C o m m u n i t y
Getting Parcels Out of Area
I
t can be extremely difficult to get parcels out into theatre, especially if you are asking for items to be sent direct. Either the company doesn’t send to BFPO
addresses or those that do don’t have what you are aſter. We now have two further options open to us – both are the inspiration of those who know, first hand, the problems. Read on and see what you think…
Forces Store Jules Prentice’s father and grandfather both served in the RAF and she is herself married to a serviceman. Here Jules talks to Ann Dewar about how her idea for Forces Store came to fruition.
Tell me a bit about your business and the work you do: The Forces Store (TFS) is an online gift store specifically designed for deployed British service personnel and their families. We send cakes, food parcels, games and gifts to BFPO addresses across the world as well as gifts and flowers to the families back home in the UK.
Why did you decide to set up your own business?
I knew I wanted to continue to work, but when you have little children and are moving every two years it becomes difficult to keep a
career. Starting my own business seemed like a great compromise.
As a Service wife myself, I knew that there wasn’t anyone providing a service like ours. We were living in Germany and had friends deployed and could find companies selling products we liked but they didn’t deliver to BFPO or we could find companies that delivered to BFPO but didn’t really have exactly what we wanted. After chatting to lots of friends, and a bit more research, I decided to go for it.
Tell me about how you got started: I was lucky because I started my business with someone else. I know that together we were much more driven than perhaps we would have been on our own. Also, we both had different skills and between us were able to deal with the complexities of setting up your own business.
We got advice from the Bank, Business Link, our family and friends and anyone else who was offering. It was an exciting time and I learnt a lot.
We felt confident that we could make it work because we really understood our customer. My father and grandfather were both in the RAF, my husband is in the Army and so I spoke to everyone I could to make sure we got it right.
What has been the best bit so far? The best bit for me was seeing our new website go live. Originally we couldn’t afford very much and so we made the best of an off the shelf template. As an online store, our website is our shop window and it didn’t reflect who we were. Now, I feel very proud that we have grown into a professional well respected company with a website to match.
What has been the hardest bit so far? Without doubt, the hardest bit has been the financial impact on us as a family. Giving up one wage and then investing in a business has been tough at times although watching the business grow has made it all worthwhile.
Juggling four children and a business hasn’t been easy either, especially as I have had my youngest two since I started The Forces Store, but somehow I have just found the time.
What advice would you give anyone thinking of setting up their own business: My advice would be to write a realistic business plan. Nothing happens quickly and nothing happens without a lot of hard work. Prepare yourself for a tough couple of years and then enjoy it.
What would you recommend for our readers this Christmas? If you are looking for that special gift to send to Afghanistan this Christmas, we have a large selection of presents and food parcels designed specifically for British Forces families; there are care packages to send out to those on deployment, gifts to brighten up your quarter back home, military gifts and a whole host of Christmas ideas for family and friends. For something different there is a homemade iced sponge cake decorated with a personal message of your choice.
If you want to get in touch with Jules or see what she is doing, go to www.
theforcesstore.co.uk and have a look.
36 Winter 2009
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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