Long Established Stone Masonry And Merchants | | Undisclosed Buckinghamshire | | Long Established Stone Masonry and Merchants Ref.ET023 Location Buckinghamshire Asking Price £500,000 | | BUSINESS FOR SALE ADVERT DETAILS ADVERT NUMBER : 42479
ADVERT IMPRESSIONS : 48,931 TIME(S) | | | | BUSINESS SECTOR: | Retail | | TRADE TYPE: | Bathroom & Kitchen Retailers | | SALE: | Agent Sale | LEASEHOLD: | £500000 | | | | | | | | | | Add this business advert to your: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | BUSINESS DETAILS: | Business profile:
This profitable and respected Stone Mason was established in 1990 by the vendor of the business. After spending his entire working life in the sector since an apprenticeship at the age of 15, the vendor decided to open the business in an affluent part of the South East and focus on the supply and fitting of high quality stone products, such as bespoke kitchen worktops, fireplaces, fittings for bathrooms and showers, and flooring.
With such a focus on top-end materials and workmanship, the business has built an enviable reputation, and won business on recommendation and referral. Not only does the business work with High-Net worth private individuals over a wide geographic area of the Home Counties to the west of London, but also receives orders from corporate clients and listed building owners such as churches.
The company has built-up strong relationships with other craftsman and trades such as roofing suppliers, and receives regular orders based on plans submitted by Interior Designers and Architects who appreciate the quality of work and material supplied.
The business is a member of the Federation of Small Businesses, and the Guild of Master Craftsman. The company is completely independent and able to source material from a number of international suppliers, in Italy, China and India, who appreciate the approach and prompt payment that the company employs.
Equipment:
Over the past 20 years, the vendor has built the business up with some of the best machinery in the industry. All machinery is modern, and well maintained, allowing for the safe and efficient processing of raw materials to finished product.
The equipment list includes, but is not limited to;
“Andrew Grice” Block Saw
“Hyster” Fork-lift truck
“Abus” External Pole Crane
“Abus” Internal Beam Crane
“Comandulli” Polisher
“Thibaut” Drilling / Routing machine
The office has a central server, with a number of desktop PC’s. Client records are computerises as are company accounts. There is also technical drawing facilities for completing drawings and reviewing specifications on-site.
Customer Service:
The vendor and employees of the business pride themselves on their craftsmanship, and the quality of work. There is a focus on customer satisfaction from the first enquiry, through manufacture to fitting. Once the specifications and technical drawings are complete, these follow the work piece through-out the process.
The company provide fast turnaround on all orders, and have the facilities to use a wide range of material, and complete intricate and bespoke work.
Key Strengths:
From the current owners point of view, the business is now easy to operate. All processes are streamlined, staff are well trained, passionate about quality, and loyal to the firm.
The business is located in the hear of the Western Home-Counties, as such there is a huge amount of affluent and aspiring residents within a 30 mile radius that the company can serve, whilst also able to supply and fit to corporate clients in central and outer London.
The business has excellent supplier relationships, which are flexible and independent and means that the company receives the highest quality material in the most efficient time possible. The length of trading, and quality of workmanship results in not only a high level of referral and repeat business, but also a constant stream of orders on the recommendation of design and architecture professionals.
Growth and Expansion Opportunities:
The business currently offers a wide range of products. There is a real potential to focus on each of these in turn, and start an automated output of kitchen worktops for example. The business has grown organically through recommendation and referral. By utilising some of their testimonials, the business could easily market further a field, and win orders from corporate clients and public sector bodies and land owners nationally.
Premises:
The premises are on leasehold, with 9 years remaining on a 10 year lease. The terms are exceptional, with annual rent of circa £12,000, and business rates of circa £6,700
The showroom occupies around 500 sq ft., with multiple flooring, worktops and fireplaces on show. At the rear, is a large office of around 400 sq ft., with ample room for 5 to work comfortably, and a technical drawing area.
There is a large drive / courtyard with parking and outside storage. To the side is the Steel factory-unit which houses all processing machinery and occupies around 290 square meters.
Business Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm with on-site overtime
Advertising and Marketing:
In the early years of operation the business advertised regularly in the Yellow Pages, but recently there has been limited return on investment. The majority of marketing is through word of mouth recommendation. There is a well designed company website, listing all the services and materials. Whilst there is relatively high natural search rankings for a number of keywords, there is a n opportunity to further develop on-line advertising.
Financial profile:
The business is being offered for sale on a going concern basis, all financial discussions will take place directly between the vendor and all interested parties under the auspices of Turner Butler.
Turnover for 2009 is circa £455,000, with the previous years’ trading around the £500,000 mark. Gross Profit for 2009 is circa £203,000, with £287,000 for 2008. The Net Assets, including fixtures, fittings and machinery is valued at around £200,000.
Employees:
The vendor of the business is currently the Managing Director, with overall operational responsibility. He looks after orders, manages the office, and undertakes regular site visits. In support is a full-time Factory Manager and 3 full-time Stone Masons. The staff are all very well qualified, and long serving, and managing work from order to fitting.
The business has previously employed an office manager, which is a position that will be required to be filled.
Support and Training:
The vendor is agreeable to a negotiated period of training and handover for the successful transition of operations to new ownership.
Reason for Sale:
The vendor is looking to enjoy semi-retirement and a greater work-life balance. As such, he is open to discussing a longer term consultancy agreement, should that be of interest to new owners. | | | | | | FOR SALE | | | | | REFERENCE: | ET023 / RightBiz | | | | | | Request more information about this business.. | | ENQUIRIES: | | | | CONTACT SELLER TO GET THE SELLERS DIRECT CONTACT DETAILS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS ONLY | | | | | | | | | | | |
