Adam and Adam in business

Trent graduates Adam and Adam set up a computer recycling business soon after leaving university. They pay their own wages and expect £45,000 each in the first year of trading. They are now looking to take on part-time staff.

Job titles:
AH: Senior Partner
AB: Senior Partner

How did you get started?
AH: Adam had started the business, and I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do, I started helping him out to earn a bit of extra money at the weekends.

Before too long we realised that we both had something to offer the business if we worked together full-time and so maximise our time and energy into a profitable business.

AB: I started off last October on a very small basis, mainly selling second user components at computer fairs. Decided to expand the business by moving into a business premise so that we could expand.

What does your job typically involve?
AH: There is no typical day, as there is always different things to be getting on with. I deal with more of the administrative side of the business, marketing, advertising etc, Adam has the brains and I have the bull!

AB: Keeping an eye on the market so as to see what is selling well at that time. Dealing with stock in terms of testing and repair, basically making goods ready to be sold. And obviously selling goods on to the public and trade.

Any plans to expand - plans for the future?
AH: We are expanding all the time, we have to be careful that we don’t expand too quickly, we are currently looking for part-time staff to help with the selling of products. With new legislation coming in September as far as IT recycling goes, we have a number of projects in the pipeline.

AB: We have a number of ideas about the recycling of computers. One of our ideas that we are preparing to implement at the moment is selling budget second user computers and laptops to students when they begin university in September.

Salary bracket?
AH: All the profits of the Business belong to myself and Adam (not forgetting the tax man’s cut!) so the potential is enormous, this is a huge incentive for us, but a great risk at the same time. We have forecasted for about £45,000 each in our first year of trading.

AB: As we are registered as a partnership it means that we basically earn whatever goes into our business account. We are only taking a modest wage from it at the moment though as we want to put as much money back into the business as possible.

Any advice to Trent graduates?
AH: Enjoy your time as a student. It's soon over and you'll be wishing you are one forever more.

AB: Yeah, if you’re a bloke, don’t go to the library to do work. There’s far too many young ladies in there to distract you.