CASE STUDY
Support Programme: High Growth Programme
Company Assisted: Quick Discs Limited
Support Activity: Support for a Growing Business
Background:
In December 2009, EDC Blackburn – the UK's largest manufacturer of CDs and DVDs – closed down. This meant the loss of around 260 local jobs and a blow to the fortunes of several regional suppliers. However, the company’s decision to consolidate its operations in Germany prompted one enterprising employee to start his own business, which soon began filling the void in the market.
Recognising that the departure of Britain’s largest CD manufacturer would leave hundreds of smaller businesses without a supplier, former EDC Client Services Manager, Grant Mitchell founded Quick Discs Limited ahead of the plant's closure.
Having worked on the Blackburn site since 1986, Grant was well placed to service the needs of past clients and saw a real opportunity for growth.
Support Provided:
Aware that he could benefit from external support, Grant contacted 
Enterprise4All whose advisers alerted him to the possibility of obtaining specialist coaching assistance via the Northwest Development Agency's High Growth Programme.
An assessor from The Winning Pitch duly visited Grant and having agreed that the business possessed considerable growth potential, he instructed E4All to deliver five days of free support.
E4All introduced Grant to a Chartered Marketer who was registered as a High Growth coach and who could help him to make the most of the opportunities available. He and Grant worked together to develop an integrated marketing communications plan that encompassed public relations, internet marketing, networking, direct marketing and various other elements.
Results:
Quick Discs soon proved that it was capable of achieving its own 
substantial growth targets. By the time of EDC's closure, Quick Discs had already won more than 80 new clients through a combination of direct marketing, networking and personal contacts.
“Continuity is an important theme for Quick Discs,” explains Grant. “Many long-standing customers were going to have to start looking for a new supplier so it was a logical step to develop a business that could cater for them. Since we started, we’ve acquired a large number of former clients including, amongst others, a major magazine publisher, several music labels, recording artists, marketing agencies and universities.”
With a new range of additional services on offer – including photo-quality printing on discs and packaging – and an intensive PR campaign planned for later in the year, Grant is confident that Quick Discs will continue along its rapid growth trajectory.
For further details about the company's services, please visit www.quickdiscs.co.uk.