Name: Gareth Walker

Trading Ward: City

Business Name: Lazer-Me 3D Imaging and Photos

Business Address:

Oastler Shopping Centre, Bradford

Website: Lazer-Me 3D Imaging and Photos

Email: Contact Lazer-Me 3D Imaging and Photos

Mobile: 07766 044110

Background of Business

After spending 32 years in the meat industry, Gareth Walker did not imagine doing anything else. Then, in August 2008, the meat company for which he had worked for two decades ceased trading. Facing redundancy for the first time, Gareth decided to become self-employed by turning his leisure time interest in laser engraving into a small business.

Support Journey

Gareth was already trading on line, offering a range of laser-engraved products. He was advised by JobcentrePlus about the Markets test trading project being run by Kickstart in partnership with Bradford Council's Markets Service. The project is managed by Bradford city centre based Millennium Renaissance Consultants, where Floyd Peltier, a Kickstart Business Counsellor, briefed him about the test trading opportunity. Gareth was also in a position to make a substantial capital investment in equipment, including an advanced sub-surface laser engraving machine and a camera which takes three-dimensional images.

Where are they now

Gareth began his three month test trading period in December 2008, occupying a Kickstart-branded stall in the Oastler shopping centre. He has the ability and the equipment to take virtually any image, such as a family photograph or corporate logo, from almost any format and engrave it inside a crystal cube, plinth or photo frame. The test trading project has given Gareth an opportunity to find out whether there is a market for his skills and products, without incurring high start up costs. During the test trading period he gained from subsidised stall rental charges, free power and marketing support. Once the three months are over he hopes the business will be growing well enough to support a move to larger stall within the centre or elsewhere in the city.

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