Another in the series of articles celebrating businesses founded during the current recession.
David Chick has a passion for business. He's been selling since he was 16 and kept working while he studied for a degree in economics in Aberdeen. In 2008, at the ripe old age of 22 he decided it was time to stop flogging advertising space and take what he calls a "leap of faith" into a gap in the market.
He started selling hot tubs and created the Galaxy Spas brand in 2009. He sells luxury hot tubs and spas, offering a nationwide service which already boasts a turnover of around £400k and he's optimistic of a 50% increase in the next 12 months. But it wasn't a cheap operation to set up, requiring an investment of £150k.
Why did he choose hot tubs and spas? "I thought it would be fun." He was also confident of his selling skills and he believed he had found the one thing entrepreneurs love: a space in the market that was waiting for someone to fill it.
Hot tubs don't come cheap and they take time to produce and deliver, meaning a lot of cash gets tied up very quickly. Cash flow is probably David's biggest single issue and he deals with it through careful management of his resources.
If there's one thing that David wishes he'd known before becoming self-employed it's how a new business can take up all your time and energy. Working seven days a week puts a real squeeze on his personal life and to add to his challenges he's launching another new business next month - Fantasy Garage Doors.
But he's not bothered, because he loves it. "Ultimately I am doing what I always wanted to do - run my own business - and I believe one day it will all be worth it."
Visit the Galaxy Spas website to discover more about the products that David supplies.
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