Rapidly Growing Student Events Company For Sale

Business description

After seeing a gap in the market in 2007, this Student organised event company has experienced explosive growth over the past few years, and has gained a reputation for well received events amongst thousands of past present and new students’ year on year. By keeping the overall control of each event organised centrally by the founder of the business, the company has focused on maintaining excellent relations with local communities, authorities and venues resulting in the business being welcomed back year on year for events. This brand has enjoyed high levels of recommendation, and the reputation has been built on by a well thought-out marketing drive including the core website and impressive social networking presence which has developed a huge following and self fulfilling buzz in the target community.

The business stages organized evenings out, taking in a number of venues across a city centre locations by way of selling branded T-shirts to participants. The events are aimed at both new students at the beginning of the academic year, along with those who have attended in previous years and are assured of another fun and entertaining evening out with new friends in a safe and controlled party atmosphere. The T-shirt allows attendees to gain entry to venues and receive discounted drinks and services. By agreeing in advance with all the licensed venues, and simply selling T-shirts to the customers, the business has a simple business model which guarantees a positive cash-flow to each event with minimal overheads. The branded T-shirts themselves add to the hype not only of the event with up-to 900 attendees per evening, but also the on-going PR and buzz through-out the year to appeal to a next group of potential customers.

The business is relatively unique with only one other direct competitor in the marketplace. This competitive company has grown their business by applying a slightly different business model which entails differing pro’s and con’s in organisation, margins and on-going reputation. Although the business is relatively new, it has experienced the same exponential growth curve as successful on-line businesses. By following this direction alone new owners will receive excellent return on investment. However this business in particular is very well placed for expansion via a number of routes. The business is currently operated from a home office, and is fully re-locatable.

Equipment:

The business utilises an integrated website and back-office system on the ‘i-promoter’ platform. This handles all client records, company and event details and on-line payments. All on-line promotion such as facebook and Twitter accounts are handled in-house with other promotional material such as flyers, posters and t-shirt printing out-sourced.

Customer Service:

The business has been built on excellent levels of customer service. Each location where events are scheduled to take place have representatives on-site. Each representative has been recruited directly by the founder of the business, and he has passed on his focus on satisfaction and communication with all participants. When the scheduled events take place, there is a proportional number of stewards in attendance who are paid to maintain levels of safety and control in a fun and boisterous atmosphere so that all the participants can enjoy the evening in safety, and the business is welcomed back in following years.

Key Strengths:

The lack of competition and the number of cities already taken as key locations for past and future events has gained the business a stake hold in this rapidly growing sector. The brand itself is now very well known, and self generating in terms of publicity and buzz. The business enjoys a low overhead streamlined business model which can easily be relocated under new ownership. The team of representatives across the country are well placed to assist in training and handing over the work practices to new generations with minimal effort and investment in recruitment from the companies point of view. This business has a great footing from which to capitalise on the excellent growth potential.

Financial Information:

The business is being offered for sale on a going concern basis, all financial discussions will take place directly between the vendor and all interested parties under the auspices of Turner Butler.

The revenues for this business have been growing year on year, with the last financial accounts showing a Turnover of circa £80,000, with an Adjusted Net Profit circa £26,000.

Property information

Location:

The business is operated from a home based office and as such is fully re-locatable.

Business Operation

Expansion potential:

The business has a brand that is well placed for further revenue streams via additional merchandise to complement the core t-shirt. There is also an opportunity to derive great profits from selling sponsorship for events to key brands looking to appeal to the demographic of the key target audience. Sponsorship can be sold via a number of avenues including website, clothing and the aforementioned potential merchandise.

The vendor of the business also believes that there is also still great opportunities to stage events in smaller university towns and cities across the UK, along with developing events in towns for homecoming students. As well as the key organised multi-venue nights, the brand utilised by the business also lends itself to other events such as live music / D.J. nights at both student and large city based venues, and co-promotions with other event organisers.

Competition / Market:

It is with advertising and marketing that this young company really excels. By taken on-board the explosive growth in social media, which specifically appeals to the target market, the business has gained a well known name and presence with a relatively low expenditure. The following on facebook alone is over 14,000 and growing, with an overall contact base of around 40,000 individual contacts. The promotion is self fulfilling with an incredible level of ‘word of mouth’ recommendation supported by the local representatives across the country. The core website is well appointed, has search engine optimisation with pay per click advertising to remain at the top of search engine results.

Reasons for selling:

The young entrepreneur who founded this business, and built it to the current formidable market presence is looking to hand it over to someone who can take the operation to the next level. He is looking to experience new challenges.

Trading hours:

The business is relatively seasonal, with offices hours Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm during peak season. Events all take place during evening hours both during the week and at weekends.

Employees:

The business is operated by the Founder and Managing Director of the business who is responsible for all overall operations, business administration and day-to-day management. In support are a team of area representatives employed on a part-time casual basis, paid both via hourly rate during events and on a commission basis for the sale of t-shirts.

Years established:

2007

Other information

Support & training:

The vendor of the business is agreeable to a period of training and handover for the successful transition of the business to new ownership.

Relocatable:

This business can be relocated.