Making Sales

Salesman Paul Thomas sold his first business aged 14. He met his business partner Henry in year 10 and, together, they now make millions. Want to know more? Read on...

Paul learned about sales when he began his first business, aged 12, washing cars. He went around to all the local companies and touted for business. In fact, he made his car washing company so successful, he sold the business to his own brother two years later for £1,000!

"Going to school and collage was a bit secondary to me as I have always just loved working. I got a job with a local marketing agency - glamorous things like stuffing brochures - and got promoted to team leader when I was 15. I was really interested in the feedback we got from different mailshots - you know, what worked and what didn't. That's when I started telemarketing. Who would have guessed it would lead to Market Makers?”

Paul met his business partner, Henry Braithwaite, in year 10. "We are really different characters - I'm always bouncing off the walls and he is the steady one - so we work really well as a team. I'm all ideas and he makes them happen. We trust each other 100%.”

They used money they had saved up from working to fund their business, "I reckon you approach your own money with a lot more respect. You know how hard it was to earn it, so you never throw it away,” Paul explained.

"We started a publishing business together at one point and it went badly wrong. We lost a lot of money. That was a BIG lesson but you have to just get up and go again.”

Four years ago Paul and Henry decided to put their marketing and sales skills to good use and started another business. The company now employs 75 people and turns over £3 million a year!

"Market Makers is not just about telemarketing. We have a whole load of support activities, including direct marketing using internet marketing, design, print and so on. Very few agencies do this and we soon attracted some really big names - like Microsoft, Barclays Bank and Portsmouth Football Club.”

To see what Paul and Henry do, visit www.marketmakers.co.uk

For more information contact us or call 0845 468 0880.

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