Business
Former 'dragon' guests at business exhibition
29th April 2008
FORMER television ‘dragon' Rachel Elnaugh, business advisor Ben Kench and former BBC director general Greg Dyke were dishing out advice to local businesses today (Tuesday, April 29).
The business gurus were guest speakers at the two-day Ideal Business Show being held at Newbury Racecourse.
Companies from Newbury and beyond attended the start of the event, eager to pick up tips for success or to promote their trade.
The morning began with a seminar delivered by the former creator of the Red Letter Days company, which enabled people to ‘buy an experience'.
Mrs Elnaugh's company grew and spectacularly fell just as she was very much in the public eye during the first two series of BBC television's Dragon's Den programme.
Now aged 43 and working in the Peak District to inspire and motivate entrepreneurs in the small business sector, Mrs Elnaugh (pictured in Newbury) said that despite her previous failings, she is "10,000 per cent happier" than in her Red Letter Days, chasing money.
She said that small businesses, such as independent traders in Newbury, should be aware of their advantage over bigger companies and advised them to keep fighting through the current ‘credit crunch'.
"You have got to keep adapting and changing and trialling until you have got a honeypot approach, attracting the bees," she said.
"Small businesses have a huge advantage over big ones because they can adapt, rather than saying, ‘Sorry madam, I'll have to check with the management'."
Next week, Mrs Elnaugh's first book ‘Business Nightmares' will be released.
Both Mrs Elnaugh and Mr Kench, the UK's top small business growth specialist, agreed on their ‘top tip' for struggling businesses.
They said that those striving for success should not focus on making money, but on providing an excellent quality of service.
Mr Kench, aged 44, started out by setting up a window cleaning business when he was just 17-years-old.
He is now based in Leicestershire and owns three companies, ABC Training and Development, Business Booster (coaching) and Charnzac publishing.
Among those present at the event was a new Newbury-based business, Jools Consultancy, managed by Nadine Wynter, aged 42, of Woolton Hill.
She used a magician to entice the crowds and said the event was a useful platform for launching her business.
Human resource services company Dovetail, of Newbury, drew attention to visitors with its on-hand caricaturist, and the company's managing director John O'Brien said the afternoon had been busier than the morning, but said important lessons had been learnt from the experienced guest speakers.
View our website www.newburytoday.co.uk for an exclusive interview with Mr Dyke.
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