Charlie Trumper -- Entrepreneur
Charlie Trumper learned his Granpa’s pitch before he could talk. Little Charlie grew up listening to his Granpa’s cockney accent as he sold fruit and vegetables from a barrow in Whitechapel Road. And according to locals the old man was the finest trader in the East End of London.
Charlie learned from his Granpa and eventually bargained for and bought his own barrow. But before he had time to show it off to the old man, Granpa Trumper was dead.
Charlie took over the stand and after an early struggle, he learned and began to function as his Granpa had and became known as Charlie Trumper the honest trader.
With the idea of expanding the business, the young man began making home deliveries.
A tragic death in the Salmon family gave Charlie his first business outside his barrow and pitch. The surviving daughter, Rebecca Salmon, had noticed Charlie’s reputation and asked young Trumper to come in as a partner and operate the Salmon family bakery. Charlie knew nothing about the bakery business, but within a few weeks he learned the basics and took charge.
World War I came along and feeling it was his duty Charlie joined up and spent some harrowing months on the battlefield.
When the war was over Charlie had no idea what to expect when he got back to Whitechapel, whether his partner had saved a place for him or not. But he soon learned that Rebecca Salmon had indeed saved his place, but moved from Whitechapel to Chelsea and exchanged the bakery for a grocery store.
Charlie Trumpers integrity and hard work never let him down and the business flourished. Charlie and Rebecca eventually married and the two of them worked toward a common goal building on the foundation they had already established.
They kept an eye on local business affairs and as stores and shops became available along their block they bought them up one by one until they owned every business on the block.
Charlie’s reputation as an honest trader pulled him through some hard times even as the business continued to grow. However, before his grand dream could see the light of day Charlie had to convince banks, finance companies and investors to take a stake in his plan to build the “biggest barrow” in the world.
Charlie and Rebecca’s plans grow far beyond early expectations and even as they are invited to wine and dine with top business leaders and royalty they never lose sight of their humble beginnings and understand that the distance between Whitechapel and Chelsea is only a couple of miles – as the crow flies.
Archer is a great storyteller and this is one of his best.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
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