IT'S a long way from driving a battered VW Beetle and £300 in the bank to having a £4.5 million turnover.... but that was just one of the local success stories in the spotlight at a special business conference, led by Business Link Division of the new-style Chamber of Commerce in St Helens.

Individual character and integrity were spotlighted as key elements, plus investment in training and technology. This was demonstrated when three successful local companies each opened their business activities to scrutiny.

Besides chief executives, managing directors, directors and owner-managers, some of the region's leading business thinkers attended 'The Business Growth Conference' and put their views.

Keynote speaker was Professor Tom Cannon.

The three local companies considered by the conference were the P & R Group (manufacturers and distributors of chemicals to laboratories); Northern Connectors Ltd. (suppliers of electrical connection equipment); and Showerplan Interiors (contract suppliers of exclusive bathrooms).

Bob Russell, managing director of P & R said his company started in 1983 with an old Volkswagen Beetle and £300 but now has a £4.5 million turnover. He said their success had been built by focusing on the company's people through training, giving responsibility and encouraging a feeling of 'ownership.'

Keith Hewitt, managing director of Northern Connectors, said that in the 13 years of business his company had gone from famine to feast, mainly because they had focused their growth strategy on staff development and training. In 13 years only three members of staff had left the company. They have a franchise for electrical connectors and had become the number one in the UK and number three in Europe.

And Dave Worsley, owner of Showerplan Interiors, described how, after having built a £300,000 turnover, because some local authorities were costly and slow payers, he abandoned contract work for them. Then because the large DIY centres could always undercut his prices, he closed down for 12 weeks, re-designed his showrooms and re-opened with up-market, exclusive suites, each working in the showroom.

The business boomed and he developed excellent relations with local small contractors for installations, all of whom work to the company's customer care policy. Showerplan also exploited the niche opportunity of giving help and advice for people requiring disabled bathroom facilities. Proof of the good relations built with customers is the high amount of today's repeat business.

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