Redundancy can leave many people devastated, but for local Caerphilly man Marc Hawkey it was the opportunity to strike out and form his own business.
The 27-year-old was working as a workshop controller in the motor industry when he was made redundant at the beginning of 2013. It was his third redundancy in ten years, but instead of bemoaning his misfortune Hawkey decided to put his working experience to good use and Clubtyre was born.
Clubtyre is a mobile tyre operation which operates throughout South Wales. Instead of the customer having to drive to the tyre centre to have tyres repaired or replaced Clubtyre comes to the customer.
Explaining the rationale behind his approach Hawkey says: “I thought this was a great idea as everyone is turning to online shopping and home deliveries. So why not have your tyres delivered to your home and fitted at the same time?
“Having always wanted to be my own boss I thought now was the time to look at setting up my own business so I could secure a future for my family.”
As with the launch of any new business, finance is a major consideration and Hawkey had the forethought to approach the Princes Trust and Finance Wales with a view to gaining business support and loan for set up costs.
By the summer of 2013 Clubtyre was up and running and Hawkey’s dream of owning his own business had come to fruition and he is beginning to reap the rewards of his hard work and commercial enterprise.
“Since August the work load has grown and grown, our Facebook page is starting to get more hits and queries and word is getting round about our service,” he admits.
“Being mobile we can offer massive savings on tyres. We only charge for the tyre nothing else, so I think people are seeing the real benefits by using us: tyres at the best price with the best service, all done at home.”
In December he finalised a deal to care for 30 vans, an achievement he describes as “massive” for both himself and his company. With a contract for another 40 vans on the horizon the Clubtyre success story is destined to continue.
This is great news and initiative but going forward, Marc will have to make sure he has a differentiator for his product/service. Wherever there is money to be made, people will want a piece of the action. So if Marc is just successful because of the idea, which any of the large companies like Kwik Fit could copy, then he will soon find stiff competition due to their bulk buying abilities on tyres. It then just becomes a price war that unfortunately, the big boys will win.
He needs to offer something that is special/different to his business to keep people choosing him rather than just trying to compete on price.
Well done Marc and good luck.