Crystal Salt Company. They’re processing Maldon Salt - by far the most famous and widely used salt in the world. They’ve another similar facility in Goldhanger - a few miles along the coast. And nearby on a small industrial estate (where the now sadly defunct JD Classics once lived) is their business hub employing less than 20 people.
They turnover £22m a year netting nearly £7m profit. All they're doing is boiling sea water, taking the salt and putting it in boxes.
Whoever does their marketing deserves every penny they’re paid!
StevieBee said:
Flyingscotsman88 said:
StevieBee said:
Have a look at the photo below.
In that collection of black weatherboarded buildings work just two people.
It's the Maldon Crystal Salt Company. They’re processing Maldon Salt - by far the most famous and widely used salt in the world. They’ve another similar facility in Goldhanger - a few miles along the coast. And nearby on a small industrial estate (where the now sadly defunct JD Classics once lived) is their business hub employing less than 20 people.
They turnover £22m a year netting nearly £7m profit. All they're doing is boiling sea water, taking the salt and putting it in boxes.
Whoever does their marketing deserves every penny they’re paid!
Might see those profits wiped out by their energy bill if they've not hedged well this year.In that collection of black weatherboarded buildings work just two people.
It's the Maldon Crystal Salt Company. They’re processing Maldon Salt - by far the most famous and widely used salt in the world. They’ve another similar facility in Goldhanger - a few miles along the coast. And nearby on a small industrial estate (where the now sadly defunct JD Classics once lived) is their business hub employing less than 20 people.
They turnover £22m a year netting nearly £7m profit. All they're doing is boiling sea water, taking the salt and putting it in boxes.
Whoever does their marketing deserves every penny they’re paid!
Google’s how to start a salt company …
bristolbaron said:
By the 80’s his window fitter brother in law was raving about double glazing and suggested a partnership so he bought a factory, which he also did “very well” from - it turned into one of the national chains.
Ever seen White Gold? Double glazing in the 80s was a proper licence to print money endeavour. I used to live next door to (by which I mean a mile away via an unmade road!) a guy called Eddie Coventry - the 'C' from BAC Windows. He started out fabricating window frames from a lock-up in Romford. I have no idea how rich he became but his back garden included a private runway and hanger in which he stored his Navy Spitfire and some other prized plane.
Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff