Dorney Court Kitchen Garden Centre
It is delightful to hear about a 20 year-long dream being made a reality!
Kevin, Ryan and Tom have taken on a business with great potential but with some very significant challenges, as they clearly recognise. Growing any business in these challenging economic times is difficult. If however, they can achieve their plans and make the business profitable in the short term they are likely to be very well placed to capitalise on the eventual upturn in the UK economy that we are all waiting for.
Price competition is likely to be fierce in the short and medium term as the business competes with the large chains of garden centres, as well several well established more independent centres in the region. It is therefore vital that Ryan, Kevin and the team are able to really differentiate their offering in areas other than price. Certainly, Ryan’s unique vision for the business offering, coupled with the obvious potential of the physical site, provides opportunities to do this.
They will face the same key challenges as many growing businesses, namely the ability to finance expansion and working capital, and the ability to attract, motivate and retain the calibre of staff needed to grow and develop the business. Kevin’s entrepreneurial experience will be key to both.
The Olympic rowing event in Dorney is an obvious opportunity to showcase the Centre – however, like Kevin, I believe for Dorney’s local businesses the impact may well be more of upheaval than opportunity, in the short term at least. However, the Olympics will certainly put Dorney ‘on the map’ which may offer significant opportunities in the years ahead.
Alan Poole, Director, James Cowper LLP
0118 9590261 or email apoole@jamescowper.co.uk
November 2011