Chris Bradshaw

Going Global!

When Chris first became a Make Your Mark Ambassador, he was living in the UK and coordinating manufacturing projects for The Urban Revolution Group in China.

Now living and working full time in the Southern part of mainland China (near Hong Kong and Macau), Chris and three other investors have set up a unique media platform for both foreign and Chinese companies doing business in the Pearl River Delta region. The region is home to over 70 million people and is a major manufacturing centre, often dubbed “the factory of the world”.

Chris says, “The first edition of our monthly business magazine titled ‘Delta Bridges’ is launching in the last week of October 2008, focusing strongly on business in the cities of the Pearl Delta Region. We also have a hugely successful online portal (http://www.deltabridges.com) to complement our monthly print publications. This means we can promote our business consultancy services for existing and potential investors in the region.”

Urban Revolution

Chris decided to tackle the high level of cigarette and chewing gum litter on our streets by designing the UR Bin. His company Urban Revolution has formed a strong partnership with The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, donating £1 to the charity for every bin sold.

What gave you the idea for Urban Revolution?

A man in a gyoza restaurant in Japan!

What were you doing at the time you had the idea?

Eating!

What was the first thing you did to try and make the idea happen?

I did some basic research on the internet and looked at how other countries had dealt with the problems that I was trying to address in the UK.

Who helped you, and how?

I visited Weston Spirit (a charity that helps out young people) after it was recommended to me by a contact I had at university. They provided me with the initial confidence to go for it, to produce a business plan and take the idea to the marketplace.

What obstacles did you encounter along the way?

During the design stage of my product I came across numerous barriers. Developing a unique product that was also functional and practical created many debates and graphical sketches!

The most challenging part was developing a secure and safe emptying and locking system. As the shape of the product is cylindrical this was very problematic.

Once I had the general shape and concept of the product on paper I then needed to find a high quality low cost manufacturer.

Through a networking event I was introduced to a metal manufacturer in China. I therefore had to overcome certain language barriers and cultural differences to take the product from its design stage to its manufacturing stage.

Over the past year I have visited my manufacturer in China on four separate occasions and have cemented a long lasting business relationship that I hope will continue to grow in the near future.

Since the product was launched in June 2006, manufacturing time, quality control and cash flow have all presented themselves as real challenges but at the moment I am managing to overcome them – bring on the orders!

When did the idea start looking viable?

You might have the worlds best idea for a particular product, but until you find someone to make it the idea will still remain just an idea.

I was fortuitously introduced to a Chinese metal manufacturer who told me they could make my design - that was when the idea started to look fully viable.

Future plans for the idea?

To continue to design and produce revolutionary products or services that will have a positive impact on our urban environment and to expand my trading links with the Far East and indeed the rest of the world!

How do you encourage enterprise in Liverpool/your company?

I like to show my employees how I would do something then I chuck them in the deep end and see how they cope! If he or she deals with the situation then they have encouraged the skills of enterprise within themselves. If they don’t survive then you can’t beat trying again!

Do you attend any networks if so which ones and have they helped you?

Any ones that are free I try to get to. They include BNI morning meetings (if you have a friend who is a member you get to go to two free sessions!), 08 business connect events or any Chamber of Commerce events (if they’re free of course!) I also go to a few networking evenings that Downtown Liverpool arrange.

Networking events are key and you never know who you may meet who could have a real impact on your business. I have made great contacts at such events and have formed great relationships with many new people. Make sure you take business cards!

Advice to anyone else who wants to make their idea happen?

Get on the internet, do a bit of research then make a brainstorm of things that need to be done.

I recommend that you then go and speak to Weston spirit and arrange a meeting with one of their business advisors. You can always contact me too! I’d be more than happy to point you in the right direction.