Trust, winner of the 2015 Stockport Business Awards ‘Business of the Year’ up to £1m turnover has been shortlisted in the same category this year.
Trust, a branding and digital agency founded by freelancers Carl Sadd and Stuart Bradley in 2012, won the award after demonstrating growth and increased profitability.
Stuart said that attending Hallidays’ Business AM programme has supported them with developing their vision and laying down the foundations for building and growing a successful business:
“As two freelancers in the creative world, we were somewhat out of our comfort zone when we decided to set up our own business.
“What has made the biggest difference to our business is being introduced to Hallidays through the Marketing Stockport network. They helped us to align our vision for the business and agree goals and targets to drive the business forward.”
Trust have won a number of new accounts in the past 12 months.
As well as delivering excellent branding and communications materials, they have recognised that pricing based on time was not the right way to grow their business. They needed to review their pricing model to one based on value and introduce ways of maximising their cash flow.
Carl said: “Like many young businesses, in the early days, cash flow was a real issue.
“Introducing a new pricing system has enabled us to maximise profits based on the value we provide. Offering retainer options and Direct Debit payments has improved our cash flow.
“By taking action after each Business AM growth event and using their Business One Page Plan (BOPP), we are continuing to grow in the direction that is right for us.”
On the introduction of their BOPP they beat their previous years’ turnover in just 8 months. And to ensure they keep growing, Trust have taken the next step in their strategy by hiring a new team member to focus on building healthy working relationships that will increase lead generation and business development.
Stuart added: “The benefit of objective business experts and the camaraderie of the Business AM events has encouraged us to take the right actions. Hallidays’ support and insight, combined with the BOPP has enabled us to grow, achieve our goals and result in Trust being shortlisted again for an amazing Stockport Business award.”