Relax in style with Stepclever

TWO men who had dreams of owning a furniture retail business are now helping their communities ‘relax in style’ following help from the Stepclever enterprise initiative.

Not even redundancy and new career paths cooled the burning ambition of Frank Dudek and Wilson ‘Sam’ Murphy and now they are putting their skills and Stepclever funding to good use.

Both Frank and Sam have 30 years combined experience in furniture retail and for the last five months have been selling quality, inexpensive three-piece suites, dining and bedroom furniture from their ‘Relax In Style’ showrooms on Walton Road in Walton.

Stepclever aims to generate an enterprise culture in areas of north Liverpool and south Sefton, by offering business advice and support, as well as grants and other financial assistance for existing enterprises and start up companies.

Both Frank and Sam were made redundant two years ago from Brunswick Furniture in Bedford Road and were forced to embark on new careers away from what they knew best.

But with the chance of funding from Stepclever, they both decided the time was right to take a chance on their own business together – and reaping the rewards.

Frank, 49, admits, for both he and Sam, 51, this is a crucial time: “This is make or break now and we are determined to make it happen. We want to earn our own money rather than money for other people and selling furniture is what we do best.

“We have had to put up a lot of our own money but it has also been important to us that we have had the support and backing from specialist agencies.”

Following initial advice from Liverpool Vision the enterprising pair were referred on to the Stepclever Enterprise Gateway project. Stepclever funding provided nearly £3,500 to assist their business with renovation work, security, and advertising.

Frank added: “Stepclever has been a great bonus to us in setting up our business. We’ve received advice on our business plan and budgeting and of course costs for starting up have been met, for the shop sign and shop equipment.

“And it is not a case of being set up and then set free, later in the year we will be getting IT support and accountancy at no extra cost. Their help has met our expectation and helped us get up and running. This programme is quite an asset to the area.”

Now they aim to build a business which provides competitively priced products ensuring customers return: “We offer quality but affordability and with a personal touch”, said Frank. “It’s the opposite of the cold sterile big chains.”

“And we can also order furniture that the public might find difficult to get elsewhere. It’s this flexibility and affordability that will hopefully prove successful, but we have the confidence to do it, partly because others have confidence in us.”

Stepclever is free to everyone who lives, or runs a business in the wards of Anfield, Everton, County, Kirkdale and Linacre and Derby wards in Sefton.

Mike Taylor, chairman of Stepclever, said: “Stepclever is about creating confidence in communities and individuals to foster can-do attitudes and for people to realise that their business ideas can be more than just dreams.

“Frank Dudek and Sam Murphy are two enterprising men with complementary skills and I am delighted that we have been able to work with them and give them assistance. We wish them great success and of course will continue to support their efforts.”

For further information on accessing Stepclever support and advice call 0800 030 4376 or email business@Stepclever.co.uk