John Cant, the founder of MaruMarket, Beverley, is delighted to learn that his Beverley home- delivery service which provides an online ordering facility for local independent shops and their customers, has been selected to participate in the semi-finals of the nationwide Pitch 2013 competition.
Pitch 2013 is a national competition for start-up businesses and despite MaruMarket’s continuing success it has been trading for only 6 months so fits ideally into this category.
From the hundreds of initial applicants the organisers of Pitch 2013 select only 50 to go forward to the National Final which will take place this year in Bristol on the 25th September.
These semi-finalists are the start-up companies regarded as having the brightest business prospects and will be competing for the reward of an investment of £275,000 to further their development. Each participant is required to ‘pitch’ their business to the organisers in an attempt to prove that it and they have most potential for success.
John says he is delighted at being selected for the semi-final, yet is somewhat overwhelmed and nervous at needing to pitch at such a high level.
When questioned as to why he thought MaruMarket had been selected he said:
“I think our innovative approach to helping the community in which we are based is the reason. Our online facility links local independent traders such as Fresh N Fruity, Marsons Butchers & TC Patisserie with their customers, a service which is beneficial to both.”
“Customers appreciate the convenience of home delivery from local shops, and tell me it saves them time and hassle. The traders say since they joined the scheme they have seen more customers visiting their shops as well as ordering on line. Our business is, I believe, unique and making The Pitch 2013 semi-final is a real confidence booster. It tells me I’m going about things in the right way.”
John went on to relate how the continuing development of previous businesses winning The Pitch have gone on to achieve rapid success. Cyclehoop, the winner in 2009, now has a turnover of over £1m and is expanding internationally.
“Even so, having reached this stage, I am not getting too carried away in thinking about winning. It’s one step at a time and I just need to concentrate on showcasing my business in the best possible light as well as at the same time continuing to run it efficiently.”
“Obviously I’ve developed business plans as to how I would use the £275,000 if I was lucky enough to win, but designing the pitch and presenting it will take me far out of my comfort zone. I’ll just have to practice very hard to be in with a chance.”
A social media award runs alongside the main prize and people can get involved by voting for their favourite business.
Visit http://www.thepitchuk.com/pitch-shortlist/marumarket to vote for MaruMarket.
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