Business surgery: Toyville

Company name:  Toyville 

Sector: Retail

Number of staff: Two

Company owners:  Joel and Lindsay Meyer-Nicholas

Key customers: Parents of children of all ages

Company overview

The new Toyville shop in Bedminster was opened in October by Joel and Lindsay Meyer-Nicholas, supported by their online store: www.toyvilleshop.co.uk 

The couple specialise in selling classic toys that have stood the test of time, as well as new products from lesser known brands. They cater for youngsters of all ages with products ranging from wooden toys for toddlers to science kits and board games for older children.

Joel says: “We can’t compete with the big retailers, neither do we seek to, which is why we decided to focus on selling more niche toys that offer something a bit different to children in the city. We really want to be seen as a local toyshop based in south Bristol.”

The couple came up with the idea of opening their own toyshop after struggling to find interesting gifts for their toddler son locally. When Joel lost his job in banking, they decided to make their idea a reality. 

The challenge

“We now want to grow our customer base and ensure we attract business all year round, and not just at Christmas. So what additional help is available locally for start-ups and businesses like ours that are looking to develop?”

FEEDBACK

Liz Sands, director at BRAVE Enterprise

“There are a growing number of websites providing free advice to both start-ups and more established businesses. As well as our www.brave.startupdonut.co.uk resource centre, there’s also StartUp Britain, Shell liveWIRE and Enterprise Nation.

In addition, local enterprise agencies like BRAVE advise people starting or managing their own small business. They run inexpensive training workshops to equip fledgling businesses with the skills they need to grow. Courses cover everything from sales and marketing to bookkeeping and management training.

Many start-up business owners benefit greatly from the advice of experienced business mentors, who are usually successful entrepreneurs who are prepared to share their knowledge. Some business mentors charge, however, while others are paid by business support organisations. Find out what support is available locally.

Start-ups that struggle to secure the growth finance they need could try contacting SWIG Finance, a not-for-profit organisation that offers loan finance to small and medium-sized enterprises across the region.

You could also consider joining a trade organisation, local chamber of commerce or membership organisation such as the Federation of Small Businesses.

Lastly, get out there and network. Speaking to other businesspeople enables you to share ideas and experiences – and maybe pick up some business in the process.”

Phil Smith, managing director at Business West

“Independent, family-run bricks and mortar stores are the lifeblood of our high streets, and they offer a customer experience that is unrivalled by online retailers. Your value proposition is clearly a winning formula. But with more and more retail transactions online, independent businesses need to expand and refine their e-commerce presence to increase their sales. We’ve got an Innovation Team that has a remit and resources to help established companies introduce new ways of working or new products to market, and our Start up & Growth Team can help new starts with most areas of business expansion. Look at our website to see which of our services suits your needs and get your sales pipeline fit and in shape for 2017.

Another thing you might want to consider is selling your products abroad. Christmas comes but once a year, and it is one of few occasions when us Brits spend, spend, spend. Globally, however, it is a different story.

Gift giving celebrations and national holidays are scattered generously throughout the French, German, Australian and Chinese calendars, so my advice is to treat everyday like Christmas and market your business abroad.

We run free workshops for on how to expand your e-commerce sales internationally. We’ll also help you with all the paperwork involved with exporting.”

Read more: Portal lists free business support