Starting a business isn't easy. Half of new businesses go bust within the first three years. How do you keep yourself going before the money starts rolling in? What if the money DOESN'T start rolling in? The following case studies tell stories of enterprise success -- and failure.
THE SMELL OF SUCCESS: S'Amuser is a bold experiment in retailing -- a business in Glastonbury offering customers the chance to blend their own perfumes.
But this high street perfume bar is only the beginning of the founders' business concept. Their aim is to launch franchises all over the country.
THE CRISP MAKER: Will Chase started his business life as a farmer. When he was 20 Will bought his family farm with a ¡ê200,000 bank loan. But he couldn't pay it off, and in 1992 Will went bust. Then he bounced back, selling potatoes to the big supermarkets.
But fed up of being pushed to cut prices by the supermarket buyers Will thought of something else to do with his spuds - make them into crisps -- hand-cooked artisan crisps. It was a big investment and a huge risk, but it paid off. Tyrrells crisps are Britain's big snack food success story of recent years.
BONE BUSINESS: Ayshe is an osteopath - she cures people who have pains in their backs without using drugs or surgery. Most osteopaths work in clinics - but Ayshe has set up her own business called Backbone. She's experimented with different types of marketing and advertising - but believes the best promotion for her business is word of mouth. She now hopes to open her own clinic. But it all means lots more responsibility and hard work.
THE ONE THAT FAILED: Jonny had a bright idea for a business. It seemed like a good plan -- finding venues for companies that wanted to hold events. Jonny went for it -- but turning the idea into reality took time and money. Cash flow was a big problem, debt mounted up. After two years he had to give up. He feels his biggest mistakes were not having a proper business plan and spending too much, too soon.
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