24HOURSWITH
24 HOURSWITH He, alongside his parents, established Folkestonebased 1st Setting in 2002, with the express aim of putting together events of all types, offering only the highest quality products at checked best market prices. Justin said: “We tend to be seasonal. January, February and March allow time for forward planning but between April and December, we are really busy. “It goes crazy. We do 900 weddings a year and 1,200 other events and can start at 5.30 in the morning and not finish until midnight. “Our team comprises of ten people full time off season and up to twenty peak season. We have two secretaries, an in house accountant, wash up machine staff, order packers, loaders, drivers and cleaners. Our operation runs smoothly because our team truly believes in the company’s ethos. “We started the business because we all wanted to do something different. As a former chiropractor I constantly saw people in pain and difficulty. After a few years I decided I wanted to do something that could make people happy. “The idea of events appealed to me, as I wanted to make people’s big days even better. “I find it emotionally rewarding to meet a couple who are worried about what they can afford on their big day and go on to exceed all their expectations. “We have more than 25 years’ experience and deal
with everyone from caterers to organisers, from small garden parties to large events with excess of 2,000 people. “Our working day is flexible. We do pre-book events, sometimes two or three years ahead, but we also have to be able to react quickly. “As an example, we recently received a last minute call to put together an event for 600 people with just two days’ notice, which is a big undertaking. We managed it but it shows that no two days are the same. “A decade of reinvestment has resulted in us owning all of our own stock we are therefore not dictated to by the current market. This means we can consistently stand by our own ethos of providing the best service possible. “For us, long-term growth and customer satisfaction go hand in hand. When people come to us they realise they can get everything they need for an event. Confidence naturally grows as customers experience an all round efficient and genuinely caring approach in the form of a high quality one stop service. “Being part of the Chamber of Commerce is a great thing and I am hoping to make Chamber members and businesses small and large, aware that we can put together anything from small office get togethers, to building team skills or celebrations to extend thanks to their clients or staff.”
Justin Lysser Co-founder 1st Setting www.1stsetting.co.uk
Long hours that provide an emotional reward Ask Justin Lysser for his typical working hours and he will answer ’we work until the job is done.‘ 16
ThinkingBUSINESS April-May 2014
Our working day is flexible. We do pre-book events, sometimes two or three years ahead, but we also have to be able to react quickly.