The Picture is Rosy For Innovative Independent Cinema

28/06/18

An innovative independent cinema, which is bringing quirky cultural happenings to Swansea High Street, is the picture of health, thanks to start up support from Business in Focus.

Cinema & Co is a bustling hub of film screenings, live events  – and even movie nights for dogs – helping to regenerate one of Swansea’s least loved areas. And its owner now has plans to turn her successful business model into a franchising opportunity, since so many people have shown interest in replicating her success in their own town.

Anna Redfern, says: “Cinema & Co is doing very well – it is growing fast and it has quickly moved from simply doing film screenings, to becoming a popular event venue.”

Things are going so well that Anna is bringing her innovative approach to other parts of the wider Swansea Bay area – by organising a pop-up, drive-in screening overlooking Rhossili beach, and has plans to run more impromptu happenings like this one across the region.

She says: “I bought the business from a student who set it up as a pop up during his gap year. When it was time to return to university I saw that it was a good opportunity – it wasn’t part of a wider plan of mine, the opportunity just presented itself and I went for it. I live in Swansea and it is important to me to be able to do something in my own town, that brings something valuable to the community, so I have been very pleased with the way it has gone.”

Anna, aged 42, turned to us for help securing a £21,000 loan from the Start Up Loan Company, and, she says it was a speedy, straightforward process.

“I don’t have a business background and I was grateful for the support Business in Focus gave me in securing the loan I needed, which took just a matter of weeks. They also helped me to iron out my business plan, which needed quite a bit of work, and they supported me to plot out the future of the business. I am very much somebody who lives in the moment, so they helped me adjust my thinking, to consider the longer term. I was also supported by Business Wales, with accounting, marketing and social media.”

Our Business Advisor Steve Hammond, says: “I’m pleased to see Cinema & Co flourishing and attracting interest from people who want to follow Anna’s lead and set up similar independent cinemas in their region.

“Starting your own business is within reach for anyone who has a sound business idea and who is willing to spend the time getting the foundations in order – and there is so much free business support on offer here in Wales.

“The right financing is key, as is creating a detailed business plan. Business in Focus also offers its clients a free mentoring service for a full year, so we can give them support in those important early stages.”

We can provide assistance with funding options, business planning, market research, legal compliance and insurance, even offering premises with flexible terms – all the necessary foundations that can make the difference between success and failure for a start up.

For more details about Cinema & Co go to: www.cinemaco.co.uk