Krystena Petrakas: Tell us about The Avalon's Group new project, The House of Avalon...
Keith Wyatt: The House of Avalon was launched in May this year and provides a genuine vintage experience, from the high quality authentic couture, the opportunity for customers to have their hair styled and a vintage coffee shop and tea room showing period films.
We pride ourselves on giving training and supported employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the York area and volunteering opportunities too.
KP: So, what's your role within The Avalon Group?
KW: I have been employed by The Avalon Group since 1995, firstly as an inclusion and marketing director, then as an innovations hub director.
We pride ourselves on giving training and supported employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the York area and volunteering opportunities too
Three years ago we looked at moving away from reliance on local authority contracts and felt social enterprise was a way to move forward by providing employment opportunities for people with learning and/or other disabilities.
I knew there were very few opportunities provided by existing businesses, I noticed a gap in the market.
KP: Do you enjoy belonging to a social enterprise?
KW: Yes, I’ve always enjoyed initiating civic-minded projects and setting up new businesses, so social enterprise was the perfect vehicle for me and The Avalon Group.
It can sometimes be a difficult concept to get your head around, but I see it as any business that has a community benefit, either in providing employment and training or a product or service for that community.
KP: What type of training and support does The House of Avalon provide in the cafe and retail sector?
KW: We provide training for both trainees and volunteers in various aspects of work, for example, food hygiene, health and safety, money-handling, customer service and general work ethos. We also partner with Mencap and York’s Krumbs cafe.
KP: What were your working hours at the beginning and how did they calm down once the business became established?
KW: In the beginning I lost count. Our hours were as many as were needed – and not just by me but also by the team around me!
Working patterns took about six months to establish, which involved having the right balance of staff and volunteers at the right time with opening and closing routines.
KP: In reguards to setting up The House Of Avalon this year, what have you most enjoyed?
KW: The whole learning curve, from dealing with planning permission to shop fitting, from stock control to staging events, like a 1940’s night at Club LS1 in Leeds, and our vintage fashion show, which takes place on Tuesday 7th December at York Guildhall.
KP: What was the most frustrating thing about setting up the business?
KW: The fact that many things take far longer to achieve than often thought – especially issues such as planning and signage, legal issues around the lease, equipment supplies and contractors.
KP: What advice would you give to someone just starting out in business for the first time?
Do your homework! For example, ask yourself how do you know there is a need for what you want to do? Where will you get support, both financial and business support? Where will you operate from and why?
Don’t overestimate what you can achieve, be realistic about your own knowledge and resources and do not be afraid of seeking advice. It will always take longer to set something up than you think – trust me!
KP: How hard is it to get ahead in the social enterprise sector, would you say it is a very competitive sector?
All sectors are competitive in their own way. Certainly competition is growing as more organisations look to diversify because of the squeeze on local authority funding. However, providing you are being innovative, know the competition and have conviction, it’s a very accepting area of business.
KP: How did the business grow to the level it's at today?
KW: We have had extensive press and media coverage, generated by our own marketing manager and external agencies, which has definitely helped.
To date we have had coverage in local and national media like the Guardian, Daily Star, Mail on Sunday, The Press and Yorkshire Living magazine, as well as social media exposure on Twitter, Flickr and Facebook.
KP: Does the company follow a fixed plan for the future, for example a five-year or ten-year plan?
The Avalon Group follows a corporate business plan that our social enterprises feed into. We also complete detailed financial forecasting for two to three years, including cash flow and revenue forecasts. As is commonly said, if you fail to plan, you can plan to fail!
The House of Avalon shop manager, Andrea Simpson, who goes by her ‘vintage name’ Grace, also talks to BusinessWings.
KP: Why do you think The House of Avalon made it as a finalist in the 2010 Startup Awards?
Andrea Simpson: An important key to The House of Avalon’s magical nature comes from the people who work here and our vision of an inclusive future, as much as the authentic vintage gems within its walls. Our core values and business ethos make us a fabulous company for whom to work. The House of Avalon is truly original.
KP: What makes you a truly unique business?
AS: Suffice it to say, we feel passionately about giving people with different abilities great training and original work opportunities, often providing a wage in addition to a sense of purpose – this is where we really stand out from the crowd!
