The 73 Group
The 73 Group was a finance company, that I owed jointly with a guy named David Mann, who was an experienced provider of finance for cars, trucks and other vehicles and equipment.
- The company had been the idea of an accountant, I shared with David, named Graham Manning.
- David put in his expertise and I put in some of the money, I received from the sale of my share of the Artemis software.
- It operated mainly in the area around Ipswich in Suffolk.
- Many of the customers were owner/drivers, who ferried containers to and from the docks at Felixstowe, who had known David for some years.
- The company certainly gave a better return, than putting money on deposit.
- One of the things, I did was extensively model a book of loans for vehicles and this gave me an insight into the dynamics of money.
Sadly in the end, David became ill and we wound the company up.
It gave me an interesting insight into local finance and I believe, that local finance companies with good connections and the right systems and people can be profitable.
It also gave me a few good tales.
Coaches Are Good Business
A good top-of-the range coach is good business for operators, coach dealers and finance companies.
I remember spending one evening with David and a coach operator in a pub, when the operator had had a fabulous day stitching together coaches as Rail Replacement Buses for British Rail after a train derailment, between Ipswich and Colchester.
I learned a lot about operating coaches that night and it’s why I’m so keen on hydrogen-powered coaches, with their expected long range, quietness and smoothness.
Fairground Rides Are Good Business
Surprisingly, if you don’t mind being paid in fifty pence pieces on the Ipswich bypass at ten o’clock at night.
You Need A Good Collections Guy
Our’s was excellent.
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