Investing in other people's ideas
So many people have so many great ideas but struggle to get them off the drawing board. Before you head to a business angel, the bank, a VC or Dragons’ Den, come and see me – these entrepreneurs did:
Parties Around the World (PAW)
This business is the brainchild of one very successful lady, Deirdre Bounds. When she told me about her idea over lunch and asked me if I wanted to be a part of the business I jumped at the chance.
The idea is simple: instead of children taking mountains of plastic tat to the never-ending parties they seem to get invited to, they get to make a gift to a charity of their choice – anything from saving the elephants to helping children in 3rd world countries.
PAW was launched in the summer of 2009 and we’re now looking at launching a model aimed at adults.
www.partiesaroundtheworld.co.uk
Sporting Supplements
After many years in marketing ‘selling stuff for others’, I have become an investor and mentor to a young Leeds-based entrepreneur who has launched two new online retail businesses selling nutritional and health supplements. I immediately recognised the potential of both businesses; the supplements market is busy and overcrowded but most people are doing it badly; there is a lot of potential for growth. Sporting-supplements and Homo Supplements are the perfect environment to apply my vast experience of marketing techniques and I hope that we are well on our way to becoming market leaders!
www.sporting-supplements.co.uk
You never know where a new opportunity may appear from
For many months I struggled to learn German – my wife is German and I need to know when she is talking about me behind my back! To help me learn I took on a German tutor, Melanie. After my lessons we spoke about our other interests and Melanie told me of her plans to launch Joblink Systems, the software supplier of one of Germany’s leading job portals, into the UK. Her aim was to become the number one provider of employment support systems to help employers or trainers find employment for their clients.
Having employed people throughout my entire career, I immediately recognised the potential in investing in this online business. Joblink reduces inefficiencies on both sides of the placement process, not only saving time but also costs of unemployment and unproductiveness.
Again a lesson in spending time meeting people
One day, the guy who gave me my first (and only) job invited me to lunch.
He told me about an idea he had had to raise funds for charities by creating a unique online charity shop. I loved it!
JumbleAID.com is an environmentally focused, internet charity fundraising business which combines the user interface and technological expertise of eBay, with the green ethos of Freecycle. It aims to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, while providing a new income stream for charities.
I was happy to put my investor hat on again and become a share-holding Executive Director along with four other investors. Since coming on board in September 2007 I have been instrumental in taking JumbleAID from an idea to reality and the site was officially launched by the Duke of Gloucester in November 2008. Since then JumbleAID has donated money to many different charities ranging from Barnardo’s to the Donkey Sanctuary Devon. None of the payment goes to JumbleAID but goes directly into a Charities Trust Account who add GiftAid where applicable and distribute the funds, less transaction charges, to the nominated charities.
The one-stop shop for agencies
After years as an agency employer I felt it was time that other agency owners and agency staff had an alternative recruitment ‘bureau’. One that was tailored to the creative and marketing industries and also one that shared in their risks. So I launched agencybods.co.uk, an online ‘boutique’ recruitment service that charges a flat fee of 10% regardless of salary level and gives a 50% refund if the candidate does not pass their three month probationary period.
Having spent time with many agencies, agencybods.co.uk has evolved to become a ‘one-stop online support shop and knowledge hub’ for marketing agencies, providing the tools and resources, as well as the ‘bods’ required to run a successful agency. Online HR management software, employee benefit schemes and training courses as well as financial support are just some of the areas in which agencybods.co.uk offers reduced cost resources and advice. Free of charge resources on the website include agency league tables, job descriptions and CV and interview tips.
