ameson2001
07-01-2003, 11:36 PM
Hi,
To put things as briefly as I can I’m a 21 year old Male who desperately wants to break away and work for myself. It’s a very very scary thought but I want to prove to myself that I can do it.
I left school in 97 and worked for a large German (Lansing Linde) forklift company. Here I did a Modern Apprenticeship and trained as an electrical engineer. Serviced starter motors, alternators. Repaired and overhauled forklift batteries and charging systems. Looked after a fleet of around 150 cars and vans making sure all communication and security systems were fitted and functioned correctly. I spent 5 years here, the company started to loose money rapidly and I got fed up feeling cramped with no future - not the one I vision for myself anyway.
From there I went and worked for Renault in Teesport. Here I fitted out the new Laguna range with alarm systems before they entered the dealership network. I really enjoyed this job but it was a temporary contract and alas came to an end.
I then worked for a 'one man band' guy who had a car security business. I was shocked at what I saw and without sounding big headed didn’t realise I have the skills I do posses. We fitted numerous alarm systems to varied makes of car. He claimed to customer’s etc to have a workshop but we actually fitted the alarms on his own house drive. It wasnt his fault, he had never been trained properly on even the simplist of things like how to connect wires securely etc. Considering the way he conducted his business he was still fairly secure financially. It was this experience that made me realise 'why can’t I do that but try better?'
Now I work on a flowline in a factory and am deeply unhappy. I was offered this work before Christmas and accepted it. Since then ive fallen into the routine and desperately want to break away.
I would like to run a business concentrating on car auto Electrics. Id try to steer clear of alarm systems as this is a dying market and there are a lot of people out there fitting them poorly for little money. Id rather concentrate on Starter Motor, Alternator and also get involved in GPS tracking systems aswell as Specialist in car entertainment e.g. TV's in the headrests, Playstations, DVD, CD, stereos etc. Also fit parking sensors, handsfree kits etc. Probably in the future get some training and move onto technical fault finding etc. The equipment and training for this is however very expensive.
The problems I have to put it bluntly are a lack of confidence and not really knowing where to start. Where can I obtain ‘trade’ suppliers and secret trade information? Where can I find suitable training for large projects I may encounter in the future? Do i start from home or get a workshop?
How can i obtain good market research?
What do I do now to get this whole thing off the ground? I have the 'on the tools' knowledge but don’t know how to put it into practice. Would it be wise to go and do a basic business studys course etc?
I want to run a professional straight specialist business and leave all the low end alarms etc to others. Sounds kinder nasty I know, but I hope you know what I mean.
Perhaps even scrap this whole idea and look for a good business doing something completley different. Who knows the opportunitys could be endless!
Anyhelp, advice, anything much appreciated.
Thankyou.
Ashley
To put things as briefly as I can I’m a 21 year old Male who desperately wants to break away and work for myself. It’s a very very scary thought but I want to prove to myself that I can do it.
I left school in 97 and worked for a large German (Lansing Linde) forklift company. Here I did a Modern Apprenticeship and trained as an electrical engineer. Serviced starter motors, alternators. Repaired and overhauled forklift batteries and charging systems. Looked after a fleet of around 150 cars and vans making sure all communication and security systems were fitted and functioned correctly. I spent 5 years here, the company started to loose money rapidly and I got fed up feeling cramped with no future - not the one I vision for myself anyway.
From there I went and worked for Renault in Teesport. Here I fitted out the new Laguna range with alarm systems before they entered the dealership network. I really enjoyed this job but it was a temporary contract and alas came to an end.
I then worked for a 'one man band' guy who had a car security business. I was shocked at what I saw and without sounding big headed didn’t realise I have the skills I do posses. We fitted numerous alarm systems to varied makes of car. He claimed to customer’s etc to have a workshop but we actually fitted the alarms on his own house drive. It wasnt his fault, he had never been trained properly on even the simplist of things like how to connect wires securely etc. Considering the way he conducted his business he was still fairly secure financially. It was this experience that made me realise 'why can’t I do that but try better?'
Now I work on a flowline in a factory and am deeply unhappy. I was offered this work before Christmas and accepted it. Since then ive fallen into the routine and desperately want to break away.
I would like to run a business concentrating on car auto Electrics. Id try to steer clear of alarm systems as this is a dying market and there are a lot of people out there fitting them poorly for little money. Id rather concentrate on Starter Motor, Alternator and also get involved in GPS tracking systems aswell as Specialist in car entertainment e.g. TV's in the headrests, Playstations, DVD, CD, stereos etc. Also fit parking sensors, handsfree kits etc. Probably in the future get some training and move onto technical fault finding etc. The equipment and training for this is however very expensive.
The problems I have to put it bluntly are a lack of confidence and not really knowing where to start. Where can I obtain ‘trade’ suppliers and secret trade information? Where can I find suitable training for large projects I may encounter in the future? Do i start from home or get a workshop?
How can i obtain good market research?
What do I do now to get this whole thing off the ground? I have the 'on the tools' knowledge but don’t know how to put it into practice. Would it be wise to go and do a basic business studys course etc?
I want to run a professional straight specialist business and leave all the low end alarms etc to others. Sounds kinder nasty I know, but I hope you know what I mean.
Perhaps even scrap this whole idea and look for a good business doing something completley different. Who knows the opportunitys could be endless!
Anyhelp, advice, anything much appreciated.
Thankyou.
Ashley