MEMBER NEWS MEMBER NEWS


By Russell Van Der Schouw, Director at VDS Solutions


The business doors close after 30 years with the last five years of struggling and battling to find the “why” and what for. Anyone who has closed a family


business will know the crazy feelings that roll around you as you do the final deed and close up. That feeling of shame that you weren’t able to save it and the good people you had to let go alongside the anxiety, stress and long nights hang on you. As you


you do. So then, the days of sliding your metaphorical gladiator helmet on and pulling up your shield to tackle the enemy (the client) are such a ludicrous thought now you really understand your “why”. VDS Solutions Ltd was formed


‘We’ve


contemplate the long hours looking for answers to the why it went south, you put one foot in front of another and hope the days will offer some sanctuary or calm and that you can shed the fear of it all. Time is an important factor and so


discovered our USP, it’s simple but so many businesses overlook it’


are your dearest friends and family that believe in you and love you. Time rolls past and you task yourself into a rebuild plan that includes a lot of reading for answers to the past and discussions with people and then, making excuses for your actions. The latter being the toxic past that has to be let go. Then small things happen to you that you can’t explain, kind gestures from friends and public, nice attitudes appear towards you that surprise you. This is the turning point, the time when you start to realise that you are important, and you do matter and, that you are a person of influence. This builds strength in your core and an odd thing starts to generate, you begin to forgive yourself. This is the growing time and the


greatest shine of your spirit to others. People see you are happy, humble and better, you pay so much more attention to others and detail, you work that extra mile because quite frankly, you want to. You start to smile a lot more and really help clients and friends, people see this and are attracted to you and what


over a conversation in bed with my wife at 2.45am, we were tired and frustrated. Then our son created our logo and joined the business. We set about building a new business from zero clients but a lot of knowledge and old contacts. I went back on the tools for a short while with our son which was a humbling


experience after 20


years and crucial for me to see the type of work


strain our previous tradesmen


were under. Our heads were buzzing with


passion and growth, for the right reasons. Our first year trading covered costs thankfully with local works. Our second years works has taken us across the UK and now we receive tender documents from both major and local clients. VDS Solutions Ltd core business is


in wall and floor tiling, but interest in us from valued clients has taken us into carpets and vinyls and shortly plumbing and carpentry. We’ve discovered our USP, it’s


simple but so many businesses overlook it - really accurate friendly communication. We grow every day and pledge: “this is why we do business”, “this is how we do business” and “this is what we do it for”. Growth is set to see 160% increase


for 2020 to 2021. We are in control, we have precise optics on all finances and extremely importantly, we are having fun growing and know “why”. The past is there to reflect, the


future is there to create, now go make a lifestyle.


Visit: www.vdssolutions.net Spring 2020 Chamber Profile 5


NEWS FOR & FROM MEMBERS OF DEVON & PLYMOUTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


Do we really need to be Gladiators in business?


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