22/08/2023
BUSINESS UPDATE, please read:
When I started RC Security 12 months ago, there were many unanswered questions. I only had a vague idea about how much such a thing was needed on the estate, could only one person really make a difference, how much would people be willing to pay, and whether it would be financially viable as a business?
Our experience as a community during this time has gone a long way to answering some of these questions but has raised many more.
There are many examples posted to my page where I have responded successfully to people's requests for help, Protected homes, property and the people themselves from unwanted attention and possible thefts. Some of those requests have been from people who are not subscribed to my service.
This brings me to my dilemma.
Too many people, in fact, the vast majority of the Ouston/Urpeth, are relying upon RLC Security without subscribing to the service, knowing that I will be patrolling the estate, funded by others. A minority, who recognise the value of what RLC Security offers, are prepared to pay for that service.
I have to say that this situation cannot continue. What everyone must understand is that the service provided by RLC Security is my livelihood, and as such with the current level of uptake it is unsustainable.
Prior to setting up this business, I went door to door to get an idea of interest to ensure that this was a worthy venture, to which many people were very keen and agreed to support me. Unfortunately, very few people acted upon this and it may surprise some of you to know that I have been running this service for 1 year with just 163 people having signed up.
I have been working 7 nights a week for the past year for just 163 people, for £3 per month; this is not enough to sustain a livelihood.
I have spent countless hours trying to come up with a way to get this business to work, and appreciate that many of those subscribed would be willing to pay a higher price per month, however without the number of subscriptions increasing significantly, RLC Security cannot continue.
I have therefore made the heartbreaking decision to end RLC Private Security as of September 2023.
It has been an honour and a privilege to serve this community for the past 12 months, and I sincerely appreciate the abundance of positive posts and messages that I have received throughout the year; I will attach some of these to this post to bring some positivity to the situation.
For those of you subscribed, please cancel your subscriptions before September 2023, at which point I will be de-activating the business’ PayPal account. This information will also be added to the business website.
It is with a heavy heart that I have made this decision, and as a member of this community for many, many years, I really hope that I have been able to make this community proud these past 12 months. I have met so many lovely customers this past year, and am incredibly grateful to you all.
Please take care, and a massive thankyou to those that have believed in me this past year.
-Rob