By Rob Vivian, CEO of South West telecoms firm Pure Comms.
It’s not every day a small business like ours is quoted on page four of the Financial Times. But these days anything seems possible, as business owners do what business owners do and plough on despite nobody really knowing what the exact impact – positive or negative – will be of our decision to leave the European Union. 
Uncertainty is never a good thing in business and – together with creeping inflation – it is a positively dangerous combination and one that could impact consumer confidence.
It was on the subject of inflation that we were asked to provide our views for the FT, as the weaker pound since the June poll has meant that imported foods, products and foreign holidays have become more expensive.
This is an opportunity if, as the article points out, you are a food and drink manufacturer that can draw on local or UK made ingredients and not have to import.
But if, like us and others in the electronics industry, there is no alternative UK-made product, things are less rosy.
Like many telecoms companies, Pure Comms sells equipment made by a division of Germany’s Siemens and we have already seen their prices rise 12% since June.
Up until now we have absorbed this increase to keep business flowing. But I am sceptical about whether Siemens might show some leniency to a loyal customer as they are a global company; and the UK market is just not that big to them.
And then add in the fact that the we aren’t exactly the Germans’ favourite people at the moment and you get the point.
Of course, this is one example and I understand that the falling pound is good for exports. There will always be pros and cons to any situation, but the supply side benefits of Brexit should not overshadow the negatives.
Unfortunately, we’re not in the position of Tesco and can’t pull products from our shelves following a price increase – as was the case with Marmite and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.
So, interesting times lay ahead for the small businesses that are the engine of our economy.
