BLOG – 35 YEARS AGO BLOG 10

One thing about looking back over the last thirty-five years is reading notes that my late wife Maureen wrote. As co-founder of Glass Creations she was meticulous in ”admin”. Every order was identified with a unique number cross referenced to the date required. It’s ironic that Maureen died on 3rd May 2005 and the entry in the diary was for a glass wedding cake!!!!!!!!!!!!! In one photo the writing in our accounts book changed style. This latter writing was by our accountant since by that stage Maureen was in no fit state to write. I still use the same method of recording sales and expenses, biro on paper. I know there are computer packages available allegedly to help with accounts, but I think I have earned the right over thirty-five years to do things my way.

In the first sixteen months we took over £22,000! Not bad, eh? Especially when one realises its just me making stuff to sell. How many paintings would an artist have to sell to reach that figure? There were a lot of expenses as records show. I delayed writing this blog in fear of exposing my ignorance in financial matters but thought I need to be true to myself. Many view businesses with inexperience and follow an emotional route to offer an opinion which is pointless. That’s how visitors to my Glass Studio saw me. I just wish I saw some of the money that I had “made.”

A couple of years after Glass Creations commenced trading, we reached a turnover which if we had continued would have meant we would be in the “VAT bracket.” I am aware there are advantages of achieving this “milestone,” but the extra paperwork involved seemed onerous for us, so our reaction was to slow down. This may seem counterproductive to acting as a thriving business, but boy did, I feel good. I was working as many hours as possible, sometimes finishing at 2 or 3am and then starting work at 6am. I thought I was working for myself and not the “Taxman”!