Like many small businesses, Azizzi was started in my kitchen. This means that I am currently working from home. So far it has worked well because I have managed to establish a routine and create boundaries. For example, I make sure I have got my day's exercise out of the way before I turn the computer on. I also make sure my Blackberry is turned off at 10pm and is turned back on at 7am. This means that I am not answering calls and emails late into the night. However,it is now time for me to get a 'real' office.
Having decided that I needed an office outside my home, it now seems that finding an office with low rent and overheads is a near impossible task in London. As I currently own a business which has not produced anything and has therefore, not made any sales, it is important that I don't get myself tied into a very expensive space. Of course, I would like Azizzi to own its premises if it could afford to.
It seems equipping the office is also another expensive venture. I made the mistake of visiting a photocopier sales room. Leasing a photocopier will cost over a thousand pounds every year and I am scared when I even consider it. I certainly have to sit and think about what would be the best (buying or leasing) when one takes into account the tax benefits and so on.
So what does a small business owner do when she is faced with all these issues? She seeks advice from all those who are in the know. If you are running your own business, make sure you have a good accountant and a very good lawyer and together they will save you a lot more money than they cost.
Good luck!
Amiex
Saturday 30 June 2007
Tuesday 19 June 2007
Suppliers Supply
Yippee!!! I am truly happy today. Things seem to be moving after a few weeks of just doing paper-based exercises. I had a really nice meeting last week with one of my many mentors. I am just beginning to realise that people are a lot nicer than I thought. And I always think people are nice. OK. Maybe it should read that there is a lot of help available out there if you ask. I am now an NES Scholar. "What is that?" I hear you ask. Well it is the New Entrepreneurship Scholarship programme which helps people in disadvantaged areas start businesses. It is funded by the Learning and Skills Council and it involves getting proper business training from business schools. So I am now a member of the University of Westminster. Never thought I would be going back to uni and sitting at a desk in a classroom. It was a little weird, I must admit. Another nice thing about this scholarship is that you get 12 hours of one-to-one mentoring with a business adviser. This is important for me because my mentor is an ace with accounts, something I am not very good at. He will also help me fine tune my business plan, which can be submitted to a panel who will let you have £1500 towards your start-up costs. It is not a lot of money but it will help towards travel costs.
Also last week, I had a life-changing meeting. The meeting led me to make big decisions as to which of my proposed products were more important, which ones I would launch with and where I will get them made. I decided to speak to some spice blenders and such in South Africa and Swaziland. I was a bit worried about using factories that far away but I can now see the benefits. Firstly, Britain (that's me) will be doing trade with Africa (that's them). Trade Not Aid - that's something I believe in. Then there is also the benefit of knowing that these people are already making similar products and they are already producing them to some British regulations and the packaging they use is top-class. So really I am killing two birds with one stone. In case you hadn't noticed, that is my new phrase. I have even been known to kill four birds with one stone. Fantastic or what! What hunter, bird-killer (actually what do you call people who kill birds for a living?) would say that they have killed four birds with one stone?
Back to business...I had a call from the first supplier in Swaziland. Lovely woman and they are doing a brilliant job, employing women (yeah!!!) in the local surrounds and their factory benefits the whole community (another yeah!!!). She will send me some samples of the recipes I am interested in, I will taste and test and then I will get back to her. But we have both decided to do all that we can so that we can work together. I am still waiting to hear from the guys in South Africa, but I am also hoping it is positive. Next thing will be to organise a trip to the Southern Hemisphere, back to Africa (the motherland or if you are German, the fatherland).
The excitement is already too much to bear. I'll be back soon.
Love, Amiexx
Also last week, I had a life-changing meeting. The meeting led me to make big decisions as to which of my proposed products were more important, which ones I would launch with and where I will get them made. I decided to speak to some spice blenders and such in South Africa and Swaziland. I was a bit worried about using factories that far away but I can now see the benefits. Firstly, Britain (that's me) will be doing trade with Africa (that's them). Trade Not Aid - that's something I believe in. Then there is also the benefit of knowing that these people are already making similar products and they are already producing them to some British regulations and the packaging they use is top-class. So really I am killing two birds with one stone. In case you hadn't noticed, that is my new phrase. I have even been known to kill four birds with one stone. Fantastic or what! What hunter, bird-killer (actually what do you call people who kill birds for a living?) would say that they have killed four birds with one stone?
Back to business...I had a call from the first supplier in Swaziland. Lovely woman and they are doing a brilliant job, employing women (yeah!!!) in the local surrounds and their factory benefits the whole community (another yeah!!!). She will send me some samples of the recipes I am interested in, I will taste and test and then I will get back to her. But we have both decided to do all that we can so that we can work together. I am still waiting to hear from the guys in South Africa, but I am also hoping it is positive. Next thing will be to organise a trip to the Southern Hemisphere, back to Africa (the motherland or if you are German, the fatherland).
The excitement is already too much to bear. I'll be back soon.
Love, Amiexx
Friday 15 June 2007
It all begins now...
I am a little annoyed with myself for not posting anything for two weeks. I have to say that although I have been busy, I think it is partly due to laziness.
I was away for most of last week and when I came back I had a bad back which laid me low for a couple of days. In the Netherlands, I managed to kill two birds with one stone. I looked at the Dutch spice and condiment market and I spent some time with a really good friend of mine. He is actually an expert in sales and he was able to advice me about the Dutch market and we were also able to have a good laugh, which we hadn't done in a while. I found out that there really is a lack of good spices in the Dutch market and the products which I aim to sell would most likely do well there. The question was whether there really is a gap in the market or whether as the research suggests, the Dutch may not need these spice blends as less food is now being cooked in the home. It seems the Dutch are now keen on ready-prepared foods and so the cooking sauce and spice market has kind of flattened in the past few years. Having said that, there is less choice in the Dutch market and maybe just maybe, if more fabulous choice was available they would make use of it.
Also this week, I made the final list of the first products which will be available at launch, I contacted two factories which I may use for the production and I am now looking at where and how I will raise investment. I am also putting together the marketing and media plan, because the most important thing right now is too prepare people for the launch of these products and also to convince them to try it. I could make the best products but if nobody knows about them or wants to try them, I have failed.
My aim was to launch in September of this year but I think that will be cutting it fine and will now aim to launch in April of next year. I can't wait!
Amiex
I was away for most of last week and when I came back I had a bad back which laid me low for a couple of days. In the Netherlands, I managed to kill two birds with one stone. I looked at the Dutch spice and condiment market and I spent some time with a really good friend of mine. He is actually an expert in sales and he was able to advice me about the Dutch market and we were also able to have a good laugh, which we hadn't done in a while. I found out that there really is a lack of good spices in the Dutch market and the products which I aim to sell would most likely do well there. The question was whether there really is a gap in the market or whether as the research suggests, the Dutch may not need these spice blends as less food is now being cooked in the home. It seems the Dutch are now keen on ready-prepared foods and so the cooking sauce and spice market has kind of flattened in the past few years. Having said that, there is less choice in the Dutch market and maybe just maybe, if more fabulous choice was available they would make use of it.
Also this week, I made the final list of the first products which will be available at launch, I contacted two factories which I may use for the production and I am now looking at where and how I will raise investment. I am also putting together the marketing and media plan, because the most important thing right now is too prepare people for the launch of these products and also to convince them to try it. I could make the best products but if nobody knows about them or wants to try them, I have failed.
My aim was to launch in September of this year but I think that will be cutting it fine and will now aim to launch in April of next year. I can't wait!
Amiex
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