Kev Stephenson

Define what the business is. E.g's A contract climber runs a business which will make a basic wage plus profit however that 'business' is worth nothing without the climber. If you run a team or teams of lads, you personally are not out on the tools or could easily be replaced and you have a number of contracts with time left on them then you have a business which could be run by someone else and therefore it has a value. A lot of people on here will be somewhere between the 2 examples. Generally if you are the key player in the business and your personal reputation or ability is what gets you the customers then there is very little to sell as you are not being sold. I 'bought' a gardening business to run along side my tree business at the beginning of the year. I knew what they needed from me with regards to resource and financial input (yard, secure storage, vehicle, insurances, etc), the staff were to transfer with the business (apart from the owner who had taken a back seat for the last 12 months anyway due to ill health) and they had a number of decent rolling contracts covering 80% of their working week. I had seen the books covering the last few years and according to these it had made little to no profit (and taken little to no cash!!) so I bought the business for 50% of the new asset value (i.e. a £600 mower for £300 and so on for all machinery regardless of age). They now operate as a fairly self sufficient bolt on business, make a profit, give me a labour resource when needed with the tree team, I have more to offer my current customers and a number of new high end tree work customers. The stress is higher (staff!!!), I have had to go VAT registered but profits are up and I have a business with a worth. I go out with which ever team needs me or don't go out at all if I choose. I do less late night pricing as I can arrange it during the day since I am not climbing and can take time off without making no money at all. For me it works but I have always been better at business than climbing.

I used to make paraquat, diquat and the emetic for a living. The emetic works, trust me. People working on that part of the factory only went for dinner once without washing their hands.

so the stones tighten up when used and don't unscrew

Citroen Relay?? I looked at the mercs, transits and ultimately bought a relay. Just seemed a better drive and front wheel drive so a low load bed.

3 of us were back in the show at 9 to get breakfast, the other 2 didn't move from their tents until 11. Set off back north just after lunch as its a 200 mile drive and one of the lads needed to be home for his kids. Sorry we didn't see you. 8th and 9th August for the Kendal do. Let me know if you want B&B info. There is one 2 miles away

I can see where they are coming from Paul but I can't believe you didn't have to pay them a decent sum for use of the fields already. For me I only decided to come for both days and camp as I thought we could have a decent wander around the trees to sober up on Saturday morning before the 200 mile drive home, there isn't enough to fill 2 days within the actual show ground. Paying for 5 adds yet another £20+ to the bill to attend the show. Next time it could be a drive down after work on the Friday for the camping and just one day in the show. Granted if I had joined the AA on the first day and not bought weekend tickets then the cash would have been there, for one of us at least (or I could have not joined the AA!!). The shows are definitely more of a social than anything else now. The show deal is a thing of the past due to the cut throat nature of internet business and the cost to the suppliers to attend the shows. The food as with just about any show (country show, trade show, local agricultural show) is poor and expensive and nothing happens north of Birmingham meaning a decent fuel bill to attend. Don't get me wrong, I will be back, however probably not next year as the APF offers the same and a lot more on the demo circuit. Rough guess it costs a grand for the team to come for the weekend away with the missed earnings and wages paid before anything is purchased. Camping at the actual event would be a real bonus as we can all have a beer or 2 through the day instead of needing a designated driver. The Holford arms was good however they were not prepared for 300ish campers with basics such as operational toilet facilities. Please don't take offence at any of the above, I know organising a show isn't easy as I am involved with one of the local ones. Kev

Sean if you come camping there is no way you would stop at one or two!!!

Jon, What goes on tour stay on tour. I know nothing!!!!

38 to go, who will get post 10,000???

Mr Shires is on his third cup of cuprinol there, works wonders to keep his tan in just the right shade of dark oak!!!

I had to buy my breakfast as some cizzer swilling bloke and Magnum PI scoffed the extra sausages on the BBQ at supper time!! Bought a zigzag, hand ascender, AA membership, crabs, silky and spare blades, chains, files, chainsaw trousers, new harness first aid kits, more odds and sods and more beer than you could shake a stick at!! Damn good night at the camp site. Disappointed that after paying to get into the show you were expected to pay more to get into the arboretum.

Do the washing up and hoovering and Sonia might give you a tenner for the fund!!

Are you going to play out Paul, it's not 10 minutes from your doorstep?

Rob Rainford will be coming up from St Helens

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/climbers-talk/88624-north-west-rec-climb-kendal.html#post1310841 Have a look here for the next instalment. Can Pete keep his chap in his pants 2 events on the trot? Will we need aerial rescue again? Will Mendip Jon or Magnum PI venture north?

To be held 8/9th August at a private woodland 3 miles from Jn 36 of the M6 near Kendal Following on from the success of Pie Eater Pete's do at Clitheroe, this weekend this will be the next instalment. This is to be held in a totally private 13 acre woodland owned by my family. No monstrously big trees but plenty to have a go at including a massive spruce which can be topped out. In previous events we have had zip wires set up as well. Camping is no issue and completely free. I will set up a couple of big BBQ's for people to bring and cook their own snap on and there is plenty of under cover seating in the log cabin or shelter so even if it's raining we can drink and stay dry. Any of you southerners willing to venture North?? More details including the exact location nearer the date.

one word.......RUST Do a search on the web and you will see some horror stories of fairly young trucks

August 2017 is the date I need to sort pensions for my staff, hardly imminent.

You ask after very show Jon!! I bought the van vault at the last AA show and we were all sat around the fire together at the APF. I had all the venison on the BBQ

I didn't do the cider on the second day, I was driving but yes you are about right. It certainly was the running order for the APF. If you are lucky you get to sample the famous badger spit although I believe this is what lead to the nakedness.

A few words of reminiscence from the APF Cider BBQ Mr Plogs in real life (proper job!)!! Nakedness Mates and good laughs and some arb stuff for sale I think

Don't do it, at that money you are buying a whole heap of trouble, trust me, I bought one for just over £10k last year and they eat money like it's going out of fashion. Don't get me wrong, they pull hard and are nice to drive but they cost a fortune to keep running.

I'll be there Jon, bringing my 4 lads down as well. I assume you are bringing some of that filth you class a cider with you, if so can I pre order a gallon. Looking for the usual odds and sods, files, chains, crabs, shiny stuff and possibly a stihl 261 or the husky equivalent. How many are camping, I have booked my places and the bloke says 50-60 booked as of the start of this week

Don't hire my machine out but will occasionally go and chip other peoples brash. As an aside make sure you are properly insured to be able to hire gear out and that you have a comprehensive service record for the machine (PUWER) as if the machine causes damage to person or property it could be your insurance that is claimed on (e.g. tow hitch failure, blade failure). What would you do if Joe Bloggs hired your machine and it broke down on them during the day? You could list in your terms that you are not responsible for immediate replacement of the machine if it fails

start at 80% and come down from there. If you are wanting to hire it then you could always take less money now but agree that you get it back for a week later this year for free. I assume you have a figure you would not sell it for. There will be a figure between your minimum and his maximum, you just need to find it