Reference no: EM13799714

Summarize this reading about Going It Alone as a Solo Proprietor in couple of proprietor

 

Sarah: I FEEL OLD. IT'S HORRIBLE. PEOPLE NEVER GUESS WHEN THEY TALK TO ME, SO, I'VE GOTTEN USED TO IT NOW. UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE HAD A ROUGH TIME. I'VE HAD TO LEARN THE HARD WAY AND SUCH.

 

(All cheer, applaud) HER ONLINE BUSINESS IS HEADING FOR A TURNOVER OF MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED GRAND. BUT LIFE ISN'T EASY FOR HER. SHE WORKS ALONE MOST OF THE TIME. I ENJOY IT, BUT I WANT SOMEONE ELSE HERE TO HELP ME. I GET LONELY ALL DAY. SOMETIMES EVEN THE WEATHER SEEMS TO BE AGAINST HER. THE WEATHER TODAY DETERRED PEOPLE A LITTLE. PEOPLE DON'T LIKE VENTURING OUT WHEN IT'S RAINING. BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, SUCCESS CAN BE SCARY. VISITORS SO FAR THIS WEEK: 2,886. WHICH ISN’T BAD GOING, AT ALL? SARAH'S NEVER BEEN THE ONLY ONE IN CHARGE BEFORE. CAN SHE REALLY COPE WITH RUNNING HER OWN FURNITURE BUSINESS? IT'S EARLY MORNING ON SARAH'S 19th BIRTHDAY. SHE'S WITH HER FAMILY AT THEIR HOME IN HARTFORDSHIRE BEFORE SHE HEADS OFF TO WORK. "BIRTHDAY WISHES FOR A SPECIAL SISTER." OOH! BRIGHT GREEN T-SHIRT.

 

(Comments indistinctly)

(Chuckles) WHOO-HOO! SARAH'S THE OLDER OF TWO SISTERS, AND THEY COULDN'T BE MORE DIFFERENT. Sarah's Mother: THEY ARE QUITE DIFFERENT. SARAH HAS ALWAYS BEEN MUCH MORE INTO TECHNOLOGY AND MATHS AND SCIENCES AND THAT SIDE OF IT, WHEREAS LAURA'S MORE-- LAURA PLAYS THE CLARINET, SHE'S MORE MUSICAL. 'CAUSE OF THE SUBJECTS SHE'S DONE, SHE TENDS TO HANG AROUND WITH MORE GROUPS OF BOYS. THEY'RE ALL BOYS.

 

(All laugh) THERE'S NO WOMEN.

 

Laura: SERIOUSLY? YEAH, REALLY.

 

( all laugh again ) I FIND FURNITURE QUITE BORING, BUT IF IT INTERESTS HER... (Chuckles) I CAN SEE THAT SARAH'S HAD A BIT OF A BUSINESS ACUMEN FROM VERY EARLY ON. SHE HAD A LAWN-MOWING BUSINESS WHEN SHE WAS, UH... HOW OLD WERE YOU? 13? BUT SARAH ONLY ENDED UP RUNNING A REAL BUSINESS AS A RESULT OF A TRAGIC EVENT.

 

Man: DID YOU SAY LAST YEAR WAS A BIT OF A LOW POINT? YEAH. JUST A LITTLE BIT. (Laughs) THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT. UNTIL LAST YEAR, SARAH WORKED AS A SATURDAY GIRL IN A LOCAL FURNITURE SHOP. SHE WORKED HER WAY UP UNTIL THERE WAS EVEN TALK OF MAKING HER A PARTNER IN THE BUSINESS. BUT OUT OF THE BLUE, HER BOSS DAVE DIED OF A HEART ATTACK. HE WAS A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY, YES. IT WAS HIS BUSINESS... UM, THAT SARAH WAS WORKING AT. AND, OF COURSE, THEN HE DIED JUST, WHAT--FIVE, SIX DAYS BEFORE YOUR BIRTHDAY LAST YEAR. MM-HMM, YEAH, SIX DAYS. SUDDENLY DIED IN THE SHOP, WHICH WAS TRAGIC. DAVE WAS A VERY-- HE WAS SUCH A NICE GUY. HE WAS ONE OF THOSE GUYS-- NOBODY DISLIKED HIM. HE WAS A VERY KINDLY PERSON. AND YOU STILL MISS HIM, YOU KNOW, THE KNOCK ON THE DOOR-- HE'D SPEND HOURS AT THE SHOP. IT WAS ALL HE WANTED TO DO. HE LOOKED UPON IT AS ANOTHER HOME, AND IT WAS FABULOUS, REALLY. SARAH WAS DEVASTATED BY DAVE'S DEATH. TO ADD TO HER TROUBLES, THE NEW OWNERS OF THE SHOP FIRED HER.

 

Sarah: SO, UNFORTUNATELY, I LOST, UM... I LOST OUT ON WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY GOOD. SARAH WAS FACED WITH A STARK CHOICE-- SHE COULD GO BACK TO SCHOOL OR SET UP HER OWN FURNITURE BUSINESS. YOU COULD SEE 'EM THINKING, "IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK OUT." IT'S SCARY. ( laughs ) IT WAS ALL SORT OF-- QUITE PIE-IN-THE-SKY FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS. AND I BELIEVED I COULD DO IT, BUT ALL THAT WAS NAGGING AWAY IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND IS THAT YOU CAN'T. AND I WON'T COME OUT WITH, UM, 4.0 LEVELS AS THEY WANT EVERYONE TO DO, BUT I HAVE GOT NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS AND OTHER QUALIFICATIONS-- I'VE GOT AN "A" LEVEL WITH BUSINESS AND MATHS AS WELL AND...

 

Man: SO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE GOT SOME QUALIFICATIONS? YEAH, I'VE GOT SOME QUALIFICATIONS. I DON'T THINK IT PARTICULARLY MAKES YOU SUCCESSFUL, THOUGH. YOU CAN GO AWAY TO UNIVERSITY WITH THEM, AND I KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WITH IT-- YOU KNOW, CLEVER PEOPLE. AND THEY CAN'T GET A JOB. SARAH'S SHOWROOM IS JUST A FIVE-MINUTE DRIVE AWAY FROM HOME. IT'S A BARN SHE'S RENTED FROM A LOCAL FARMER. THE QUESTION IS: CAN SHE MAKE IT WORK?

 

Sarah: ONCE I FOUND SOME PREMISES, IT BECAME EASIER FOR ME TO SAY, "ACTUALLY, THIS MIGHT BE VIABLE." HER PLAN IS TO SELL FURNITURE FROM A WEBSITE, RUNNING THE WHOLE OPERATION ON HER OWN. I'VE BEEN THERE DOING IT WITH PEOPLE BEFORE, BUT NEVER ON MY OWN. AND IT'S SORT OF A BIT STRANGE WHEN YOU'RE PUT IN A POSITION ON YOUR OWN. YOU'RE THINKING, "IS IT GOING TO WORK FOR ME?" AND YOU NEVER QUITE KNOW. THE BARN ON THE FARM IS HER OFFICE, STOREROOM, SHOWCASE, AND THE BASE FOR HER NATIONWIDE DELIVERIES. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF SARAH'S DECIDING TO GO IT ALONE, THE HIGH STREET BUSINESS THAT HAD FIRED HER WENT BUST. WITH SOME MONEY SHE MANAGED TO SAVE, SHE BOUGHT THE SHOP'S DELIVERY VAN. GOT MY VAN BACK, DIDN'T I?

Woman: YES. YOU GOT YOUR VAN BACK. YOU WEREN'T GOING TO GIVE UP. I BOUGHT IT WHEN I WAS AT THE OLD SHOP, AND IT NEVER GOT SIGNWRITTEN, AND WHEN IT WENT UNDER, IT HAD TO BE SOLD. SO I BOUGHT IT BACK OFF OF THEM. YEAH. ( both laugh ) JUST FOR A BIT OF SATISFACTION.

( starter sputtering ) SHE'S DRIVING AROUND IN A VAN THAT SHE PAID £500 FOR. AND IT LOOKS GREAT WITH ALL THE STICKERS ON IT.

 

( starter continues sputtering ) SHE COULD EASILY HAVE GONE TO A BANK AND SAID, "I NEED TO BORROW 25 GRAND FOR TRANSIT." AND SHE'D STILL BE PAYING THAT OFF. SARAH DIDN'T JUST PICK UP THE VAN. SHE TOOK ALL THE SHOP'S OLD CUSTOMERS, TOO.

 

Man: WOULD YOU SAY YOU'RE AN AMBITIOUS PERSON? YES. VERY MUCH SO. I'M NOT AFRAID TO GIVE ANYTHING A GO, SO...

 

(Lamb baas )

 

(laughs) THEY'RE QUITE SWEET. THEY'RE GROWING REALLY QUICKLY NOW.

 

Man: WHICH ONE ARE YOU, OUT OF THE TWO?

 

( lamb bleats ) I'M THE WHITE ONE.

 

( laughs )

 

Man: YOU DON'T CONSIDER YOU'VE PAID A HIGH PRICE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, YOUR TEENAGE YEARS BEING SPENT HERE AT WORK? NO...NO, I THINK I MATURED QUITE QUICKLY. I USED TO HAVE, LIKE, "THE TEENAGE FUN," BUT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, AND I'VE SORT OF GROWN OUT OF IT... NO. NOT FOR ME. ALTHOUGH IT'S SARAH'S BUSINESS, SHE CAN'T DO IT ALL ON HER OWN. HER FAMILY PITCH IN, ESPECIALLY DAD. THE FIRST CONTRACT SHE HAD, WHICH WAS FOR A CHAIR, SHE SAID, "DAD, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T GOT A CREDIT RATING, I NEED TO PAY FOR THESE UP FRONT." AND I LENT HER HER FIRST £1,000. I GOT THAT BACK, END OF STORY. ALL THE STOCK-- THE FURNITURE HERE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY THE SUPPLIERS WHICH HAVE GIVEN ME CREDIT ON THE FACT THAT THEY USED TO DEAL WITH ME ELSEWHERE, AND HAVE DONE FOR THREE OR FOUR YEARS. SO, THEY WERE QUITE HAPPY TO OFFER ME CREDIT, WHICH IS QUITE UNUSUAL IN FURNITURE. AND TRUSTED ME TO DO SO, AND I'VE OBVIOUSLY PAID THEM BACK. SHE'S LOOKED AFTER THEM, AND IN TURN, THEY LOOK AFTER HER. TO BE ABLE TO SET UP A BUSINESS AND GET IT TO THE STATE THAT IT IS NOW AND NOT OWE MONEY-- I THINK IT'S QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT IN ITSELF. SO, I'VE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE LAST JULY, NOW. SARAH'S COMPANY DOESN'T RELY ON PEOPLE DROPPING IN, LIKE THE HIGH STREET SHOP DID. CUSTOMERS COME TO HER ALREADY KNOWING WHAT THEY WANT AND LOOKING FOR A BETTER DEAL. WHAT SARAH SAVES BY NOT HAVING HIGH STREET PREMISES SHE HAS TO SPEND ON ADVERTISING. THIS IS A COMPANY CALLED SHOPPING.COM. THEY RUN, LIKE, DEALTIME COMPARISONS, AND YOU PAY PER CLICK. IT TELLS ME THAT YESTERDAY THEY SENT 60 PEOPLE TO MY WEBSITE FOR ME. BUT ONLINE, SHE KNOWS THAT CUSTOMERS WHO SEE HER ADS WILL ALREADY BE SEARCHING FOR HER PRODUCTS. I CAN LOG IN AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE, LET'S SAY, HAVE PUT ITEMS IN THE BASKET, HOW MANY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CHECKING OUT. 'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE TEND TO PUT IT IN THE BASKET AND GO AND CHECK WITH A PARTNER OR... SEE, EVERY MORNING I CAN COME ON AND CHECK HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ON THE WEBSITE SINCE I LAST LOGGED IN, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE PUT STUFF IN THE BASKET, AND WHERE THEY'VE ALL COME FROM. SO, I KNOW WHERE TO CONTINUE ADVERTISING EVERY DAY. VISITORS SO FAR THIS WEEK: 2,886. WHICH ISN'T BAD GOING, AT ALL. IF SHE HAD THIS MANY CUSTOMERS IN A SHOP, SHE'D NEVER BE ABLE TO COPE. BUT EVEN AS AN ONLINE BUSINESS, SARAH IS HAVING TO UPGRADE HER WEBSITE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE INTEREST. THIS IS ALL BESPOKE FROM ME. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, OBVIOUSLY, I'VE HAD QUITE A LOT OF INPUT ON THE DESIGN FOR. ALTHOUGH THE WEBSITE'S NEARLY READY, IT'S HAD ITS PROBLEMS. IT WAS A BIT OF A MAD RUSH TO GET IT ALL FINISHED IN TIME, 'CAUSE THE WEB DESIGNER WAS OFF ILL, AND WAS IN HOSPITAL FOR FOUR DAYS-- LITERALLY TWO DAYS BEFORE THE SITE WAS ABOUT TO GO LIVE. PLUS, THE AMOUNT OF WORK REQUIRED FOR IT, BECAUSE EACH PRODUCT-- YOU HAVE TO UPLOAD DIFFERENT COLORS, DIFFERENT OPTIONS-- IT'S ALL GOT TO BE DONE MANUALLY, ONE AT A TIME. AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT SEVEN OR EIGHT OPTIONS FOR EACH PRODUCT, AND THERE'S 300 PRODUCTS, IT TAKES QUITE A WHILE TO DO IT. TYPICALLY, SARAH LEARNED HOW TO UPDATE THE WEBSITE HERSELF. NOW SHE KNOWS HOW, IT GIVES HER THE EDGE. I NEED TO BE ABLE TO UPDATE IT TO BEAT COMPETITION. A LOT OF THE COMPETITION I HAVE COME FROM PEOPLE THAT USE WEB DESIGNERS AND WOULD ONLY UPDATE THE SITE ONCE A YEAR. SO, I'M GOING TO MAKE THE MOST OF HAVING CUSTOMERS IN-BETWEEN THOSE TIMES IF I CAN UPDATE IT MYSELF. BUT DOING EVERYTHING HERSELF IS TAKING IT OUT OF HER. I FEEL...THIS MORNING. ( laughs ) REALLY, REALLY PANTS BUT... GOT THE START OF A COLD-- YOU KNOW WHEN YOU GET THAT TINGLE IN THE BACK OF YOUR THROAT?

 

Woman: NOT GOOD. NO. I'LL GET BETTER ONCE THE...KICKS IN. I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

 

Man: AREN'T YOU WORRIED THAT IF YOU GOT ILL, YOUR WHOLE BUSINESS WOULD COLLAPSE? YEAH, WELL, THE BUSINESS COULD-- I MEAN, I COULD HAVE SOMEONE TAKE IT OVER, BUT IT COULD COLLAPSE QUITE-- YEAH, I SUPPOSE, QUITE EASILY. WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING, THOUGH, IS THAT IT'S HER COMPETITORS WHO ARE GOING DOWN. NO, I'VE GOT THREE OR FOUR COMPETITORS THAT HAVE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS IN THE LAST THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. AND I KNOW THERE'S ANOTHER ONE, LITERALLY A COUPLE OF MILES FROM HERE, THAT'S DUE TO GO UNDER PRETTY SOON. AND THAT'S QUITE A BIG-- QUITE A BIG NAME LOCALLY. BUT THIS POTENTIAL GROWTH IN NEW CUSTOMERS COULD PUT EVER GREATER STRAINS ON HER RESOURCES. ALTHOUGH HER DAD WILL HELP HER OUT NOW AND THEN, SARAH RUNS THE BUSINESS PRETTY MUCH COMPLETELY ON HER OWN. MOST OF HER DAY IS SPENT DOING E-MAIL AND ORGANIZING DELIVERIES. SHE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANYONE AROUND TO TALK TO. NORMALLY I END UP GOING AND HAVING CUPS OF TEA WITH THE OTHER UNITS THAT ARE AROUND HERE AND...ALL GET TOGETHER. BUT ON MY OWN, DURING THE DAY. OH, AND YOU SEE, IT'S NICE DOWN HERE, IN THE SUMMER, SO, IT'S, UH... DON'T GET A HUGE LOT OF PASSING TRADE DURING THE DAY, BUT, UM, PEOPLE-- IF PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO BUY THE STUFF I SELL, OBVIOUSLY THEY FIND ME. SO, A LOT OF IT'S PREDOMINANTLY MAIL-ORDER AT THE MOMENT. HOPEFULLY, ONCE I'M MORE WELL-KNOWN IN THE AREA, THEN I'LL GET A LOT MORE PEOPLE HERE. MAKING TEA IS ONE OF THE FEW CHANCES SARAH HAS TO MEET OTHER PEOPLE. SHE'S THE ONLY WOMAN IN A COMPLETELY MALE-DOMINATED WORKPLACE.

 

Sarah: THEY MAKE MY TEA FOR ME. YEAH, THEY GIVE ME A SHOUT WHEN IT'S READY, AND I BRING THE CAKES UP AND THEY MAKE THE TEA, WHICH IS QUITE NICE, BUT THEY DO HAVE QUITE... QUITE A TASTE FOR SOME NEWSPAPERS. THE FURNITURE SARAH'S CUSTOMERS ORDER IS DELIVERED TO THE BARN FROM SUPPLIERS IN EUROPE AND THE U.K. ALL RIGHT, WAIT FOR LLOYD TO COME BACK WITH THE TEA, AND THEN HE'LL HELP ME WITH THE TABLES.

 

Sarah: CAN YOU GIVE US A HAND MOVING THEM TABLES? WHEN? NOW.

 

( mutters ) COULD YOU?

 

( laughs ) SEE, THIS IS A FARM FULL OF MEN, WHICH IS QUITE HANDY... IF YOU EVER NEED A JOB DONE. SEE? AND YOU THOUGHT I HAD EASY WORK. GREAT. TEA, BISCUITS, CAKES. THANK YOU, DEAR. BUT BEING BASED OUT ON THE FARM DOESN'T EXACTLY ALLOW SARAH MUCH OF A SOCIAL LIFE.

 

Man: NOT HAVING A BOYFRIEND ISN'T A PROBLEM FOR YOU? NO, I CAN FIND OTHER THINGS TO BE CONCENTRATING ON. UNFORTUNATELY, NO ONE WANTS ME. SO, I'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT LONGER. SUPPOSE YOU DID HAVE A BOYFRIEND-- HOW WOULD YOU FIT HIM IN? YEAH, WELL... ( laughs ) I COULD FIND A WAY TO FIT HIM IN. IF I WANTED TO SEE HIM, THEN I SUPPOSE, YEAH. BUT ACTUALLY, THERE'S PRECIOUS LITTLE TIME. SHE SPENDS TWO NIGHTS A WEEK AT COLLEGE AFTER A FULL DAY'S WORK, LEARNING YET ANOTHER SKILL TO HELP HER BUSINESS. I JUST DO, UM, AN ACCOUNTING COURSE IN THE EVENINGS. THE ACCOUNTING OBVIOUSLY HELPS ME IN THE DAY-TO-DAY RUNNING OF THE COMPANY. ALL THE BOOKKEEPING AND THE RETURNS I HAVE TO DO, AND, OBVIOUSLY, I'VE LEARNED ALL THAT, AND I MIGHT AS WELL HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW FOR IT AS WELL, IF I GET THE CERTIFICATE. I'VE SKIPPED THE FIRST YEAR 'CAUSE OF WHAT I DO AT WORK, SO... BUT ADDING STUDIES ON TOP OF HER BUSINESS IS GETTING TO SARAH. THE STRAIN IS BEGINNING TO SHOW. I DO FIND IT HARDER AND HARDER TO GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING AT THE TIME I NEED TO. BEAR IN MIND THAT I DON'T NORMALLY GET IN BED TILL... ABOUT, HALF TWELVE, ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, BY THE TIME I'VE GOT HOME, HAD MY DINNER, AND ACTUALLY HAD A RELAX. IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT-- THE START OF THE WEEKEND FOR MOST PEOPLE, BUT JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE BUSIEST PART OF SARAH'S WORKING WEEK.

 

( phone rings ) 1st FOR FURNITURE. AS WELL AS DOING ALL THE OFFICE WORK, SARAH DELIVERS A LOT OF THE FURNITURE IN PERSON-- AFTER WORK ON A FRIDAY. THE CUSTOMER LIVES IN TUCKINGHAM, I BELIEVE. TONIGHT, DAD IS HELPING OUT. I HELP OUT WITH DELIVERIES WHEREVER I CAN, YES. IF I CAN FIND A ROAD I RECOGNIZE.

 

( laughs ) THEY'VE ALWAYS WORKED, AND I'VE ALWAYS HELPED THEM TO WORK TO GET MONEY. SO, THEY'VE NEVER HAD A FREE HANDOUT OR SUCH.

 

( laughs ) DON'T GET STUCK IN THERE, WILL YOU? SHE WORKS VERY HARD. YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS NOT TO WORK. THAT'S HOW IT FEELS DOING THIS ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON. I'M NOT GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE ELSE, SO...

 

Sarah: BIG OAK TABLE, GOT FIVE CHAIRS. AND THE BENCH, AS WELL, TO MATCH. IT'S THAT ONE, THERE. THE BLACK ONE. THIS WAS A WEB ORDER. UM, THIS IS MR. WORRELL. MICK WORRELL. GOOD MAP WORK. ( laughs ) I FOUND, ACTUALLY, FURNITURE THAT I WANTED AT A SHOP IN TUCKINGHAM, AND THEN I WENT LOOKING FOR IT CHEAPER ON THE INTERNET. IT WAS A BIT OF A CHALLENGE AND I WAS TRYING TO FIND IT A BIT CHEAPER.

 

( cell phone rings )

 

Sarah: 1st FOR FURNITURE. HARTFORDSHIRE. YEP, IT'S GUARANTEED THAT I WILL BEAT ANY PRICE, SO IF YOU DO FIND ANYTHING CHEAPER, DO LET ME KNOW.

 

Man: WELL, SHE HAD... SO I COULD PRICE MYSELF AGAINST SOMEONE ELSE'S PRICE, AND EVENTUALLY SARAH WON THROUGH. BYE. IT'S ANOTHER CALL ON THE WEBSITE. SORRY.

 

( hammering ) I'M A SURVEYOR FOR A LIVING, SO MY JOB IS TO TRY TO GET THINGS AS CHEAPLY AS POSSIBLE. WHEN I SPOKE TO SARAH-- I GET A FEEL FOR SOMEONE OVER THE PHONE, AND SARAH CAME ACROSS AS A GENUINE-TYPE PERSON. SO, A LITTLE BIT OF INTUITION, AS WELL, COMES INTO IT.

 

Sarah: HOPE YOU'LL BE USING THIS TONIGHT.

 

( laughs ) THAT LOOKS FANTASTIC. DOESN'T IT? YEAH. LOOKS GOOD.

 

Sarah: OKAY. THANK YOU. VERY MUCH INDEED. HOPE YOUR GIRLFRIEND LIKES IT. SHE CHOSE IT, SO SHE SHOULD LIKE IT. AHH. IT'S 7:00 A.M., SATURDAY MORNING. MOST PEOPLE ARE EITHER LYING IN OR IT'S A DAY FOR RETAIL THERAPY. NOT FOR SARAH. I DON'T REALLY DO SHOPPING BIG, ANYWAY. IF I NEED SOMETHING, I'LL GO OUT AND BUY IT, BUT I'M NOT ONE OF THESE FOR WALKING AROUND SHOPS, LOOKING AT STUFF. INSTEAD OF BUYING STUFF, SARAH'S STILL SELLING. ON SATURDAY MORNING, SHE RUNS A MARKET STALL IN HITCHEN WITH THE HELP OF HER DAD.

 

Sarah: GET UP NICE AND EARLY, COME DOWN HERE, DOWN TO THE MARKET, UNLOAD THE VAN, SET THE MARKET STALL UP. I'LL STAND WITH MY DAD FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS UNTIL--ABOUT A QUARTER TO 10:00. BUT BY MIDDAY, SHE'S RUSHED BACK TO THE BARN TO LOOK AFTER THE MAIN BUSINESS. I'LL COME BACK TO THE BARN TO DO THE FURNITURE FOR THE DAY. PROBABLY RING IN ABOUT LUNCH TIME JUST TO FIND OUT HOW THINGS GO AND SORT OF TIME I'VE GOT TO GO DOWN THERE TO PICK HIM UP. THE STALL KEEPS HER DAD ENTERTAINED AND ATTRACTS NEW CUSTOMERS FOR SARAH'S FURNITURE. DO YOU LIKE THIS CAT? THIS CAT'S BRILLIANT. SARAH HATES THIS CAT SO MUCH, THAT EVERY WEEK, IT'S ON THE STALL. NO ONE'S GOING TO BUY IT.

 

Sarah: EVERYONE THINKS WE'RE BROTHER AND SISTER. WE DO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER. HE'S NOT--I MEAN, HE IS A DAD TO ME, BUT HE DOESN'T ACT LIKE A DAD ALL THE TIME. IT'S QUITE NICE. I'M NOT GETTING PAID FOR THIS. THIS IS ALL FOR LOVE-- DO YOU REALIZE THAT?

 

( laughing ) SERIOUSLY, JUST... YOU DIDN'T THINK I GOT PAID FOR THIS, DID YOU? HA HA... HE'S ALWAYS HAD THAT SORT OF BUSINESS FOCUS, AND HE'S ALWAYS SUPPORTING THINGS, AND GOD KNOWS HOW MANY CARS HE'S HAD IN THE PAST, AND THIS SORT OF THING. I'VE ALWAYS WHEELED AND DEALED SOMETHING-- SWAPPED, BOUGHT, SOLD-- IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE. PROBABLY... TOOK OVER MANY YEARS AGO. WE'VE GOT ONE OF THEM, AND WE THOUGHT, "TARA WOULD LIKE THAT," SO THAT'S WHY I PUT IT THERE. OH, JUST FOR ME? JUST FOR YOU.

 

( Sarah speaks indistinctly ) AND LOOK AT THE PICTURES. THEY'RE QUITE NICE PICTURES, ACTUALLY. THEY'RE PRESS RELEASE ONES. IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT. AFTER A LONG DAY IN THE MARKET STALL, FINALLY, SARAH TAKES SOME TIME OFF. AND AS IT'S THE WEEK OF HER BIRTHDAY, SHE'S OUT WITH HER MATES TO CELEBRATE. WELL, THE OTHERS HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY DON'T LIKE INDIAN FOOD. SO THEY'RE NOT COMING.

 

( chattering ) Sarah's Dad: SARAH'S ALWAYS HAD A CLOSE, CLOSE KNIT BUNCH OF FRIENDS. THE GUYS SHE HANGS AROUND WITH NOW-- ALL REALLY NICE GUYS. LAURA'S FRIENDS-- TYPICAL SORT OF 16, 17-YEAR-OLD... SARAH, MORE STUDIOUS, AND PROBABLY MORE SORT OF MALE-TYPE FRIENDS THAN GIRL-TYPE FRIENDS. I'M GOOD, I'M GOOD. I'M A FULL-TIME STUDENT AND I WORK AT...CARE HOME. SO, I LOOK AFTER OLD PEOPLE.

 

Man: WHAT DO YOU STUDY? I STUDY CHEMISTRY, MATHS, AND BIOLOGY.

 

Man: YOUR DEGREE'S IN WHAT? MEDICINE. I WANT TO START MY OWN PRACTICE WHEN I GROW UP. I'M STUDYING CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY, AND MATHS. I'M HOPING TO ONE DAY DO AEROSPACE ENGINEERING AT UNIVERSITY, AND HOPEFULLY BECOME A PILOT AFTER THAT. SUNDAY MORNING, AND SARAH'S BACK AT WORK. SHE NEEDS CROWDS OF CUSTOMERS TO COME TO THE BARN, BUT TODAY, THE WEATHER HAS OTHER IDEAS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE WEATHER TODAY DETERS PEOPLE A LITTLE, 'CAUSE THEY'VE GOT TO COME OUT, AND-- AND A LOT OF THEM TEND TO GO TO INDOOR SHOPPING CENTERS AND THAT SORT OF THING. PEOPLE DON'T LIKE VENTURING OUT WHEN IT'S RAINING. BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. SHE ALWAYS SELLS MORE WHEN HER CUSTOMERS CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT THEY'RE BUYING. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME FROM QUITE FAR TO VIEW THE STUFF, 'CAUSE THEY'VE SEEN IT ON THE INTERNET OR THEY WANT SOME MORE INFORMATION. THEY'VE GOT A CATALOG AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT IN THE FLESH. BY MID-AFTERNOON, THERE HASN'T BEEN A SINGLE VISITOR. SARAH'S GETTING NERVOUS. THEN, THE WEATHER CLEARS. HELLO. Woman: HELLO. AT LAST--CUSTOMERS. YOU LOOKING FOR ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR? YEAH, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A TABLE. THE WOMEN ALWAYS MAKE THE DECISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THE FURNITURE AND I THINK THE BLOKES JUST WANT AN EASY LIFE. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS HERE? THEY WERE MADE TO MEASURE. A LOT OF WOMEN TEND TO TALK BETTER TO A FEMALE SALESPERSON, JUST BECAUSE THEY POINT OUT THINGS THAT, OBVIOUSLY, APPEAL TO WOMEN. AND SIX CHAIRS. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE SURPRISED? THESE PEOPLE HAD JUST BEEN TO ANOTHER LOCAL FURNITURE DEALER. THEY'D BEEN QUOTED FOR A DISPLAY CABINET, TABLE, CHAIRS, AND A SIDEBOARD-- NEARLY £6,000. I COULD SELL YOU IT FOR THAT PRICE, BUT THAT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT. AND THEN THEY BUY IT HERE, IT'S ABOUT 2/3-- JUST UNDER 2/3 OF THAT. SARAH'S SHREWD BUSINESS SENSE AND HARD GRAFT HAS EARNED HER COMPANY A TURNOVER OF NEARLY £120,000 IN LESS THAN A YEAR. HER SUCCESS IS SUCH THAT SHE'S NOW PLANNING TO BUY HER OWN HOUSE. BUT EVEN HERE, SHE'S THINKING ABOUT HOW THE HOUSE WILL HELP HER BUSINESS. ONCE I'VE GOT MYSELF A DEPOSIT AND I'VE GOT MYSELF A REALLY REGULAR INCOME I CAN RELY ON, THEN I CAN START LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT FITS THAT BUDGET, PROBABLY IN THE £90,000 TO ABOUT £120,000 RANGE. DEPENDS, OBVIOUSLY, ON HOW MUCH THE BANK WILL MORTGAGE FOR AND WHAT DEPOSIT I'VE GOT AT THAT POINT. I NEED TO GET MYSELF SORT OF FIXED UP ON THAT FRONT, SO I HAVE SOMETHING TO SECURE ANY LOANS ON. AT THE MOMENT, I DON'T THINK THE BANK WOULD BE TOO HAPPY ABOUT LENDING ME A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY GOT ANYTHING TANGIBLE TO FIX IT ON. NICE, SHINY FLOOR. YEAH. OKAY. THAT'S THE NEW SECTION. YOU CAN SEE THE WHOLE APARTMENT. OKAY. BATHROOM BEING THIS SIDE, IN A POP-THROUGH. YEAH, IT'S SHARP. YEAH. IT'S ALL FURNISHED VERY NICELY. I KNOW WHERE THEY'VE GOT HALF THE STUFF FROM.

 

( chuckling ) A BIT OF STORAGE SPACE-- YEAH. BEDROOM'S JUST THAT SIDE. THIS IS THE BEDROOM, YEAH? YEAH. OKAY. PRETTY BIG. YEAH. QUITE HANDY. OKAY. THIS PARTICULAR UNIT IS GOING FOR £148,500. £148,500. NO. IT'S A ROOM. ( laughs ) IT'S NICE, BUT... I COULD GET A LOT MORE FOR IT, COME ON. I'M STILL GOING TO KEEP LOOKING, YEAH. HAVING SEEN OFF MANY LOCAL COMPETITORS, SARAH HAS ACHIEVED A GREAT DEAL ALREADY, BUT SHE HAS HER SIGHTS SET ON MUCH BIGGER TARGETS. HER VISION IS SIMPLE: TO BE AT THE TOP. SOMETHING THAT'S GOT THE SAME SORT OF BRAND NAME AS IKEA AND M.F.I. PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT. I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT RECOGNITION ONE DAY. I WOULDN'T SELL THE SAME STUFF THEY DO, BUT I'D LIKE TO BE KNOWN FOR-- IN THE WAY THEY ARE FOR DOING WHAT I DO. IT IS HARD WORK, BUT I DO ENJOY IT. THEY ALL THINK I'M, YOU KNOW, A BIT TOO STRONG-WILLED. IT BORES ME RIGID, REALLY... ( laughs ) TO HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO AMBITION OR NO DRIVE. THAT'LL BE ME HAPPY, THEN-- THAT'S ME SORTED-- HOUSE AND BUSINESS. ONE DAY.