SPEED DEMONS

David Smyth, Co-Founder Rally School Ireland

From the first timer to the professional, Rally School Ireland offers the ultimate experience in rally driving.

Rally School Ireland, a Co. Monaghan based company was set up by David and Malachy Smyth in September 1999, after deciding that the time was right to start their own company, and promote a sport which they are both very passionate about. Rally School Ireland’s customer base is divided into three areas - corporate, one-to-one tutoring and the gift voucher sector. David Smyth says of his customers, “99% of them would never have sat in a rally car before their day at Rally School Ireland. The tutorship is one to one, leaving each individual with a huge sense of achievement at the end of the day.”

License to Speed

This year RSI are concentrating on developing the corporate sector and restructuring their rally track to concentrate on their main customer base. Facilities include an all-tarmac track and a new off-road Land Rover course. The Smyths are also setting-up the Drifting School; a method of maintaining a car slide in a controlled way. Rally School Ireland also incorporates the National Motor Sport Coaching & Training Centre, running licensing courses for aspiring rally drivers.

Smyth believes that word of mouth and target market networking are vital to the success of his business, and two years ago, they received the services of a marketing executive, through the Acumen programme, helping them to generate sales. Just over a year ago, Rally School Ireland completely redesigned their website, replacing technical jargon with a user friendly interface, resulting in an over night doubling of sales direct from the website. Smyth says that customers see a user friendly website as an immediate, direct and personal form of contact with the business.

World Rally Championship

Smyth’s advice for up and coming entrepreneurs: “don’t dwell on your initial idea for too long as it’s vital to get the service up and running no matter how small it is and nobody will get it right at their first attempt.” With the World Rally Championship coming to the North and Northwest of Ireland in November, attracting an estimated global audience of 800 million, Rally School Ireland are certainly well on the road to success.

TRY THAI

Norman Ruddock, Co-Founder, The Thai Food Company The Thai Food Company aims to introduce as many people as possible to the delights of authentic Thai cuisine Norman Ruddock, Janphen (Penn) Thaiphithak and James Brady are three friends and business partners who share the same ideals, an appreciation of Thailand’s people and in particular their cuisine and a combined passion to share this with the rest of the world. The Thai Food Company was set up in February 2005. According to Ruddock, the low quality ingredients that were available here at the time drove the idea behind the set-up of the company. After a year in preparation, the trio launched their first product last April and the Wexford based company now produces their own Fairtrade certified brand, Thai Gold. Ruddock and Brady are both very experienced business men, so at the outset they had the corporate knowledge which, Ruddock says lessened any major start-up obstacles. Naturally Healthy In the early 90’s approximately 200 Irish were traveling to Thailand annually but now there are over 40,000 and on their return they want to continue their enjoyment of one of the world’s healthiest ethnic cuisines. Thailand has the world’s lowest rate of cancer and the second lowest rates of diabetes and heart disease, which Ruddock says can be attributed to their staple diet. “The market for healthy foods has really taken off in this country. There’s no compromising of ingredients in delivering a healthy Thai meal,” says Ruddock. Thai Gold is gluten and additive free and is obtained from small organic holdings; their curry paste is sourced from a two acre farmer in Thailand. The Thai Gold brand can be found in the ethnic food sections of national retail chains such as SuperValu and Dunnes Stores. Go for It “Bite the bullet and just do it!” is Ruddock’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs. “Business partnerships have their challenges, but you always work through them; as your business grows, the challenge is that you have to create more formal roles within the company. At the beginning everyone must be flexible, but with growth it becomes necessary to define team responsibilities without sacrificing your passion for the job.”

Published in the July/August 2007 Issue of Irish Entrepreneur