I had been an amateur woodworker for most of my adult life, and had seen the adverts for Furniture Medic in various woodworking magazines so we agreed to attend ServiceMaster House, to find out more. We attended ServiceMaster, had an interesting session and came home feeling excited and very positive.
Then followed a period of frantic activity as the next training course was in a few weeks, but not after that for some months. So we bit the bullet and after an absolutely exhausting two weeks at the Academy we returned as qualified Furniture Medics, and eagerly awaited our business set-up visit.
We were soon trading, and off on our first job, from ServiceMaster Direct. Business was a little slower picking up than we had hoped for. Just after our first Christmas as Medics, we had no work to do, no jobs in the pipeline, and no money due. So, we started some work at home, extending the kitchen. A week later we were busy again, and now, six years on, we still have not found enough time to complete the kitchen extension...
The business started with me in it full time, but Eileen did another job to ensure we had some money coming in. After about a year Eileen had to give up her job and join in full time, as we were so busy. Now, six years on, we are based in a 2,500 square foot industrial unit, and employ one full time and one part time member of staff (our son and daughter) and in addition use a qualified upholsterer on a sub-contract basis 4 or 5 days a week. Our turnover is in excess of £125,000.00, largely due to the work that ServiceMaster has gained for us, though we do have a steady income from privately found work as well.
We have undertaken a huge variety of jobs from the emergency, '...my Mum and Dad are on holiday, and we've burnt the table, can you fix it before they get back...' (we did) to, '...we've had a party while my Mum and Dad were on holiday, had a fire and burnt an antique display cabinet, can you fix it before they get back...!' We didn't... but we did fix it afterwards! We have done jobs as simple as plugging in the electric connection for a recliner chair that would not work, to exporting fabric to South Africa for a customer having an ocean-going yacht built there.
Someone said to me once, 'It must be great being self-employed, you only work half days, don't you?' Yes; a minimum of 12 hours a day, 7 days a week! You MUST have this level of commitment if you want your business to succeed. There are no half measures - it is not a quick road to riches, but it is an interesting, varied and satisfying career, with rewards for those who are prepared to invest the time and effort."
We were soon trading, and off on our first job, from ServiceMaster Direct. Business was a little slower picking up than we had hoped for. Just after our first Christmas as Medics, we had no work to do, no jobs in the pipeline, and no money due. So, we started some work at home, extending the kitchen. A week later we were busy again, and now, six years on, we still have not found enough time to complete the kitchen extension...
The business started with me in it full time, but Eileen did another job to ensure we had some money coming in. After about a year Eileen had to give up her job and join in full time, as we were so busy. Now, six years on, we are based in a 2,500 square foot industrial unit, and employ one full time and one part time member of staff (our son and daughter) and in addition use a qualified upholsterer on a sub-contract basis 4 or 5 days a week. Our turnover is in excess of £125,000.00, largely due to the work that ServiceMaster has gained for us, though we do have a steady income from privately found work as well.
We have undertaken a huge variety of jobs from the emergency, '...my Mum and Dad are on holiday, and we've burnt the table, can you fix it before they get back...' (we did) to, '...we've had a party while my Mum and Dad were on holiday, had a fire and burnt an antique display cabinet, can you fix it before they get back...!' We didn't... but we did fix it afterwards! We have done jobs as simple as plugging in the electric connection for a recliner chair that would not work, to exporting fabric to South Africa for a customer having an ocean-going yacht built there.
Someone said to me once, 'It must be great being self-employed, you only work half days, don't you?' Yes; a minimum of 12 hours a day, 7 days a week! You MUST have this level of commitment if you want your business to succeed. There are no half measures - it is not a quick road to riches, but it is an interesting, varied and satisfying career, with rewards for those who are prepared to invest the time and effort."