Category

Entrepreneurs

Cash Generator plays to its strengths

Brian Lewis opened his first outlet selling second-hand goods in 1994, offering televisions, trombones and a lot more besides to the residents of Bolton. Now, there are 80 Cash Generator stores across the UK and annual turnover exceeded £50 million last year.

Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs

Thomas’ TMTI looks to the future

Entrepreneur Crispin Thomas hopes to raise up to £10 million for TMTI, a company that helps consumers use complex mobile phones, ahead of a projected AIM float.

Entrepreneurs

Adding value and creating distinction in your business

You can create and sustain a competitive advantage – and attract outside investors – if you build value and differentiation into the DNA of your business, says Chris Ingram.

Entrepreneurs

Tony Rafferty: Guerrilla of printing

It’s no mean feat transforming a business dabbling in music flyers into a £20 million print franchise. GrowthBusiness gets to grips with the brains behind the Printing.com empire.

Entrepreneurs

Business Briefing: Anthony Clarke

Anthony Clarke is chairman of the British Business Angels Association (BBAA), the new trade body for angel investors in the UK. He’s driving the BBAA’s campaign for greater understanding of angel financing and the benefits it can bring.

Entrepreneurs

Gordon Robson: Mobile ambition

Gordon Robson developed the UK’s first multi-chat telephone system, invented the concept of newspaper phone services and even pioneered telephone voting for television. Now he’s at the helm of Stream Group trying to reinvent the way we bank, pay bills and even place bets.

Entrepreneurs

Mitchell Tonks: Respect your shareholders

Mitchell Tonks has proved seafood restaurants do make money - Fishworks, the OFEX-listed (Now PLUS Markets) restaurant chain he founded in 1994, turned in its first annual profit this year. With five sites now up and running, Tonks has plans for another 15 establishments.

Entrepreneurs

David Mairs: My biggest gamble

David Mairs' belief in his own abilities persuaded him to give up a comfortable career in corporate insurance and launch his very own firm. But just as he was about to make the leap, disaster struck.

Entrepreneurs

Mitchell Tonks: Respect your shareholders

Mitchell Tonks has proved seafood restaurants do make money - Fishworks, the OFEX-listed (Now PLUS Markets) restaurant chain he founded in 1994, turned in its first annual profit this year. With five sites now up and running, Tonks has plans for another 15 establishments.

Entrepreneurs

David Mairs: My biggest gamble

David Mairs' belief in his own abilities persuaded him to give up a comfortable career in corporate insurance and launch his very own firm. But just as he was about to make the leap, disaster struck.

Entrepreneurs

Be strategic, be opportunistic

Janus, the Roman god of doorways and bridges, faces two ways. That's just the dilemma faced by many an entrepreneur. A great opportunity drops in your lap – but will it drive you off the strategy your business has set? Michael Jackson asks how this dilemma is resolved?

Entrepreneurs

Media companies making an impact

Growth Business identifies five innovative companies intent on dramatically transforming – and dominating – their particular niche of the media sector.

Entrepreneurs

Ian Livingstone: No fear of failure

A ‘danger to children’ and the man who introduced Dungeons and Dragons and Lara Croft to the world, Ian Livingstone is happiest when challenging accepted wisdom.

Entrepreneurs

Healthy future for KWL

Ken Wells originally wanted to be an architect, but carved out a career in the health and beauty manufacturing business with brands such as L’Oreal and Garnier. Now he has grand designs for his business, KWL.