Cargobox is an online retail business that cares about two things:

Happy customers.
Happy Staff.

It’s no secret that business, retail and customer service are both all hard work.
Therefore, we try and belly-laugh at least once every day!
We also try to provide a memorable experience for our customers...

With that in mind... here is who we are:

Have you ever seen the episode of ‘Only Fools and Horses’ where Trigger is lamenting his success at receiving an award for keeping the same broom for 20 years? (If not, you can view it here: http://youtu.be/pbha4XclSMU)

Just like Trigger’s broom having 17 new heads, and 14 new handles (but being the same broom!) – our business model has gone through many changes to get to this point – but it’s only taken us 9 years to hit a winning formula!

The emergence of ‘Cargobox’ has been just like our friend Trigger: spectacularly... er.... slow!

But, thanks to (big intake of breath!)... one incredibly tolerant, understanding and remarkable wife, several remarkably visionary investors, two amazing children, 1 award, two magazine articles, spending the contents of the ‘copper jar’ (several times!), many incredible customers (incredible both ways!)... Cargobox is now here (finally!) and as I don’t want to feel the full wrath of the aforementioned wife and children, I plan for Cargobox to be here for at least as long as Triggers broom! (Or until the kids have left home anyway!)

John Davies: Founder & Managing Director
(john@shopcargobox.com)

Our History:

2001: Concept dreamed up in a university bedroom
2002: Concept development continued into a ‘grown-up house’.... (well, into the corner of a box-room if we’re honest!)
2003: Moved onto another university ‘Hall of Residence’ (because of a second degree, not because we were kicked out of the first university!)...
2004: Back into a grown-up house (while working a full-time job – the living room was the desired location this time, so we could work AND watch TV – who say’s men can’t multi-task!)...
2006: Took on the first of three (yes, really!) ‘virtual offices’ (so really still in the ‘grown-up’ bedroom while working full time – but looking more ‘professional’!)
2010: Finally got a real office... (and gave up the full-time job)

Between ‘the concept’ and the ‘leaving the real job’ there have been many ups and downs in the life of our lovely company... some highlights are:

• Many x locations (as shown above!)
• 2x University Courses
• Lots of late night working
• 3x ‘Respectable’ Full Time Jobs
• 4x Cars (of varying reliability)
• 2x Countries
• 2x Name Changes
• 1x Legal Battle
• 4x Business Plans
• 1x Stolen Laptop
• Lots of weekend working
• Even more... late night working (and plenty of falling asleep in-front of the computer! Oops!)
• Raiding of the ‘copper jar’ to buy bread and milk before pay-day (several times!)
• 1x Marriage (and several threats of divorce since... due to the three points above!)
• 2x Children
• 2x Mentors
• 4x Investment Pitches... (Dragons Den style)
• Lots of new and lasting friendships

= (9 Year) ‘Overnight Success’!!

Meet The Team:

In our office, we currently have a team of exceptional (hand-picked) people whose goal is to make our customers (and each other) smile...

If we do this, the rest will take care of itself.
And here they are: (No pictures though, we don’t want to scare our customers!)

Rogues Gallery:

Neil Johnson

The newest member of the team, yet do not let that make you think he is a new boy to this type of business.

He has been working alongside this business for many years and believes so much in the company that he decided to join John and Clara.

Neil runs on cider and sausages, but compliments that by going to the gym for 2012.

Clara O’Callaghan

Ah, Clara.
Two days from starting her own business Clara discovered Cargobox... fell madly and deeply in love with the concept (and the founder! – Ed.) whereupon a marriage made in heaven was born!

As creator of the ‘Monday Meeting’ - Clara is all about figures, results and plans... in the role as the service manager for Cargobox Clara’s responsibility is to make sure that everyone is happy... which she does by... er... telling everyone they are happy! (We know better than to ‘argue’!)

Lover of the Volkswagen Caravelle ‘Van’ and er... Children (Mr. O’Callaghan put his foot down after number four! – Ed.) Clara is the voice customers hear when they have a question or a problem.... thank goodness because due to the daily responsibility of ‘managing’ four sons – and a husband – Clara is what is known in the customer service industry as ‘unflappable’!

OK... to the tune of the ghostbusters theme!
If you have a problem, who you gonna call.....

John Davies – (A.K.A. The Boss!)

Imagine the scene: a cold damp university flat, a tatty sofa, no money and a shelf load of books. Decision taken to sell the books on a website called eBay. All sold. Decision to sell friends books on eBay. All sold. Decision to sell neighbours bits and bobs on eBay. All sold.

A degree, a masters degree (yep, avoiding work for as long as possible!), a job, a wife, and two babies and one prestigious successful entrepreneur programme later, Cargobox was born. From the tatty sofa to the boardroom it is a nine year over-night success!

JD, as he is affectionately known as in the office, is the sole founder & MD of Cargobox.
Handsome, charming, intelligent and witty (hopefully that’s the pay-rise sorted) he sleeps, eats and breathes Cargobox.
He believes 100% that he can sell anything.
His only failures, to date, are four kids which were added onto the inventory after a Clara had a tough summer with her darlings.

A word of advice though- if you are going to give John a call from your mobile make sure you have plenty of credit and plenty of time because by god he loves to talk. Mind you, he will have you laughing out loud by the end of the conversation so well worth the odd call.

Our Future:

On this website, we will sell anything that could enrich the lives of our customers.... (steady on! – Ed.)
However, at the time of writing, we have not (yet!) sold a crystal ball or time machine so suffice to say, in terms of our future...

“...it’s just around the corner and I’ll write about it once it’s happened....”

My goals for the future of Cargobox are very simple (like me!):

• Happy Customers
• Happy Staff
• Happy Environment (as in, the planet)
• Happy Investors
  (Yes, in that order!)

(Logic: the second one will make the first one, the first one will make the second one, the first two will make the fourth one.... the first three must happen every day and at the end of the day, the fourth one only matters once a month when we see them!)

If I’ve missed anyone, please email hello@shopcargobox.com