Freaklizard is Growing with Help from the Development Bank

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Development Bank of Wales , 28th November 2023

A £40,000 micro loan from the Development Bank of Wales has enabled Freaklizard, an online retailer of motorcycle, scooter and performance car parts and accessories to complete the fit-out of its new office and warehousing premises at Green Park Industrial Estate, Pontyclun.

Motorcycling fanatic Nick Long started selling motorcycle and scooter parts through on eBay in 2008. He opened his online store in 2017 before launching Freaklizard in 2018 with the help of an initial micro loan from the Development Bank.

Nick Long, Freaklizard; Aled Robertson, Development Bank of Wales

Freaklizard has now taken a five-year lease on the 1300 sq.ft shell unit with the latest loan from the Development Bank being used to part-fund the creation of a new showroom, packing bays, storage facilities and additional 730 sq.ft mezzanine floor for offices. Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council has also provided grant support of £15,000 through the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.

Nick Long said:

“I’ve always believed the motorcycle parts and accessories process has been in the dark ages compared to the car industry which is why I first approached the Development Bank to help me to set-up Freaklizard. Five years on and we’ve come a long way, being nominated for the eBay 2023 Business Growth Award and achieving 60% growth year-on-year.

“The move to larger premises will give us more space grow even more and create a dedicated area for customer collections, something that I could only ever have dreamt about when first selling motorcycle and scooter parts on eBay 15 years ago.”

Aled Robertson is an Assistant Portfolio Executive with the Development Bank of Wales. He said:

“Our continued support for Nick has allowed him to grow Freaklizard from a small online shop to the exciting retail business that it is today. The new premises are a big step-up, providing more space to meet the growing demand and show just what can be achieved with a micro loan from the Development Bank.”

The £32.5 million Wales Micro Loan Fund is financed entirely by Welsh Government. Loans between £1,000 and £50,000 are available for small businesses, sole traders and social enterprise with repayment terms ranging between one and 10 years.

Mae micro fenthyciad o £40,000 gan Fanc Datblygu Cymru wedi galluogi Freaklizard, adwerthwr ar-lein rhannau ac ategolion beiciau modur, sgwteri a cherbydau perfformio i gwblhau’r gwaith o osod ei swyddfa newydd a’i safle warws yn Ystâd Ddiwydiannol Green Park, Pont-y- clun.

Dechreuodd Nick Long sy'n hoff o feicio modur werthu rhannau beiciau modur a sgwter ar eBay yn 2008. Agorodd ei siop ar-lein yn 2017 cyn lansio Freaklizard yn 2018 gyda chymorth micro fenthyciad cychwynnol gan y Banc Datblygu.

Mae Freaklizard bellach wedi cymryd prydles pum mlynedd ar yr uned gragen 1300 troedfedd sgwâr gyda'r benthyciad diweddaraf gan y Banc Datblygu yn cael ei ddefnyddio i ariannu'n rhannol y gwaith o greu ystafell arddangos newydd, mannau pacio, cyfleusterau storio a mesanîn ychwanegol 730 troedfedd sgwâr y llawr ar gyfer swyddfeydd. Rhondda Cynon Mae Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Taf hefyd wedi darparu cymorth grant o £15,000 drwy Gronfa Ffyniant Gyffredin Llywodraeth y DU.

Dywedodd Nick Long:

“Rwyf bob amser wedi credu bod y broses rhannau ac ategolion beiciau modur wedi bod yn yr oesoedd tywyll o gymharu â’r diwydiant ceir a dyna pam y cysylltais â’r Banc Datblygu am y tro cyntaf i’m helpu i sefydlu Freaklizard. Bum mlynedd yn ddiweddarach ac rydym wedi dod yn bell, gan gael ein henwebu ar gyfer Gwobr Twf Busnes eBay 2023 a chyflawni twf o 60% flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn.

“Bydd symud i eiddo mwy yn rhoi mwy fyth o le i ni dyfu a chreu ardal bwrpasol ar gyfer casgliadau cwsmeriaid, rhywbeth na allwn i fod wedi breuddwydio amdano wrth werthu rhannau beiciau modur a sgwter am y tro cyntaf ar eBay 15 mlynedd yn ôl.”

Mae Aled Robertson yn Swyddog Portffolio Cynorthwyol gyda Banc Datblygu Cymru. Meddai:

“Mae ein cefnogaeth barhaus i Nick wedi caniatáu iddo dyfu Freaklizard o siop ar-lein fach i’r busnes manwerthu cyffrous fel ag y mae heddiw. Mae'r adeilad newydd yn gam mawr ymlaen, gan ddarparu mwy o le i fodloni'r galw cynyddol a dangos yn union yr hyn y gellir ei gyflawni gyda micro fenthyciad gan y Banc Datblygu.”

Ariennir Cronfa Micro Fenthyciadau Cymru gwerth £32.5 miliwn yn gyfan gwbl gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae benthyciadau rhwng £1,000 a £50,000 ar gael i fusnesau bach, masnachwyr unigol a mentrau cymdeithasol gyda thelerau ad-dalu yn amrywio rhwng un a 10 mlynedd.