Name of Business? - First Vehicle Finance
Who are you? - I'm David Hind, I own the First Vehicle Finance Franchise covering the Cheshire area
What sets you apart from the competition? - As a franchise organization, we can marry the advantages of dealing with a local trusted advisor with the scale & discounts that are available through a National organisation
How did the business come about? - After many years living and working across Europe as an IT Consultant, I decided that the time was right for a change of career
What are your main target markets? - Traditionally the business has been split 50/50 between Business & Personal customers
How long has your business been in existence? - I have run the franchise for about 18 months, the franchisor has been in the business for over 30 years
How many staff do you employ? - I'm currently working on my own
What job or achievement makes you most proud? - My background in IT has taught me to research, understand & propose novel solutions to a customers problems, I enjoy working with customers to recommend the vehicle that's right for them
Where do you see the business being in five years? - I'd like to be the first point of reference for anybody discussing a new car in the area
Why Warrington? - I originally grew up in Cumbria, I moved to the Wirral when I took up a position with Unilever, I met my wife on a night out in Chester
Tell us one interesting thing about the business that might surprise us? - The franchise owners Uncle wrote the book 'A year in provence' they still own property in the south of France
Tell us one interesting thing about you that people might not know? (ie, hobbies, amusing fact, etc) - I rented an apartment in Switzerland sight unseen, it turned out to be in an old people's home, I stayed for over two years
Fantasy dinner party – which six people alive or dead would you invite? - Pvt W J Hind 15th Batt DLI KIA 1st July 1916, John Chard VC, Capt. L 'titus' Oates, Rick Wakeman, Ronny James Dio & Fish