For the past three years Matthew has been Managing Director of Witheridge Garage, a family run small business supplying used tractors and farm machinery.
What made you join the family business?
I had hit a bit of a plateau at my job in London and there didn’t seem to be a great deal of scope for personal improvement on the immediate horizon. Also my father (who was previously running the business) was reaching an age where he wanted to take things a little more easily.
How long did it take for the family business to become established?
My grandfather started the business over 40 years ago, it was then taken over by my father and now by me. Although the business was obviously established I have implemented a number of changes and hopefully improvements to the way things are done and how we operate. It is only in the last year that I have really been able to see these changes having a positive effect on the day to day running and financial side of the business.
Any tips for anyone looking to start out or grow an existing business?
In my opinion hard work is the key in any business, particularly a small business based in the countryside.
However, I think also you need to ‘work smart’, I see a lot of people chasing their tails and if they just sat down, paused and thought for a second I often think they might be more effective. I also see a fresh set of eyes as being really important, businesses can become very set in their ways, particularly small family businesses. Having come from a very different business background into this one I have hopefully brought some positive changes and a fresh outlook to the company.
How has it been juggling your work with your personal life?
This has probably been the most difficult aspect of the job. Phone calls in the evenings and at weekends as well as a Blackberry sat in the pocket make it quite hard to switch off.
I also put quite a bit of pressure on myself to be successful. When I first came back into the firm I had a point to prove but now that things are running as I had hoped I am able to take a bit more time out.
What does your typical work day look like?
Luckily I don’t have a typical day, it’s one of the things that appeals about this job. One day I can be attending an auction buying stock in East Anglia, the next I could be visiting customers locally on farms or seeing them here in the yard, other days I can spend doing admin in the office – updating websites, looking at financials etc. It is a very varied position, much like I guess many small businesses where you have to be jack-of-all-trades.
What are the biggest challenges you face?
Market forces have a big impact on our business (like any other) and the last few months have seen us enter tougher trading conditions due to a strong sterling exchange rate, which has made exports much harder. Farmers are also being hit by poor prices, which is dulling confidence and hence having an impact on sales.
What are the perks that come with your job?
It is extremely rewarding to reap what you sow, although the last 3 years have been very hard work, it has been really encouraging to see the changes I have implemented bring increased growth and profitability to the company. It is also great being your own boss in terms of taking time off when you need it and having a little more flexibility in general.
How do you tend to find new business?
Since I returned to the business I have completely redeveloped our website with better content, more information etc and this is now a key point of contact for many new customers, particularly our customers from abroad. We continue to use traditional press for advertising but you can clearly see a shift towards digital media taking place, even over the 3 years I have been here. We also have our own Facebook page and although I am not sure that we necessarily see it as an advertising tool it helps with raising the company profile in addition to improving our SEO.
What advice would you give to aspiring freelancers?
Again, hard work I’m afraid. It sounds obvious but many people seem to enter business thinking it is going to be an easy ticket. Whilst I am fortunate to have entered a business that was already well established I have witnessed through my childhood both the ups and downs that businesses can experience and all the hard work that my father has put in over the years to make it a success. Also, be prepared to move with the times and the market place. The business that I now run could not be more different from the one that my grandfather started.
How can our readers find out more about your business?
See our website www.witheridgegarage.com or check out our Facebook page.
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