Thomas the Tank Engine Shop Gives Successful Entrepreneur More Steam

Entrepreneur Steve Hardin's career path took an unexpected twist when he was diagnosed with Heart Disease. After Triple Bypass surgery he dropped his hectic lifestyle as a highly paid auditor and refocused his life. This culminated in the opening of his successful online store, Thomas the Tank Shop.

Shropshire, England (PRWEB) October 19, 2007 -- Entrepreneur Steve Hardin from Shropshire, England has taken his boyhood love of trains online and opened his Thomas the Tank Engine e-commerce shop.

I can work from home now, I have flexible working hours, and I have time to spend with my family

He had already purchased Grosvenor Park Miniature Railway in 1999 and the online shop was a natural addition to the business. Additionally, lifestyle and career choice were dictated by health when, at only 51 years old, Steve was diagnosed with a heart problem which culminated in Triple Bypass Surgery.

Steve decided that a change in lifestyle and career path was the only way forward and realised he could actually make a living out of his favourite pastime. "The heart bypass really made me take a step back, re-evaluate my life and I realised that I needed to make some big changes in my lifestyle," Steve says.

Steve had always sold Thomas Trains in his small shop alongside the Miniature railway, but decided to open the online Thomas the Tank Shop in 2006 to sell to a wider market of Thomas lovers. Steve's e-commerce business allows him to continue working as an entrepreneur and at the same time grants him a much needed lifestyle change. "I can work from home now, I have flexible working hours, and I have time to spend with my family," Steve says.

www.thomasthetankshop.com is currently one of the largest stockists of Thomas products in the UK and Steve's immediate plans for the online shop are to extend the Thomas product range even further.

He has also already branched out to sell brands including Ivor the Engine, Underground Ernie, Postman Pat and Bob the Builder and plans to sell an even wider selection of toys over the next year. Steve doesn't want to be the next dot com millionaire. He wants a steady income that will let him to enjoy a good quality of life and the Thomas the Tank Engine Shop has allowed this to happen.

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