Busy day reviewing Comart’s 3 year plans (which are looking good) as Diana and Debbie improve but Daniel gets worse on a colder day
Up early and to the office by 7.45. Then to adjust the buildings heat controls as per yesterday, assuming that from now on the facilities manager would be in control. Noticed also slipping standards of housekeeping and commented to the relevant managers during the day to seek the necessary improvements. Most concerned today with the formulation of a group three year plan for sales and profitability from which we can then extract the Comart company targets. In turn that information then gives us the levels of sales required for Comart’s existing Communicator range and the new Mozart range of micros. The results interesting and leading to a lot of work to put together our three year business plans in a form that we have not previously considered. They show the projected group turnover rising from £11.9M this year to £15M next and £20M in 1985/6; with net profit from £500K to £1M and £2 which is sufficient for a full listing.
This is still only one possibility, however, and I am still resolved to investigate the sale of the company. Kill or cure! The Sales/Production departments have now agreed a recommendation on activity levels for Jan to June ’84 which I approve. The consequent reigning back will cause a materials waste of up to £ ¼ M to affect liquidity before the inventories settle. Late at work completing Peter’s review and also some company administration. New schedules of stockholdings and company ownership were required and there is still the securement of recently minuted meetings to make in all the groups minute books. News today of the probable departures of two senior employees – Gordon Coventry of Glasgow, which is hardly surprising, and Jane Dards of Xitan, which would be a disappointment. Some work there for Peter and Geoff as I intend to concentrate my efforts on Comart to get the sales back to viable levels. Nothing spectacular by way of news today with the Lebanon still in disorder but the British troops acquitting themselves well. Diana and Debbie a bit better today but Daniel now worse as the weather changes alternatively from mild to cold and back.