Growth quest needs advice

Oct 26 2007 The Journal

BUSINESSES in the North-East are gearing up for a prosperous start to 2008 and are looking for new opportunities to grow.

Businessman Imtiaz Shah has more than 30 years’ experience in the soft furnishings industry and has built House of Curtains into the largest soft furnishing retailer in the North-East.

Mr Shah said: “Our new 10,000 square foot flagship store opened earlier this year following a multi-million-pound deal with funding from Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank. The bank moved quickly to ensure the deal completed on time, enabling me to move forward with the expansion of House of Curtains store in Blaydon.

“The new store has given us the extra room we needed to expand the business and enabled us to introduce new imported and exclusive ranges, in addition to basic home furnishings.

“Over the next 12 months, we will be extending our stores in Sunderland and Hartlepool, developing the House of Curtains brand in the North-East. Our new store has generated a lot of interest and I am looking forward to seeing the business continue to grow in 2008.”

Neil Williams, head of Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank’s Tyne and Wear Business Centre, said: “The North-East is a key business region for Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank and we are fully committed to contributing towards the continuing economic growth in the area.

“Having lived and worked in the North-East for over 20 years, I know that to achieve this it’s vital that we work with important influential local business organisations such as the Asian Business Forum in order to play an active role in supporting the local business community.”

Shabeer Choudry, managing partner of Choudry Associates, of Grainger Park, Newcastle, said: “Businesses are looking to the future and actively looking to grow.

“Over the last two years, we have worked closely with Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank’s Tyne & Wear Business Centre to help a wide range of local businesses to fulfil their potential. The opportunities are out there and finding the right deal for your business plays a key role in the development of any business.”

Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank’s Tyne & Wear Business Centre offers bespoke, professional help on finance, money transmission services and investment to help businesses expand and develop. The bank offers great value products and has a multi-award-winning business current account. This combines with a full relationship service to give the advice and support that can save businesses money.

Businesses looking to expand can face a number of hurdles, but the cost of business banking needn’t be one of them.

Entrepreneurs need to look at the deal they are getting from their current bank and seriously think about shopping around to ensure they have the best deal for their specific needs. Mr Williams said: “Our strategy of offering a highly competitive range of products has been a great success, with more and more businesses choosing Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank.

“Our bespoke packages are tailored to the needs of our customers and can save businesses money. The Asian community plays an important part in the local economy. However, not all businesses are getting value for money from their business banks.

“We encourage businesses to review their banking regularly and shop around for the best deals to maximise their businesses potential.”

Businesspeople who would like to learn more about benefiting from switching to Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank should contact the Tyne and Wear Business Centre on (0191) 206-4046.