East Midlands, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/25/2011 -- When glazier Kris Bell couldn't find anywhere to cut him an unusual piece of glass for a customer, little did he appreciate the chain of events he would set in motion.

He is now the proud owner of Skegness business Centaur Glass and Glazing, based in the town's old lifeboat station on Drummond Road.

Customer service

Centaur Glass opened for business in July 2010 and Kris is really pleased with how it's developing. 'We specialise in all types of traditional glass and glazing from sliding sash repairs to roofs and canopies, not forgetting the doors and windows in between!' he explains. 'Customer service is paramount and we offer a full 24/7/365 call out service for commercial and domestic premises and also caravans. We are very busy and there is a lot to do but I'm not complaining.'

Fresh Start

Centaur came into being when Kris's usual supplier was unable to cut him some glass, he went to another company but found they had closed down. 'On the way home I noticed the old Skegness Lifeboat station was available to let. The building's 40ft doors and its central location started me thinking about what a great place it would be for a glass merchants.'

Kris talked through his idea with his brother who encouraged him to go for it. 'With only one local competitor I realised there was an opportunity to be had and suddenly everything dropped into place. If the premises hadn't been so perfect, it probably wouldn't have happened.'

Turning ideas into reality

Kris started working as a glazier 30 years ago and went on to work on some very prestigious commercial contracts around the UK. When an injury forced him to take a career break he went to college and then University where he obtained a Business Degree before eventually coming back into glazing.

With ideas bubbling away, Kris contacted Business Link. 'I came across the organisation when I worked in London and so contacted the national helpline to find my local office.

'My Business Plan was written but I needed an impartial expert to look at it constructively. I was serious about this and was investing a lot of money and time so wanted to do it right.'

Skills development

Kris met with a locally based adviser who helped him to access a range of useful information. Through Business Link he has also attended workshops and courses relating to the financial side of business as he wanted to learn more about VAT, tax issues and bookkeeping.

'Taking time out can be difficult at the moment but I'm planning to undertake some training relating to Sales and Marketing as soon as I can.'

Kris loves his work, 'I aim to bring big city materials and facilities to a small coastal town. It's a very interesting job and every day is different. The hours are long and there's so much to do and organise. But it's great meeting people and getting feedback and support from the local community.'

Patience brings rewards

Kris admits that he finds it difficult to be patient sometimes. 'It's important to research the market, to pace yourself and not to rush ahead. I have invested a lot in the business and need to be absolutely sure that any new investment goes in to the right areas.

When he spoke to his Business Link adviser about borrowing several thousand pounds to purchase new machinery to manufacture double glazed units, they talked everything through thoroughly. 'As a result I decided not to borrow the money until things were more established,' adds Kris.

'As it turned out, this was the perfect decision as I have since purchased the exact same equipment second-hand at auction for next to nothing. It's all in working order and is here, ready to use as soon as I need it and I haven't borrowed a penny!'

Budding entrepreneurs from across Lincolnshire wanting to find out more about the support and advice FREELY available to help them turn their business idea into a reality, should attend The Fresh Start event being held at The Lawn, Lincoln - Saturday 5th March 2011 (9.00am - 4.00pm).

The FREE, 1 day, premier FRESH START events are being staged in Derby, Leicester, Lincolnshire, Northampton and Nottingham during February, until the first weekend of March are part of a new campaign to stimulate local enterprise and sustainable new business growth, to give local people access to the most comprehensive information and assistance they need in order to start their own business.

For more information, or to secure your FREE place, contact Business Link on 0845 058 6644, email: info@businesslinkem.co.uk or visit http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands/freshstart

Kris's Top Tips:

* Do your research and if you're confident that you're doing the right thing, go for it.

* There is help available from all sorts of sources - make the most of it.

* Be open-minded and listen to what people have to say. The best ideas can come from the strangest of sources and not always be immediately apparent.

* Use the internet. A website is the quickest and most effective way to get your business known.