from sympathy to solution
DESCRIPTION
A presentation given to a group of manufacturers showing the changing strategy and resulting business improvement in a social enterprise which recycles carpets.TRANSCRIPT
From SympathyTo Solution
Ed FergusonSpruce Carpets Ltd
A Short History
• A Social Enterprise• Founded 2004 by Kate Chappell• Based in Govan, Glasgow• Outlets in Govan and Shawlands• Mission– Diverting carpets from landfill– Helping the socially excluded– Providing low cost flooring
Strengths•Unique•Known•People•Some profitable activity
Weaknesses•Grant Dependent*•Doing too many things•Inconsistent Supply*•Lack of process and systems
Opportunities•The carpet tile business!•Increased environmental awareness•Corporate Social Responsibility•Increased landfill prices
Threats•Funding cutbacks•Unprofitable activity•Insolvency•If not Spruce, someone else?
November, 2009
The Problem With Grants
• Businesses align themselves with grants, rather than the other way around!
• They discourage creative problem solving
• They are spent on consumables, not long term growth
• They’re like Chinese meals!
How do we become financially self-
sustaining without abandoning our core
social values?
Change #1 - Mission
• Mission– Divert from landfill
• Focus on commercial volume• Focus on carpet tiles
– Create jobs and training• Relevant to our customers• Investing in growth• Fit for purpose
– Provide low cost flooring solutions• For organisations and individuals• Third Sector• Small Public Sector
Change #2 – Core Activities
Retail Ebay Contract
Carpets
Rugs
Tiles
Contract Tiles - A Complete Service
•Third Sector•Small Public Sector•Domestic
•Outsource
•Certified disposal•Cost-effective•Grading•Cleaning
•Equipment•Training•Due Diligence•Take Back•Competitive
Uplift
Process
Sell
Fit
Change #3 - Mindset
“Don’t do business with us because
you feel sorry for us, do
business with us because we are the best solution!”
Growing In Confidence
QUADRANT
£250,000 turnover6 employees +15% last year
+20% this yearc.20 volunteers every week
400 ton capacity of carpet tiles80,000 sqm
Sustainable 6/10
Securing Our Future
+£1,000,000– Scalability– Replication– The Solution of Choice
Thank You
From Sympathy to SolutionEd Ferguson
Spruce Carpets Ltd