Small Business: Make or break for start ups in fight to survive

As a result of putting on the show, however, Piper got a job as a producer with a theatrical management company, and Carlile is currently performing in the hit West End musical The Producers.

They both hope to put on another show in the West End next year, but this time they will choose a different theatre and include some well-known actors in the cast.

Piper said: “We were obviously disappointed the show didn’t run longer, but we are pleased that we managed to put on a show that we were proud of and which gave us kudos as producers in the industry. Most of our investors have said that they would be willing to invest in our next project.”

MILLER’S CHEESE HOUSE

Six months ago Chris Miller’s company made cheese pâtés and dessert cheeses and wanted to find an investor who would put £150,000 into the fledging business to turn it into a national brand. He had already invested £50,000 in the venture, raised by remortgaging his house. Miller converted his garage in Newham, Gloucestershire, into a cheese room, where he made all the pâtés himself, filling each pot by hand and delivering them to local shops and farmers ’ markets.

He had just secured an order from Fortnum & Mason, the upmarket London food store, and hoped this might lead to greater things.

Now Despite being approached by 10 potential investors, Miller, 63, did not find anyone willing to invest in his company.

He has borrowed a further £10,000 from his family to keep the business going in the short term.

After feedback from Fortnum & Mason, where his cheeses did not sell well, he has redesigned the packaging for his products, calling his range of pâtés Origins and his dessert cheeses Cloud Nine. He now sells 300 pots a week and thinks the future lies in securing an order from a supermarket chain. This would enable him to secure a bank loan to invest in equipment.

He said: “Potential investors did not want to put money into the concept because they wanted to see the business developed further first.

“Fortnum & Mason said my labels looked as though they had been done on a computer, which they had. So I spent £1,500 getting new packaging designed and the response has been excellent.

“I am talking to Waitrose and Asda to persuade them to stock my products. The next six months are make or break. Unless I see real signs that the business has turned the corner, in the summer I will need to have a serious review.”

THE REYNOLDS GALLERY

Six months ago Lesley Reynolds and her husband, Paul, both 42, planned to give up their jobs as NHS health visitors to open an art gallery and coffee shop in the centre of Shrewsbury. They were on the verge of signing a lease on a period building and planned to fund the venture with £130,000 from the sale of a flat plus £10,000 of savings.

They hoped to recoup their £130,000 investment within 18 months and eventually open several galleries, possibly by franchising them.

Now The opening of the gallery has been put on hold while the landlord of the building carries out essential renovations and makes it accessible for the disabled.

The Reynolds thought about trying to find another site, but decided instead to wait for this one to be ready.

Lesley, who had already given up her job, has spent the past six months researching local competition to their gallery, and has spent £20,000 of their savings on living expenses and repairs to their own house. They now hope to open their gallery in May.

Lesley said: “It has been frustrating. At one point just before Christmas nothing seemed to be happening at all to renovate the building, and I even thought about abandoning the project. But I have been able to spend time finding artists and testing out recipes. I have also joined a local business support group and now feel even more that this is the right thing to do.”