A County Durham business specialising in support services for convenience store retailers is expanding sooner than expected after tapping into the support available through Business Link to begin trading.

Solo Business Solutions, which launched in early 2009, is now working with retailers Nisa throughout the UK and has recently taken on two additional members of staff, after maximising the support available through the business support organisation.

The business is the creation of Bob Soulsby and Peter Stephenson, who were spurred on to become their own boss after Bob was made redundant and Peter retired early following a collective 70 years experience within the grocery and convenience retail sector. They joined forces to help other retailers benefit from their widespread experience. Bob commented: “After being made redundant I decided it was time to make sure my destiny was my own and wasn’t in the hands of somebody else. I secured a role with an Electronic Point of Sale (EPoS) provider where I gained additional experience in this area; however I was still keen to become self-employed.

“I decided to make the break to take time out to research and plan for the business while my wife continued to work within the sector. Peter and I got in touch having worked together at Presto/Safeway and decided to proceed with our project, knowing that our experience complimented each others.”

The business started out offering advice and support for individual projects on behalf of industry contacts, but as demand increased, this quickly evolved into a full programme of support including retail consulting, merchandising, business computer systems and stocktaking and stock valuations. Bob and Peter had carried out their own research in the early stages of the business development, however after a meeting with the bank manager Bob made contact with Business Link for advice and support and following an initial meeting, they have never looked back.

Solo Business Solutions has benefitted from a wide range of support which includes assistance to establish a professional brand image and marketing materials, introducing quality standards, signposting to other support organisations such as Be Enterprising and East Durham Business Services where the business was able to secure funding towards marketing materials. The business has also had advice on staff training which has allowed staff to become more at home with the company’s IT infrastructure and completing “on site” related tasks such as the production of Shelf Edge Labelling from their laptops.

Bob added: “I didn’t realise support from organisations like Business Link existed and had relied on our own research up until that point. The help I’ve had has enabled us to make improvements to our original business plan and to identify knowledge weaknesses and ways to improve these areas, laying firm foundations for future growth. Our business adviser Steph Campbell has been a real rock and without Business Link I wouldn’t have known that such a wide range of support was available.

“The support we’ve had with our corporate branding and marketing has been especially beneficial as it was important to portray to our customers the right image that reflects the professional service we provide.”

Solo Business Solutions is now working on projects throughout the UK from Scotland to Cornwall and even Northern Ireland. Nisa, which had originally contracted the business for ad-hoc projects, has increased the volume of work and has recommended the business to their customers. Londis has also contracted the business to provide a merchandising service on a trial basis.

Bob and Peter intend to continue to maximise their relationship with Business Link to take the business to the next level and are currently looking at ways to grow the business, including through e-commerce. The company is now even offering its support to other Business Link customers having become an approved supplier on the North East Service Provider Register (NEESPR).

Business Link adviser Steph Campbell, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Solo Business Solutions over the past year and see the business reap the rewards it deserves from all of the hard work put in by Bob and Peter.

“The business has been very receptive to new ideas and as a result is well on track to achieve its business aims for 2010. I look forward to continuing to work with Solo Business Solutions as it strives for further success and growth.”

Business Link has a team of expert advisers who offer advice, help and information to individuals and companies across the region, giving them access to the ‘business brains’ who will help to get their business idea off the ground, or grow their existing company. For further information about Business Link visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/northeast or call 0845 600 9 006.