Celebrating 10 Years in Business – Meet the owners of Cadbury Cars
Sometimes it’s nice to see behind the scenes of a business – so we thought you might like to know a little about the owners of Cadbury Cars, Katie and her husband Mark.
Katie and Mark are passionate about their business and pride themselves on delivering excellent high standards to all their customers. We’ve even managed to find a photograph of them on their wedding day which we thought that you might like to see!
We asked Katie a few questions about running the business….
How long have you had the business?
Since 1 September 2008
Have you always had your own business?
No – we were always been employed until we bought this business
Why did you decide to become a business owner?
The previous owner asked us to become partners within his existing business. He then decided that was not what he wanted so we took the business on ourselves.
How many drivers do you currently have?
2 of us are employed and we currently sub-contract to a team of self-employed drivers whom we know and trust.
What services to you offer?
A whole range of executive chauffeur services for Managing Directors, CEO’s, Financial Directors and Celebrities. Our cars are used for film and TV work. We offer private school transfers (for children off to boarding school) and of course weddings, sporting events and airport trips.
What is the funniest job you have had to do?
We were outriders for a Black & White Hospitality charity bike ride from Amsterdam to Bristol, driving through 4 countries in 4 days – in the client’s sports car.
To what do you attribute your success?
We are 100% professional. We care about our clients and put their needs and comfort first. We take pride in each and every job we do whether it’s a trip to business journey Heathrow or a hen party to a local spa.
What do you look for in a driver?
Smart appearance, good communication skills and good timekeeping. Also an understanding of the client’s needs
What are your goals for Cadbury Cars?
To maintain our excellent customer service and grow the company efficiently and effectively
Do you work locally in the South West or nationally?
We work nationally although we say that the jobs need to start or end within the South West region
What are your responsibilities as an owner?
To ensure that all our drivers meet the client needs as we understand that without our clients there would be no business. To make sure that every journey is planned and that we maintain our high standards for reliability.
If you had one piece of advice to somebody who is just starting a business what would it be?
Do the research to understand who your ideal clients are and be clear about your pricing structure
What were your plans when you bought Cadbury Cars?
We took over from the previous owner and did not really have any plans in place at the time as it all happened very quickly
Tell us about some of the journeys you take…
On a daily basis, we go to Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands, Burgess Hill, Heathrow, Gatwick, London, Southampton as well as local airports such as Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter. We go to sporting events such as Silverstone, Cheltenham, Twickenham and Cardiff. We have done film work including for Sky TV.
What do you love most about the job you do?
Meeting different people every day including the celebrities.
Have you always lived in the South West?
I moved to WSM in 1985 having lived in Dorset previously and before than in Hertfordshire
Mark moved back to Nailsea in 2004 from Staffordshire. He grew up in Cornwall, Kent and Kenya.
What is it like being married to your business partner?
It has its challenges!
What do you like to do when you are not working?
Looking after the grandchildren. I enjoy doing needlework and Mark enjoys DIY