LDPBUSINESS HUB: Top-name speakers pull in the crowds for Hub event

Jun 18 2008 by Bill Gleeson, Liverpool Daily Post

Top-name speakers pull in the crowds for Hub event

HUNDREDS of visitors attended the first day of the LDP BusinessHub at the Echo Arena Liverpool yesterday.

They flocked to hear top-name speakers, including jeweller Gerald Ratner and Coffee Republic founder Sahar Hashemi on the first day of the free-to-enter two-day event.

During a frank and honest talk, Mr Ratner described how depressed he became when his high street jewellery business was ruined after he made unguarded comments about the poor quality of some of the products sold in his shops.

In 1991, Mr Ratner, then the owner of Ratner’s jewellery chain, described a cut glass decanter and set of glasses, on sale for £4.95, as “total crap”.

He said: “The press did not let up for one minute. There was a negative story every day.

“It was a mistake. It was a daft thing to do.

“I accept the implication that if I say one of my products is crap, people will think it applies to the rest, too. There’s not a day goes by that someone doesn’t mention it.”

Mr Ratner told yesterday’s audience that the only way out of the mess was to admit the mistakes and try to make a success of things second time round.

“if you make a mistake you have to put your hands up and admit it was all your fault.

“You get forgiven, if you do that. You also get forgiven if you go on to be successful second time round.”

Mr Ratner has since set up and sold a health club and currently runs an online jewellery business, GeraldOnline, which has turnover in excess of £80m.

Ms Hashemi described how she gave up a job in law to set up Coffee Republic. She said the venture was more fun while it was small and growing, but once it exceeded 60 shops it was a very different type of business to run.

As well as keynote speakers, the LDP BusinessHub includes a series of seminars conducted by local experts in a range of business disciplines.

Events being staged today include a talk in the morning by James Averdieck, founder of fast- growing Gü Chocolate Puds.

billgleeson