 |
|
|
|
|
|
Case testimonials
Bastable Upholstery Llandudno Limited
 |
When you’re running a business, working with people you like and respect makes life much easier. That applies as much to professional advisers as to immediate colleagues. |
Martin Bastable, who has run Bastable Upholstery Llandudno Limited in Colwyn Bay since 2005, is no exception to that rule. He decided very quickly that Gareth Hughes was someone he could work with successfully – “within the first 30 seconds of meeting him”, he says – and several years later, that first impression has been proved right. Martin says: “He’s effortlessly professional. I couldn’t recommend him highly enough.”
That first meeting came about more or less by chance. Martin, an upholsterer for almost three decades, had originally run another upholstery business in Prestatyn with a business partner for ten years but when the partner wanted to start buying and selling new furniture, Martin wasn’t comfortable with that type of diversification and decided to strike out on his own.
He also needed to find an accountant for his new venture as his business partner wanted to continue with their previous accountant and Martin felt it was best to have a clean break. The move also gave him the chance to find an accountant that was conveniently located for Colwyn Bay.
Martin said: “I was in Conwy and there was Gareth Hughes & Co’s offices. I arranged a meeting and knew at once that we could work together. Gareth talked the same language as me, he was straightforward and there were no airs and graces.”
Now Gareth deals with Bastable Upholstery Llandudno Limited’s end of year accounts and Martin’s business and personal tax matters as well as providing expert advice on any other issues as they arise. Martin says: “What I particularly like is that if he doesn’t know the answer straightaway, he’ll say ‘Let me find out’ and he does just that.
“I also like the fact that he thinks about what’s best for me. He listens to what you want and comes up with the best package for you. There’s no jumping into anything either – it’s properly researched and discussed first.”
As a member of the Association of Master Upholsterers, Bastable Upholstery Llandudno Limited focuses on the upper end of the upholstery market, including antique restoration and making furniture to commission. Key markets include commercial work for pubs and hotels although, as Martin says: “If it’s got fabric on it, we’ll do it.”
The firm, which employs five people, is also looking for new markets and is in the process of setting up its own website as well as making one-off items of furniture and selling them through eBay.
Running a business presents many different challenges but having Gareth Hughes & Co behind him gives Martin confidence as he moves the business forward. He says: “Gareth is very accessible - if you ring up and he’s not in the office, or he’s busy, he will be on the phone to you within half-an-hour. That’s important to me, because I am quite impatient and I don’t want to be waiting a couple of days for someone to come back to me.
“Gareth is very professional in his attitude – he knows what he’s talking about and can cope with anything I ask of him – and he’s a really nice chap, which goes a long way with me, because I want to work with people I’m comfortable with. In fact, he’s got everything just right.”
To find out more about how we can help you, or to arrange a free initial meeting, please contact us.
 |
Gareth Hughes & Co - North Wales Accountants |