‘Starting your own company is never easy but starting your own manufacturing company is much harder and takes a lot longer. Before you see any income you obviously have to set up the basics of communication, banking, legal status, licenses, etc. When you want to make and sell a functioning product you have to design, prove the product actually works and have a product to photograph and demonstrate before you can make any sales.
In the case of Brinsea’s start-up in 1976, that meant sourcing metal fabricators for the framework of the Electroturn 80, the fibreglass insulated body and lid had to be hygienic, stable in variable temperatures and humidity. Where do you buy mercury thermometers and small fans in bulk at sensible prices?
Frank did all of the design work and validation of the products while I was ‘The Office.’ I was everything from company secretary, book keeper, sales office, dispatch and banking. I had to learn about Company regulations, VAT returns and all the rules relating to exporting. When necessary, I also used a soldering iron, metal working cutters and folders.
We knew we must have made it when the UK joined the EU. In order to collect EU export details from UK companies, it was calculated that if the top 10% or so of UK exporting companies by value provided data, that would provide 95% of the total export statistics – and Brinsea was in that list at the top!! (I’m not sure who the others were, presumably people like ICI and Rolls Royce). The problem was that this meant we had to provide quarterly data on each thermometer or whatever sent to each European country by each mode of transport. This was also part of my job and all before the use of computers!
Talking of computers, that conversion was also part of my job. All our distributors, suppliers and products had to be given a code and all their details entered – without fully understanding how the entire system would work. Later, as our staff increased, we added payroll to the system which made another of my jobs easier!
Our first employee was Tom Warren who came to us on a 6 week trial at age 17. He has been with us almost all of our 50 years and his knowledge about Brinsea’s products is encyclopaedic!
As anyone who has worked for us knows, incubation is a seasonal business and during the season everyone wants their incubator now! So at times, after a day in the office dealing with customers, orders and dispatch, I spent every evening assembling circuit boards for temperature controls so that Tim Briar, who worked in our production department, had them available next morning to incorporate into that day’s production.
There have been many changes over the years, both of the product range and the manufacturing methods and facilities. The first ten incubators were assembled in our living room at West Brinsea Farm, where we lived, before moving into converted barns, then on to premises in Banwell, Sandford, and finally Weston-Super-Mare. A significant milestone was the transition of the day-to-day running of the business to our son, Ian, who has taken the company from strength to strength.
The early days were difficult and hard work but with the help of all our customers, distributors and suppliers we survived and expanded. Of course, a major part of our success has been the staff that have worked for us over the years at all levels. The family hopes that you have all felt appreciated by us because it is, in large part, your hard work, loyalty and dedication which have enabled us to have an amazing reputation as a friendly, efficient and world leader in our field.
Thank you, everybody!’
Fiona Pearce
