EDWIN RICHARD’S FOLLOWERS
It’s a fairy tale come true story that ERF devotees around the globe never tire of listening to. Of how way back in April 1933, the ‘Dynamic Foursome’ of Edwin Foden, his son Dennis, Ernest Sherratt and George Faulkner pooled their positive energy to create ERF which – over time – turned out to be one of the finest additions to the UK’s commercial vehicle production scene. Then aged 63, Edwin Foden had of course been integrally involved with the operation of his family firm of Fodens Ltd but unhappy about the way that business was heading, he felt inclined to try and do things his own way.
To a degree, it stretches belief in how they managed to do it as I doubt it could happen today. True, the country in say pre BC days (Before Coronavirus) was awash with Venture Capitalists and Start Up Fund managers that were continually on the lookout for new businesses to support, but just imagine how this ‘Wanna Be’ quartet would have fared against the panel of Dragon’s Den if they’d gone to them seeking out support.
“Right Mr Foden we gather you are looking for finance to build a new load carrier. You realise the market seems well catered for with others who currently make precisely the same thing so I presume yours are to be totally different from anyone else’s. However looking at your business plan you say you just intend to buy the parts that other people manufacture – and then put them together. Even I could do that I suppose – so why should anyone buy yours? Will it perhaps be lighter or cheaper than anyone else’s – or perhaps quicker than the others? Of course it can’t be faster as every load carrier is
