Businessman looking for a chain reaction

Paul Kersh’s When It’s Gone....It’s Gone shop is in Bury’s Mill Gate centre and he is determined to launch a chain of stores.

Mr Kersh, aged 42, of Whitefield, decided that the shops would be perfect to sell stock sourced by his import business, USI.

Mr Kersh said: “USI was set up in 1988 and was based in Bridgefield Street, Radcliffe, before we moved to Manchester in 2006.

“It was a very successful business, employing up to 60 people. But in early 2008 things took a turn for the worse when two of our major suppliers went into administration, owing us £2 million.

“After a long fight to keep the business afloat, it became apparent that USI could not survive this blow.

“I was chief executive at the time and was not prepared to give in so easily. I embarked on a crusade to buy back the company, but on a smaller scale. A year ago, I was successful in buying back USI from the administrators, re-opening it with 15 of the previously redundant staff.”

During the next 12 months, however, the company faced many obstacles and after numerous customer cancellations and a growing stock holding, Paul had to reconsider his business model.

“I thought about opening a shop on a short-term lease to sell through some of the stock oddments and small quantities,” he explained.

With little retail experience, he opened the shop on Princess Parade but did not reckon on how successful it would become.

When It’s Gone....It’s Gone, employing three people, proved to a big winner with its bargain prices.

The business quickly outgrew the Princess Parade unit and Paul opened a much more spacious store in The Haymarket. And now, the company also has a store in Bolton.

Mr Kersh said: “I saw an opportunity for buying from other stockists at amazing prices. It’s good to see that an independent like me can compete against the multi-nationals.

“My customers like the concept which is to give them good value, good quality and cheap prices.”