Uploaded by Mike Clare
After more than a decade selling other people's furniture, Mike Clare decided it was now or never - go into business for himself or be resigned to a life as a salesman.
It wasn't the best time to consider giving up his well paid job as an area manager working for a large chain of furniture stores. He had just turned 30, his wife was expecting their first child and they were about to up-sticks and move home. Starting a new business was just another complication neither of them really needed.
"I'd had lots of small micro businesses run from home, silly things that I just thought were a good invention and no one else was doing. I didn't have a business plan or anyone behind me,” he reveals.
"But when I was 30 it was now or never. Sofa beds were coming into vogue so, in 1985, I took the plunge."
It was a decision he would never regret. From those humble beginnings, Mike grew his business until it was an empire – of over 200 stores, more than £200m in turnover and more than 7,000 deliveries a week. By anyone’s standards it was an enormous success.
Then he walked away. At the height of his powers Mike decided he'd had enough and stood down.
After a year out, he's back - and how. The batteries recharged, he has thrown himself into new interests and business opportunities.
He is mentoring other entrepreneurs – and part of that is sharing his story with the Entrepreneurs’ Forum –, running a company that has an unusual property portfolio and even helping charities to run more like businesses.