GoSucceed – helping small businesses grow with proven strategies and processes

Two years after its launch, GoSucceed is looking to the future with ambitious plans in the pipeline for 2024.

After several decades working for corporates, Gary Salters found himself dreaming of ‘freedom’. The urge to break away from the 9 to 5 and do what he loves doing the most – helping small businesses – struck him during the pandemic.

Unlike many, he wasn’t working from home during the entirety of the public health crisis. He was sometimes on the road, travelling up and down the country to ensure vehicle cleaning products reached a hungry market. A trainer for franchisees of cleaning products manufacturer Autosmart International, his bread and butter was teaching franchisees all about strategies and processes that would ensure their businesses were a success.

Gary spent many a night during the pandemic stuck in hotels with no restaurant facilities and just takeaway menus to keep him company.

“Those were the times when I was thinking ‘there must be more than this’,” he remembers.

With a strong background in senior management most recently with Autosmart International and previously with nationally and internationally renowned organisations including the Co-Op Bank, McDonald’s, Starbucks and Argos, Gary launched GoSucceed in June 2021 to teach small businesses how to plan for growth. The founding principles are the four essential pillars:

• Believe it

• Plan it

• Build it

• Sell it

“My passion, my love, is helping other people – especially those in small businesses,” he said. “I’ve done it for McDonald’s, Starbucks and Autosmart. Developing strategies and processes that are right for individual brands is what I really needed to do.”

One of the things that GoSucceed instils in its clients is a positive mindset.

Gary, Managing Director of GoSucceed, says that positivity is essential to move a business forward. “You have to have a clear, meaningful purpose to drive a strategy to success.

“Planning a strategy sounds really simple, and people can say that it is. However, what they often forget is that most small business owners are working in their business rather than working on it. Knowing where you want to take your business and staying accountable really is the key, and that’s where I come in”

So, how does GoSucceed work with small businesses? It is not just a mentoring programme; it offers innovative solutions, including the Kickstarter & Accelerator Programmes.

Gary’s approach is to start working on strategies and processes during a one-to-one workshop. This session allows him to get to know a business, the challenges it faces and its short, medium and long-term aspirations.

“We build a plan around the four essential pillars,” he explains. “That leads to weekly actions. To support that, we have a weekly meeting with the client and then monthly meetings. This is to ensure we are charting those actions and staying accountable.”

One of GoSucceed’s clients is Bobby Lambkin-Williams, founder of Atomic Canyon Accounting & Bookkeeping.

He came to Gary with a desire to set realistic yet ambitious goals. Bobby wanted to expand Atomic Canyon’s market reach while consistently maintaining momentum for growth.

He needed expert guidance to identify and overcome the obstacles standing in the way of success.

“He got over 50 clients in just six months,” said Gary. “Now he is taking on his first staff member.”

One of the things GoSucceed encourages its clients to do is to take a look at where their business is currently coming from – to see if products or services can be marketed through other channels and to see if new markets are a possibility.

“It is amazing that not a lot of people do this without prompting, but it is important to identify new or under-utilised marketing channels,” Gary pointed out.

He is savvy when it comes to identifying new markets. He knows how even the most basic retailers can branch out into B2B and more. GoSucceed helps small businesses identify strategic partners that can be the linchpins to growth through un-tapped channels.

While GoSucceed is passionate about helping small businesses, it also works with larger companies too. One has a turnover of more than £15 million and Gary works with its sales team to maximise growth potential.

GoSucceed’s own success has been made possible not just because of Gary’s expert business knowledge but because Brighton’s business community has embraced it.

“Brighton really has such a thriving business scene. I work with businesses across the country and in Ireland but Brighton has been such an incredibly supportive base for GoSucceed,” he said.

Gary is the current President of the BNI chapter in the Heart of Sussex and a keen networker. He says the business community in Brighton has ‘just exploded’ – a testament to its strength and vibrancy.

To that end, he has partnered with the FSB (Federation of Small Business) and looks after membership in Brighton and surrounding areas.

Gary said: “FSB has the same ethos as GoSucceed to support SMEs. It’s a great synergy as FSB provides businesses with the resources and legal support they need while GoSucceed gives them business support right from strategy to sales, process and pitch.”

And the GoSucceed brand is likely to play a role in future business success stories.

Gary is currently working on plans to franchise the business. He anticipates recruiting brand partners from the middle of next year.

“We created a business in a box and, by franchising it, we can help people start their own businesses that will, in turn, help other businesses achieve their dreams,” he said.

Joining him is his husband and partner of 19 years, Jonny Monroe. Their role will be working on Development and Operations as the franchise strategy unfolds.

Don’t miss GoSucceed’s Business Planning Workshops.

Thursday 7th December 09:30-4:30 at Mid Sussex Golf Club

Friday 19th January 2024 09:30-4:30 at Mid Sussex Golf Club

Friday 16th February 2024 09:30-4:30 at Mid Sussex Golf Club

To book on a workshop email Jonny@GoSucceed.co.uk or call 01273 750450

For further information about GoSucceed, visit https://gosucceed.co.uk/, call 01273 750450 or email Gary@GoSucceed.co.uk