DIAMOND PIZZA BOX

Nader Tagizadeh had worked for various pizza chains as a chef, delivery driver and manager for a number of years. Despite his extensive experience, after losing his job in late 2013, Nader found it tough to find paid employment. He used his time out of work to develop an idea that had been bubbling in his mind for a number of years – a foldable pizza box that would allow customers to carry their takeaway pizza home in a convenient way, which would leave their hands free to carry other shopping items. Nader explains:

“I had worked in the pizza industry for over 15 years and over the last few years I have noticed how constrictive carrying takeaway pizza home can be, especially if you have young children with you or shopping bags. I wanted to develop a product that resolves this problem and also provides a convenient and discreet way of taking leftovers home from high-end pizza restaurants”.

In response to this need, Nader has developed the Diamond Pizza Box. Nader continues:

“Diamond Pizza Box enables the customer to carry their leftover or takeaway pizza home in a stylish and non-obvious pizza box with their hands still free to carry other necessary items. Diamond Pizza Box is what it says: the pizza is cut into slices and placed onto trays in the sections of the diamond shaped box”.

Nader discussed his idea with his Jobcentre Plus Adviser who referred him to Prevista’s New Enterprise Allowance Programme. Prevista paired him with Business Adviser Stephen Anderson who recalls:

“Nader had a genuinely original invention but, as a result of his unemployment, his outgoings were higher than his income and he had limited funds to invest in his idea. We worked together to produce a cogent business plan complete with rigorous financial forecasts and successfully applied for the New Enterprise Allowance Loan of £2,500”.

With his NEA funding and Stephen’s assistance, Nader set up his business and began to market his ideas to pizza restaurants and takeaways. In response to Stephen’s advice he has worked on getting the Diamond Pizza Box to a prototype and has protected the design at the Intellectual Property Office.

Despite receiving a number of firm orders for his Diamond Pizza Box, Nader contacted Stephen in August 2014 to say that he had run out of money. In line with Prevista’s policy of providing continued support to all New Enterprise Allowance clients, Stephen is now helping Nader submit an application to the government’s Start-up Loan Fund to give him extra liquidity. Nader explains his gratitude for Prevista’s continued support:

“Stephen has been fantastic throughout. He is always at the end of the phone if I need a quick response to a question and he has made the time to take me through the loans process. With his help I am confident I will obtain the funds I need to make my business a success”.
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