Driving Ambition
by Carol Soutar
Driven by a passion for motors and an ambition to be his own boss, a Perthshire- based young entrepreneur, Rod Sim, has turned his dream into a reality and created an exciting new vehicle enhancement consultancy and car performance accessory business.
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The Perth-based, Virtual Reality, opened its Shore Road doors in January 2003, and is aimed at those who take their bodywork seriously! Virtual offers a bumper range of new and innovative performance accessories for vehicles from fenders and seats to alloy wheels and exhausts, all sourced from over 200 suppliers across the UK and USA.
Rod gives clients a full consultancy service, advising on everything from suitable car kits to modifications and auto styling and is a keen audio fitter. For those requiring bodywork installation, Rod subcontracts this service to a specialised body shop.
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Rod Sim
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He spent several years learning his trade at two leading accessory retailers and recently created his own custom built Mk2 Vauxhall Astra GTE 16v, quoted as being one of the UK's most exciting Astras by top performance tuning magazine, Max Power, which featured Rod and his car in their December issue.
Rod learnt about the nuts and bolts of running a new business from the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT), who help young people aged 18 to 25 set-up and continue in business. Rod attended night classes run by the local Small Business Gateway, in everything from marketing to accounting and received advice and support in compiling his business plan and crucial start-up funding from the PSYBT.
Rod has already partnered up with a Midland's-based firm to offer one of Scotland's biggest car attractions, Crial Drag Strip, the use of a mobile rolling road, which has a dyno machine to measure a vehicle's horsepower and maximum output. Based near St Andrews, the drag strip runs bi-monthly events, attracting up to 7,000 people. Rod has secured a one- year advertising opportunity at the drag strip for Virtual and will showcase his products and brand at one of Crial's mega shows, the Max Power event on Sunday, 11 May 2003.
"The May show is an ideal opportunity for me to build awareness of the Virtual Reality brand to the Scots car enthusiast community. We have also enlisted the help of popular Perthshire nightclub, The Ice Factory, who will attend the May show and provide a soft drinks bar and host the after-show party, which will be attended by the major publications from the industry." said, Virtual creator, Rod.
Virtual's premises in a 1300 sq ft shell have been fully kitted out and divided into a sales area and soft fitting area with a drive in bay for cars. Rod is also an accredited Consumer Credit Licensee, which allows him to offer clients a buy now, pay later option. Plans for the future include, expanding his range of accessories, creating new alliances with suppliers and opening a bigger retail store with fitting bays.
"I worked for a local accessories supplier and achieved a lot during this time and was ready for a new challenge. Working for myself was the next step. I initially looked into the option of a franchise outlet and then decided to create a totally new brand. It's been hard work with a lot of late nights, although everything I do is now going towards getting this business off the ground in a location which I believe has huge potential." continued Rod.
For further information contact PSYBT regional manager, Carol Soutar on Tel no. 01382 205 000 or email: Tayside@psybt.org.uk. Rod Sim is available at Virtual Reality on Tel no. 01738 622735
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