Man with a plan NEEDS a van!

Aim

I am pushing my business to be environmentally responsible. I am trying to raise the funds to buy a secondhand ALL electric delivery van.

Picture this... it was a cold dark night, 10 Downing Street was dark and gloomy amidst news of yet more #Brexit shenanigans. Countless reporters scrabbled for the perfect position to film the impending annoucement with the best backdrop. 

A struggling television producer was being screamed at by an impatient Egomaniac ... or "Correspondent" as they are known in the business. The rain had already soaked the Producer to the bone, lunch had never happened and it looked like dinner was out too as well as the good night kiss from his 3 year old daughter... "NOW!" screamed the irate correspondent and the ENTIRE camera crew flinched as she pointed at the weary, hungry Producer... so I said NO... and quit on the spot. 

I had been dreaming of a new career for a long time, and this was the push I needed. My dream? Becoming a baker. Crafting the daily bread, the croissants the pastries, the delicacies that made each day move forward without fighting egos or burning myself out for someone else's glory.

Within 2 weeks I had enrolled on the National Bakery School's Baking Business Management course based at LSBU. I hocked everything I had to pay for the course INCLUDING my beloved Superbike (yes, a Kawasaki ZX9R Ninja 1000CC Monster of a machine that I loved almost as much as my children) 

SAD FACE

and all my camera equipment (from my professional photography days).

EVEN SADDER FACE

I took Student Loans til I was blue in the face and it was all worth it... I graduated with a 2:1. I spent the next three years working professisonally in bakerys around London learning the real work, doing the REAL hours. 

Then, last year, Covid came to us all and I got furloughed. So once again, I leapt. I took the chance and started @ThoroughBreadBakery with the last of the money I had been budgetting. I ate HEAVILY into those savings and converted the garage of my little terraced home in Forest Hill, tiling it throughout, installing water, a professional fridge, a prover, a semi-pro oven and as big a mixer as the money coudl manage. I started baking.

A home delivery service producing a baking daily delivering to the doors of customers in SE23 and the surrounding area. In one year, I have gone from baking 2 loaves in my first week, to over 400 a week all from the tiny confines of my converted garage.  Its working and its exactly what I set out to do. But there is always a snag which is where your kindness comes in. 

Bread does not equal $$$ BREAD $$$ at least not in the first couple of years when you are still paying off huge debts with any profit you manage to scrape together.

The car I use for deliveries is on its last legs and to make matters worse its a diesel which will be illegal come October this year inside the South Circular. I have saved nearly £1500 from my first year (that's NET not gross) but that is NOT nearly enough even for a deposit on a new Electric van (starting at £18,000). I have however found a fantastic little second hand one for £11,000 PLUS VAT... 

Now the gov knocks the VAT off in a 20% grant scheme which helps so I need to find sufficient deposit to get a finance deal for the rest ... how much is that deposit... around £4,000.

So here I am, cap in hand asking for the help and generosity of good people like you.

In return I can offer love to anyone who has read this far, but there's MORE for those who can offer a hand financially:

For a £10 donation, you get a signed photograph of me baking at 3am and a hug.

For a £20 donation, you get to come visit the bakery and can have the tour of the bakery facility with a complimentary free croissant fresh from the oven (the ONLY way they really should be eaten. 

For a £50 donation I will make up a gift basket for you and your family for a sunny picnic, all you  need to do is add cold cuts and wine. 

For £100 or above, you are eligible for our Gold Package of loveand  a 10% discount card valid for a year on all orders from our growing delicious range of baked heaven.

Ooooohhhhhhhhhh... designer! 

Alright, lets cut the nonsense. I know I am not really in a strong position here and that crowdfunding an ordinary business is not always an easy task. Any donations are of course gratefully accepted no matter how big or small and would help keep a guy who is working hard doing a simple job, able to keep doing that job without going broke. Honestly. Thank you.

This project successfully funded on 12th April 2021