Giving The Business A Good Shake Up!

By Author: unknownmem
Total Articles: 496
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About four and a half years ago, I took over the family Pet Food business. My grandfather started the business, and after his death my father carried on with it. It was always assumed that one day it would be handed over to me. After leaving College, I worked in the business, my father making sure I knew every aspect of it (including making the tea!)

After his sudden, untimely death I was thrown in at the deep end. My mother worried about me as she felt sure that fathers heart attack was brought on by stress.

After going through the accounts and balance sheets for the last seven years, I understood why my father was so stressed. The business was going downhill. On further investigation I discovered why. We had been unable to meet our orders, and eventually the clients went elsewhere. I should not have been surprised, as our machinery was always breaking down - especially our conveyor belts. We always seemed to have maintenance men all over the place. Sometimes it would take days before the machinery was up and running. When I used to mention to my father that we should think of updating it, he simply replied ...
... that what was good enough for his father, was good enough for him.

They say a new broom sweeps, and that is what I intended doing, as no way was I prepared to lose what my father and grandfather had built up. My first job was to get in touch with Engineering Company, and ask for their advice. They were excellent, and when they showed me how efficient their conveyor belts were, how they took health and safety very seriously, I knew I had to replace our old existing ones. They explained to me how their bucket elevators work, and I could see how I could save money and man-hours by having one installed. What fascinated me most were the vibrating sieves - the different kinds of materials they were used for, from bulky heavy materials, to fine powder materials.

We had always supplied pet bird feed, (as well as the conventional pet foods) but I realised that there was a growing market for wild bird food, so I soon had a vibrating sieve installed. In fact, more bazaar pets (which seem to becoming more popular) would need even more special foods, and I was ready for them!

It took a couple of years to win our old clients back, and soon the business was doing well again. Luckily I have not had to lose any workers, as demands for orders are growing steadily. In less then four years I have got the business back on its feet, and if current trends continue, and the business keeps growing, I may well have to look for new premises. It is all thanks to my decision to update all the equipment. I think my father would approve, and my mother said he would be proud of me. Now I have a successful business to pass on to my son (mind you - he is only six!)
Gough & Co Engineering Ltd offer Conveyor Systems, Bucket Conveyors, Vibrating Conveyors and Bucket Elevators.