Run Ashore x BBX UK Case Study

How Run Ashore Saved Over £20,000 While Launching and Growing a Hospitality Business

Overview

When opening Run Ashore, our bar and restaurant, we wanted to find smarter ways to reduce setup costs without compromising on quality.

By opening a BBX UK account, we were able to source products, services and expertise through the BBX business community, saving and offsetting over £20,000 in expenditure to date.

Importantly, BBX also enabled us to invest in services we may not have otherwise budgeted for during the early stages of the business, particularly within marketing and brand growth. This allowed us to accelerate awareness and visibility without putting additional pressure on cash flow.

In return, we repay that value by welcoming new customers from the BBX community into the venue, whether through dining, drinks, events or voucher purchases for staff, clients, friends and family.

The result has been a practical example of how BBX helps businesses improve cash flow, utilise spare capacity (empty tables) and build meaningful commercial relationships.

The Challenge

Launching a hospitality venue comes with significant upfront costs and ongoing operational spending. Like many independent businesses, Run Ashore needed to:

• • Preserve cash flow during setup
  • Keep startup costs under control
  • Build awareness locally
  • Generate new customers from day one

Rather than paying entirely in cash for every requirement, we used the BBX network to offset costs and work with other independent businesses within the community.

What We Purchased Through BBX

Using our BBX account, Run Ashore sourced a wide range of products and services, including:

Venue Setup & Equipment

• Café barriers
• Catering equipment
• EPOS system and consumables
• Electrical rewiring work

Compliance & Training

• Food Hygiene courses
• Fire Marshal training
• Other staff compliance training

Professional Services

• Architectural drawings
• Planning support for outdoor seating and frontage changes
• Employee contracts and HR documentation

Marketing & Promotion

• • Website design and hosting
  • Facebook Ads training
  • Facebook & Instagram audit
  • Stand at a local food festival to promote the venue
  • 12 months digital billboard campaign

One of the biggest advantages was being able to access higher-level marketing support and advertising opportunities that we may not have prioritised or budgeted for in cash during the early growth phase of the business.

The Results

£20,000+ Saved and Offset

By using BBX, Run Ashore significantly reduced upfront cash expenditure whilst also gaining access to additional services that supported faster growth.

Increased Brand Awareness

The voucher system has become an effective brand awareness tool. BBX members regularly purchase vouchers for:

• Staff rewards
• Client gifts
• Friends and family
• Team incentives

This introduces new people to Run Ashore who may never have visited otherwise. When they enjoy the experience, many return independently and spend sterling in the future, creating long-term customer value beyond the initial BBX transaction.

Word-of-Mouth Growth

One of the most valuable outcomes has been the organic word-of-mouth generated through BBX customers visiting the venue.

When customers have a positive experience at Run Ashore, they naturally tell:

• Friends
• Family
• Colleagues
• Business contacts
• Social media followers

In hospitality, personal recommendations are one of the strongest drivers of new business. People are far more likely to try a restaurant or bar when it has been recommended by someone they trust.

The BBX network accelerated this process by introducing a consistent stream of first-time visitors to the venue.

Creating Atmosphere & Social Proof

A busy restaurant or bar naturally attracts more customers.

A venue that looks lively and full feels:

• More popular
• More trusted
• More desirable
• More exciting to visit

BBX customers helped Run Ashore create atmosphere during quieter periods, which in turn encouraged additional walk-ins, repeat visits and sterling-paying customers.

In hospitality, perception matters. Empty venues can discourage potential customers, whereas a vibrant environment creates curiosity, energy and momentum.

The value therefore extended far beyond the initial BBX transaction, it became an ongoing customer acquisition and brand awareness strategy.

New Customers Generated

BBX members regularly visit the venue for:

• Food and drinks
• Business meetings
• Corporate gifting
• Social occasions

Improved Cash Flow

Instead of spending cash immediately, Run Ashore was able to utilise spare table capacity and quieter trading periods to repay value back through hospitality services.

Stronger Local Business Relationships

The BBX network introduced Run Ashore to:

• New suppliers
• Local businesses
• Potential collaboration partners
• Returning customers

Why It Worked

The hospitality industry naturally has periods of spare capacity, empty tables, quieter midweek evenings and unused promotional opportunities.

BBX allowed Run Ashore to turn that spare capacity into tangible business value.

Rather than discounting heavily or relying solely on cash marketing spend, the business was able to:

• Acquire services it genuinely needed
• Invest in additional marketing opportunities
• Preserve working capital
• Increase visibility locally
• Build a loyal customer base through the BBX community
• Generate word-of-mouth recommendations
• Create a busier, more inviting atmosphere

The ability to convert spare capacity into both operational support and long-term marketing exposure created value far beyond simple cost savings.

Owner Insight

“BBX helped us launch smarter. Instead of spending thousands in cash during setup, we used the network to source key services, equipment and marketing opportunities whilst bringing new customers into the venue. The vouchers have also helped introduce completely new people to Run Ashore, many of whom return later as paying sterling customers.”

Key Takeaway

Run Ashore demonstrates how BBX can support hospitality businesses beyond simple networking. By leveraging the BBX community strategically, businesses can:

• Reduce setup costs
• Protect cash flow
• Access services they may not otherwise budget for
• Generate new customers
• Increase word-of-mouth referrals
• Build local partnerships
• Increase brand awareness
• Create a busier, more attractive venue atmosphere
• Utilise spare capacity more effectively

For growing hospitality businesses, BBX becomes more than a trading platform, it becomes a growth tool.

About BBX UK

BBX helps businesses trade with one another using digital trade credits, allowing companies to utilise spare capacity, preserve cash flow and unlock new opportunities through a trusted business community established in 2014.