• Who are you?

My name is John Kimble and I am director and co-founder of Kimble’s Chocolates.

• What does your business do?

We sell chocolates! We also have a large day time café.

• Where are you based?

At present we have three premises in Glasgow. Our main store is at the St Enoch Centre where we occupy a 3,500 square foot unit which includes a large café, and we retail chocolates in Princes Square and in the Buchanan Galleries. Being located in shopping centres means we have access to marketing, security and management support which is very important as we are essentially a small family business.

• How did you get started?

We opened a small chocolate shop in the St Enoch Centre which was a unit specifically built to encourage small businesses to be part of a large centre with a view to growing their business onto a larger premises, which is exactly what happened to us.

• What is your background

I studied Hotel and Catering Management at the Glasgow College of Food Technology, now the City of Glasgow College. I started my career in hospitality with House of Fraser, eventually becoming the Assistant Catering Controller. I then moved to the Edinburgh Woollen Mills as their UK Catering Controller with responsibility for 29 stores. From there I worked with Bradford’s the bakers before starting up on my own, or should I say with my wife.

• What is your top tip?

Always try to keep that fire in your belly and a determination to succeed despite what hurdles are put your way, and believe me there are plenty of them! It’s not easy to cope when things get tough, and it’s true that when “the going gets tough, the tough get going. My wife Joyce and my son Chris work alongside me and we are all there to support each other which is vital to our sanity.

• How long has your business been running?

We opened our first shop in December 2002.

• Has anyone helped you get started and how?

Yes. Our initial investment into the company was funded by our own savings. It was a very small shop so we didn’t need any more financial help at that point. The Royal Bank of Scotland was and still is our bank and they were there to help and guide us.

We also contacted Small Business Gateway which helped us set up a limited company and prepare a business plan. We also went to all their business start-up classes which gave us the confidence that we could really do this.

• What was your first deal?

• What was your biggest mistake/or what would you do differently?

A difficult one because I think Joyce and I wish we had started our own business long before 2002, but we had a young family, I had a good job and life was pretty settled.

• Who was/is your mentor/or inspiration?

My wife. She’s the brave one between us. People might think she’s the quiet one in our relationship but she’s the one with the determination. I would never have done this on my own.

• Where do you plan your business to be in five years time?

More shops, maybe. Our son is the future of the business so you had better ask him.

• Useful contacts:

Without a doubt, the Federation of Small Businesses who have been invaluable over the years, always at the end of the phone when we need help.

• Contact Details:

John Kimble

kimble@ilovekimbles.co.uk

0141 249 9955