Pictured: (l-r) Sue Cutler (Childrens Bookworld), Zoe
Greenway (RBS), Liz Smith-Keitley (Club 0-5)
Two local businesses have been bought together by their mutual
RBS bank manager to support a new mobile bookstore for nursery and
primary school children across Shropshire.
Sue Cutler, a former property developer has launched Children's
Bookworld, which will operate in the style of a mobile library -
visiting nurseries and primary schools across Shropshire selling
children's books at discounted prices. Liz Smith-Keitley, company
director of Club 0-5 Ltd (part of the ChildrensworldUK group) has
agreed to acting as a trial venue for Sue's business as it begin's
to establish itself.
Sue & Liz have been introduced to each other by Zoe Greenway
who is both their relationship banking manager at RBS. She
recognised the fit of the two businesses and initiated discussions
over potentially working together. Zoe has also arranged funding
through Lombard, the asset finance provider to purchase the van
that will travel the county with the books.
"We have had some really keen interest in the service in the
research we have undertaken before launching the business" explains
Sue. "Bringing books to the settings is important as many of the
people who use our service like to see and experience the books
first hand and by visiting locations that are easy for parents to
get too, we feel we can provide a popular service. The ability to
begin the business at Liz's nursery is a great boost for us and is
a real endorsement in the validity of our business model."
"I think it is a really interesting concept that Sue has
developed and the parents that use our nursery are expressing
interest already" says Liz. "I sense this could become a real event
at nursery's and schools around the county and we welcome anything
that encourages children to participate in reading."
Speaking about what made her introduce the businesses to each
other, Zoe Greenway added: "It seemed obvious to me that both
businesses could be beneficial to each other. A lot of people will
assume the role of a bank manager is simply to lend money, but we
also have a role to advise our customers, and where we can, enhance
their business by exploiting our own networks. I wish both Sue and
Liz well in this new venture."