Seeing the Bigger Picture
Our business advisor, Barclay Thompson, is fantastic and has helped us to focus and to put ourselves in a strong strategic position and to see the bigger picture."
Esther Bircham, Director, Pulp Theatre Pressure Limited
Esther Bircham, Director, Pulp Theatre Pressure Limited
success stories
How Clear has helped real businesses
CULTURAL CO-OPERATION
A well-established charity in its 25th year and based in East London, which organises the multi-cultural arts festival Music Village, manages an artist network and provides training in arts, heritage and citizenship for schools.
Clear worked with Cultural Co-operation to produce a 5-Year Business Plan which provided the organisation with a development strategy and financial forecasts to enable it to successfully approach funding bodies for finance to expand its services.
The business plan has helped Cultural Co-operatio to raise an additional £853,000 in ACE & HLF funding for new projects.
See www.culturalco-operation.org
Design for print & web specialising in the Arts Sector
"I’ve always been very wary of business advice. I’d run our business for sixteen years and I’m pretty sceptical about quick-fix consultants; I suppose I subscribe to the ‘…those that can’t, teach’ doctrine. But in early 2007 we made the decision to expand our business and we shopped around for advisors who could help us achieve our ambitions.
"I’ve always been very wary of business advice. I’d run our business for sixteen years and I’m pretty sceptical about quick-fix consultants; I suppose I subscribe to the ‘…those that can’t, teach’ doctrine. But in early 2007 we made the decision to expand our business and we shopped around for advisors who could help us achieve our ambitions.
I met with a few consultants and it was obvious that Clear offered the service that we needed. Barclay Thompson, has a great mix of ‘proper’ theory-led business advice and practical ‘been-there’ knowledge. Most importantly he listened to what I was saying about our companies rather than trying to impose pre-formed judgements.
Clear put together a simple package of client and staff interviews, research and practical meetings with our Management team. Within a few weeks we’d worked together and created a solid plan, based on sound research and real feedback.
Clear worked with us through the whole process, listening, adapting and putting forward robust arguments where they were needed. It always felt like we were working with them and they were giving us what we needed, not just what we asked for.
Now we’re into stage two and we’re working through each stage of a practical implementation plan. Clear are always on hand, offering support and answering our questions.
We’re very much looking forward to a continuing relationship as we grow ever more successful, with their ongoing help and advice.”
Michael Smith, Cog Design Limited
www.cogdesign.com
Michael Smith, Cog Design Limited
www.cogdesign.com
Talented publishers of graphic novels get Channel 4 breakthrough
David Bircham and Daley Osiyemi are two highly talented artists who together with Esther Bricham make up the core team of Pulp Theatre.
The company creates graphic novels and is currently producing the ground breaking online comic strip, Alien Ink, for Chamnel 4. See www.pressurecomics.com
The company came to Clear 2 years ago to seek advice as to how to capitalise on the cult success of their graphic novel, Brody's Law.
In a recent article in the Croydon Advertiser (see NEWS PAGE) Esther said "our business advisor, Barclay Thompson, is fantastic and has helped us to focus and to put ourselves in a strong strategic position and to see the bigger picture."
David Bircham and Daley Osiyemi are two highly talented artists who together with Esther Bricham make up the core team of Pulp Theatre.
The company creates graphic novels and is currently producing the ground breaking online comic strip, Alien Ink, for Chamnel 4. See www.pressurecomics.com
The company came to Clear 2 years ago to seek advice as to how to capitalise on the cult success of their graphic novel, Brody's Law.
In a recent article in the Croydon Advertiser (see NEWS PAGE) Esther said "our business advisor, Barclay Thompson, is fantastic and has helped us to focus and to put ourselves in a strong strategic position and to see the bigger picture."
The company develops & sources products for major brands in the music and sports sectors
In director Mike Prior's own words: "My first meeting with Barclay Thomson changed my perception on running my own business in an instant. Although I had been ‘managing ’ my own business for over a year up to the point of our first meeting Barclay grounded me immediately and gave me a set of rules which I have followed to this day.
I thought I was doing well…..Barclay illustrated to me how I could do so much better. As a young business , at that time , I was naïve in many areas and therefore , naturally , anxious and concerned on many levels , however Barclay’s support, advice ,guidance and recommendations to business networks from day one has proven to be priceless to my business.
I have found in Barclay Thomson and Clear an irreplaceable source of knowledge for , and about ,my business and through that strength of knowledge my company continues to grow."
In director Mike Prior's own words: "My first meeting with Barclay Thomson changed my perception on running my own business in an instant. Although I had been ‘managing ’ my own business for over a year up to the point of our first meeting Barclay grounded me immediately and gave me a set of rules which I have followed to this day.
I thought I was doing well…..Barclay illustrated to me how I could do so much better. As a young business , at that time , I was naïve in many areas and therefore , naturally , anxious and concerned on many levels , however Barclay’s support, advice ,guidance and recommendations to business networks from day one has proven to be priceless to my business.
I have found in Barclay Thomson and Clear an irreplaceable source of knowledge for , and about ,my business and through that strength of knowledge my company continues to grow."
See: www.priorsourcing.com
A new store selling new, second hand and vintage rock music instruments and accessories along with a set-up and repair service.
Steven came to Clear for advice early in 2006 when he had the idea of leaving his job at Brighton’s Guitar, Amp & Keyboard Centre, to return to his native Tesside and open a music shop there.
Clear worked with Steven throughout 2006 and produced a detailed Business Plan and Marketing Plan, which not only provided him with a road map for developing the business but also helped him procure grants from the local council.
The marketing plan which included strategies for linking with the vibrant local music scene and effective PR based on Steven’s experiences in the successful ‘80’s band Dogs D’Amour (top ten hit ‘Satelite Kid’) has helped the shop get rapid local recognition.
The shop opened in November 2006 and is trading profitably. Expansion plans are underway for additional floors to be opened selling drum kits and online retailing will be added to the business in late 2007.
See: http://cart.sjguitars.co.uk
The marketing plan which included strategies for linking with the vibrant local music scene and effective PR based on Steven’s experiences in the successful ‘80’s band Dogs D’Amour (top ten hit ‘Satelite Kid’) has helped the shop get rapid local recognition.
The shop opened in November 2006 and is trading profitably. Expansion plans are underway for additional floors to be opened selling drum kits and online retailing will be added to the business in late 2007.
See: http://cart.sjguitars.co.uk
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