Entrepreneurs behind new and established businesses swapped practical advice to boost their profits.
Ready meal maker Charlie Bigham sells £150 million worth of food a year, but told the SME XPO audience that he started by cold-calling Waitrose's switchboard to pitch his idea. The foodie said he could "dispel the myth that it's very difficult for a start-up to get onto the shelves of a big retailer," adding: “Even the biggest retailer will be open to new ideas. Innovation is key to all businesses, or they wither and die."
Paphitis, who owns Rymans and Robert Dyas, was interviewed by Evening Standard editor-in-chief Dylan Jones - but confessed that he had not always been able to speak up. "I wasn't confident at school. I was dyslexic, and classified as thick," he said. "I was terrible at interviews, my mouth would dry up and I wouldn't be able to breathe properly, so I couldn't get a job."
Paphitis concluded that "the energy, enthusiasm and the hope that all these new start-up businesses at SME XPO have, continues to fuel me."
この記事は Evening Standard の April 25, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は Evening Standard の April 25, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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