Business Leader

  • Business Leader: Boots

    Origins

    Boots harks back to an earlier time. Its first shop opened in 1849 in Nottingham. John Boot’s herbalist shop was very popular locally, and his son Jesse expanded the concept as it served a cost-conscious customer base ahead of its time.

    Present Day

    Boots logo & sample of its products – Boots.com

    Boots has a broad remit since it has invested in the science behind its brands. Its shops offer a wide variety of health, beauty, and luxury products. Its popularity with female shoppers in particular has benefited the high street with increased competition between itself and copycat retailers.

    Distinctives

    A few mergers has enlarged the concept but not changed the look or feel of the brand. Its popularity remains in personal care, celebratory gifts, and word of mouth.

  • Business Leader: Greggs

    Origins

    As a small business delivery man, John Gregg saw the potential of taking traditional foodstuffs directly to people. Later, in 1951, a shop opened in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, and launched it as a brand.

    Photo credit: Greggs.

    Present Day

    It’s now a chain. It’s a leader in baked goods, having over 2,600 stores in the UK. It sells a wide variety of food and drink to customers as a convenient high street outlet.

    Distinctives

    Greggs is a popular cultural brand. It’s listed on the London Stock Exchange (GRG). It has a dominant position with ambitions for expansion, and growth.

  • Business Leader: ARM

    Origins

    ARM started as a new company by Acorn Computers, Apple, and VLSI Technology. It aimed to design chip parts to power the next technological revolution.

    ARM logo & cofounders.

    Present Day

    It now competes with the likes of Nvidia in an increasingly saturated market. It’s maintained dominance in mobile markets and increased in AI technology.

    Distinctives

    ARM makes designs that underlie core architecture in complex computing systems. It’s involved in cloud computing, data centres, and advanced AI.

    It publicly trades as ARM (NASDAQ).

  • Business Leader: Selfridges

    Origins

    Selfridges opened in London in 1909. It was a first of its kind. The capital didn’t have a shopping experience like it, and as the first location for Harry Gordon Selfridge’s new venture, it took on a life of its own.

    Present Day

    Now, shopping in London is still a big draw for many of its visitors. Selfridges keeps a position at the top. It stocks the best brands, and sells the luxuries that make it onto most wish lists.

    Selfridges & Co.

    Distinctives

    A trip into its multi-level site on Oxford Street is an oasis of calm and a chance for shopping TLC. The seasonal sales bring in crowds that fill out its many halls. There’s never a dull moment.

  • Business Leader: BBC

    Origins

    The transformation of the British Broadcasting Company to a Corporation took just over four years. The developing broadcasting medium inspired the country so much it was given a Royal Charter, and the rest is television history.

    Present Day

    The BBC continues to broadcast a wide range of content to the broadest possible UK audience. It operates a large radio and online network, that comprises of multiple teams of presenting staff and back-office operatives.

    A former BBC studio – Wikipedia

    Distinctives

    The BBC is considered a public service, but it also has in-house producers, and creates its own content. It’s funded in part by subscription-related financing, but has its own revenue streams invested into its activity.

  • Business Leader: Hargreaves Lansdown

    Origin

    The startup of an investment firm from a house isn’t an ordinary origins story for a UK-based company, but it’s the truth behind the successful rise of Hargreaves Lansdown.

    Present Day

    The hard work ethic of Peter Hargreaves and Stephen Lansdown paid off, and their initial supply of investment mailings turned itself into the UK’s largest digital platform.

    The founders – Hargreaves Lansdown

    Distinctives

    Their popular online accounts offer access to ISA’s, stocks and shares, and investment funds. It’s publicly listed as Hargreaves Lansdown (HL). It’s based in Bristol.

  • Business Leader: Bloomsbury Publishing

    Origin

    Bloomsbury is a relatively new player in publishing, yet its beginnings in the 1980’s belie a strong field game in the global book industry. The founder, Nigel Newton, is an American-born and Cambridge educated experienced professional and has guided the business into new realms with takeovers of multiple other brand names.

    Present Day

    Bloomsbury is responsible for the Harry Potter phenomenon, as well as other major titles in recent fiction publishing. It’s continued to back new trends and start off new authors into successful writing careers.

    Bloomsbury titles – © Bloomsbury Publishing

    Distinctives

    Bloomsbury has a number of original streams including academic, nonfiction, and fiction that perform strongly in their respective markets. It’s publicly listed as Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (BMY). It’s based in London.

  • Business Leader: John Lewis & Partners

    Origins

    John Lewis & Partners began its life on the now-famous Oxford Street, in London, where it’s gained a reputation as a founding store amongst newer types. Its name was simply John Lewis, after its founder, and it sold an assortment of drapery materials.

    Present Day

    John Lewis & Partners brand images

    It’s a long time since 1864 and the business is now run as a department store enterprise. The multilevel outlets offer a range of home, personal, and outwear items. It has name brands. It has refreshments instore. It has a technology department. These are the sorts of innovations time has brought.

    Distinctives

    The changes in retail have helped John Lewis & Partners into the way of the middle class. Its choice of styles, seasonal redesigns, and marketing campaigns have drawn in a broad base of customers that are loyal and willing to pay more for a better range of quality.

  • Business Leader: Burberry

    Origins

    Burberry has come on leaps and bounds in the fashion industry since its inception. It started with outdoor clothing and helped labourers to brave the elements. In time even Sir Earnest Shackleton saw the merits of Thomas Burberry’s company.

    Present Day

    Burberry’s modern style – YouTube

    Its clientele is now broader and has a trendy look with a useful style. The fortunes of the business increase and ebb on the back of consumer habits. It has a less settled place in popular tastes than its practical origins. It has to innovate its survival now.

    Distinctives

    The brand is popular among affluent classes. It’s prized in particular for its coats, and other winter apparel. Its appearance on fashion runways positions it as a leading brand. It’s publicly listed as Burberry Group plc (BRBY.L). It’s based in London.