Golden Chrysanthemum

Harvey is just finishing his third year as part of an integrated masters degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Leeds. Alongside his studies, he has been planning the start of his own personal business, supported by Spark in progressing his submitted plan to the finalists as part of their 2024 business plan competition, validating its concept.

Golden Chrysanthemum will allow Harvey to make his most passionate hobby of naval vessel scale modelling into a business; utilising 3D printing to produce detail-enhancing parts and eventually full kits for the niche but dedicated community. Due to the infancy of consumer available resin SLA printers, there exists a whole new outlet to provide detail levels not currently achievable with existing aftermarket, and few established competitors. This new technology is anticipated to completely revolutionise the hobby, and Harvey hopes Golden Chrysanthemum will be capable of capturing this potential, with a USP of unparalleled detail and historical accuracy. Studying engineering has trained Harvey in CAD skills, and he possesses a large collection of rare reference materials from years of collecting, which will allow the USP to be achieved. He also recently obtained his first printer and is learning the skills to produce products. Golden Chrysanthemum will specifically target Japanese ships, due to his personal interests and largest portion of the market dedicated to this subcategory.

The idea is still very much in the planning stage, however with the academic period coming to a close, there will finally be adequate time available to bring Golden Chrysanthemum into reality. Over the course of the summer break, it is hoped to create Golden Chrysanthemum’s first product lineup, register as a business and potentially be shipping product to distributers by the start of the 2024/2025 academic year. This would allow Harvey to continue to develop products alongside his final year of study. The availability of Spark’s support will be utilised to successfully navigate some of the more technical aspects of setting up a business Harvey has yet to learn.

“The advent of available 3D printer technology to consumers will allow me to accomplish my dreams of contributing to my favourite hobby, allowing me to bring unrepresented vessels, high detail and historical accuracy based upon my own research and library of materials.”

Harvey possesses a vision of Golden Chrysanthemum becoming the gold standard in both aftermarket detail parts and full kits for Japanese vessel scale modelling, selling products to fellow enthusiasts across the globe. Both online hobby distributers, and a personal website where Harvey could present his own finished models utilising Golden Chrysanthemum’s products, would be used to conduct the sales.

“Reaching the finals of the 2023 business plan competition and having the opportunity to present my idea in front of a panel of business professionals gave me real confidence in progressing this idea into reality, and the offer of additional support from the Sparks business team to navigate the unfamiliar process of business startup have me in eager anticipation of building Golden Chrysanthemum into my vision.”