BLOG – 35 YEARS AGO BLOG 3

Money is a must when starting a business as I found out very quickly. I bought a building which although was fitted with shelves and had a bench courtesy of the previous owners, “Wood Goods and Chattels” I needed more.

I needed glass, burner equipment such as regulators, flashback arrestors and hoses not forgetting an actual burner. Then there are hand tools and for annealing glassware, an annealing over. I had collected many items over the years so had a small collection of second-hand equipment. However, I had no annealing oven so that was a major expense. Even using an oven designed for ceramics it still was £1000. It was the largest I could use with a 13-amp plug.

Having equipment without fuel is like giving a bald person a comb! I needed a supply of Propane and Oxygen and really there was only one option. I had to open an account with BOC. Their agent at that time was Thurso Engineering at Millbank. I paid extra for delivery and choose the largest size cylinders available. I had been spoilt in my career as to not getting involved in costs but now running one’s own business there was no escape.

Insurance was expensive as the glass studio was situated in a flood area so for years, I was paying £500 a year. Not now though!

We spent a lot of money on advertising, about £2500 a year for the first few years!

I haven’t mentioned buying glass yet. I use tubing and rod of various diameters, but all have a constant length of 1500mm which means delivery is very tricky. Over the years my favoured glass supplier is based in Slovakia with an agent in the South of England so transport costs which matching the price of the glass. I would order a box of 9mm diameter rod for £100 and be charge the same for transport!

Customers expected their orders to be wrapped up and boxed so more expense. £10 a pack for paper with a hundred pounds at a time for boxes!