5. The Second Meeting

GEOFFREY AND MAVIS

AND THE CREDIT CRUNCH

by

Geoffreysmum

This story is entirely fictitious.

5.

The Second Meeting.

It turned out that Mr Soderbread wasn't at all like Mr Chargingbull. In fact, by comparison, he seemed almost charming.

“The thing is” he told Geoffrey and Mavis, “the Bank has got new policies and we can only support Companies with a really healthy profile and a hefty turn over. Now I can see you have a nice little business but, is it right for this Bank?”

“Mr Likemall used to say we had the best Toffee Company for miles around” Mavis said.

“That's as maybe” said Soderbread, “but we're not interested in local Companies, we're interested in International Companies. So the question is, could you become an International Company?”

Mavis and Geoffrey looked doubtful.

“I don't see how we could” said Geoffrey. “Our toffees good enough, in fact I'd say we definitely make world class toffee. But we've only got a tiny factory and there's only five of us working there. I'm not sure we could supply an International market.”

“Shame” said Soderbread. “It's a shame because I have a feeling you and Mavis have the potential to go right to the top of the toffee industry.”

“ Do you really” said Mavis?

“Oh yes,” said Soderbread. “Do you know, I never eat any toffee that doesn't come from Northern Block Toffee and I make a point of giving your toffee to my best customers every Christmas.”

“Well I never,” said Geoffrey. “It's very good of you to say so Mr Soderbread but I still don't see how a little company like ours could supply thousands of customers. We have a job keeping up with demand at the moment and we've only got twenty six.”

Mr Soderbread shook his head sadly. “Oh well” he said “I'm afraid I'm just going to have to call in your loan.” Then he stopped and seemed to be mulling over an idea. “Unless” he said finally, “ unless I could persuade the bank that you have such a good business, we should lend you more money so you could get a bigger factory and a lot more staff.”

The couple looked at him in amazement.

“Would you really do that for us” they said in amazement?

Mr Soderbread smiled at them. “I am nothing if not an entrepreneur” he told them “and when I see a good opportunity, I grab it. Now, down to figures.” and he settled down to scribble out some figures. Geoffrey and Mavis sat for half an hour watching until finally, Soderbread looked up at them and beamed.

“Right” he said “here's the bottom line. New factory, let's say one million...”

“One million pounds” Mavis shrieked. “We can't afford a million pounds! How on earth will we pay it...”

Geoffrey quickly noticed that for one split second and in response to Mavis's outburst, Mr Soderbread suddenly looked extremely ugly and no where near as friendly.

“OK,” he said “a million pounds for the new factory and what else?”

Soderbread was mollified. “Then we'll need at least 50 new staff. Then there's redundancies and...”

“Redundancies” said Geoffrey. “Who's going to be made redundant?”

“We'll deal with that later” said Soderbread. “Now where was I? New equipment, computers, accountants, lawyers, Directors....”

“Directors?” said Mavis “Why would we need Directors? Geoffrey and I are the Company Directors.”

“Ah but” said Soderbread seriously, “we're moving into high finance here. Major investment from the bank, new technology, marketing skills, negotiation skills. The bank is going to need a couple of its own people on the Board as directors to help you with all this.”

Geoffrey and Mavis didn't look happy.

“But I tell you what I'm going to do” Soderbread said conspiratorially. “Instead of putting actual bank people in, I'm going to put in a couple of people from a very good consultancy firm to over see operations for the bank.”

Geoffrey and Mavis still didn't look happy.

“And do you know what their particular line of expertise is?”

“No” they said miserably.

“They are experts in, wait for it, confectionery!”

“Really” said Geoffrey brightening immediately, “you're going to put in people who understand toffee?”

“Toffee, Fudge, Truffles, you name it, they're the experts!”

“But..” Mavis started.

“So that's it then, they'll be round tomorrow morning with the Contracts and the new facility letter. Five million pounds.”

“Five million pounds!” said Geoffrey amazed!

“Yep, that's it” said Soderbread, “not a penny more. Take it or leave it.” and then he got up to leave.

“What are there names” Geoffrey shouted after Soderbread as he left the room.

“Mr Bankrupt and Mr Milkem” Soderbread shouted back.

“Those are funny names” Mavis said to Geoffrey.

“Probably French” said Geoffrey. “The French are very good at confectionery.”

To be continued........

Copyright N Barton 2008