Once this need had been identified, next problem was where to start. Opening my own shop was an option, but economics of doing so were really not that attractive. Lighting is space hungry and overheads associated with running a shop can be phenomenal. The other drawback was that whilst one shop would satisfy a few people, it didn’t really address fundamental issue of providing a wide range of quality of lighting to as many people as possible as conveniently as possible. The answer lay on Internet and via a mail order system, where people would not be bound by geographical or time constraints.

As concept developed, I managed to enlist cooperation of a couple of lighting manufacturers. This was not easy, since there are few suppliers who are prepared to take time to listen to your idea, let alone help you when you are not able to offer them any tangible evidence that you can deliver in any way, shape or form. Having secured supply of products with David Hunt Lighting and Le Dauphin Lighting, I needed to find out how to set up a website and develop a mail order catalogue. I actually began by looking for an accountant, which is testimony to my optimism about business empire that I was planning to build over coming years! Within two meetings I had been introduced to a web designer and a marketing company, both of which were based locally. The brakes were off and before long I was immersed in a completely new world. After months of contemplation and planning, The Light Company (Direct) Ltd was formed and was rapidly taking shape. It was a further six months until all pieces of jigsaw came together and, on 19 January 2004, website was launched and mail order catalogues delivered.

As with many new business ventures, early days are most difficult and I am spending all of my time exploring ways in which I can make people aware of extensive range of contemporary and classical decorative lighting that is on offer. I have already decided to open a showroom that will double up as my office design studio and mail order room. Although compact, showroom will be far more suitable than lock up on an industrial estate that I am currently using. It is a leap of faith, but having come this far, it is one that I feel has to be taken.

It is certainly a long way from Accident and Emergency Department. I have swapped a career in NHS to become an entrepreneur, even though I do not believe that I have archetypical qualities of such. I am still nervous about taking risks and I still worry about what future may hold, but my course is set and there is no backtracking. Although completely unconnected, my years working in health sector have proved to be useful particularly in dealing with customers and suppliers. It seems that good communication, combined with ability to deal positively with people who are demanding across a whole spectrum of issues and events, are distinct attributes irrespective of your industry sector. In a perverse sort of way, this is aspect of business that turns me on and which fuels my enthusiasm to succeed.