Jewellery giant chief tells of fightback from disaster

Jun 17 2008 by Alex Turner, Liverpool Daily Post

A jewellery giant chief tells of his recovery from disaster.Alex Turnerreports

GERALD RATNER will get the LDP Business HUB off to a great start this morning with his personal tale of how to make a comeback when disaster strikes.

The former chief executive of jewellery giant Ratner’s, who famously lost his business empire as a result of unguarded comments about his firm’s products, has spent much of the last 17 years rebuilding his reputation.

He will give a keynote speech before joining this afternoon’s speaker, Coffee Republic co-founder Sahar Hashemi, in a lunchtime debate chaired by LDP Business Editor Bill Gleeson.

Ms Hashemi will tell her story of giving up a career as a lawyer to set up a successful chain of coffee shops with her brother.

The two-day event includes a series of seminars on a range of hot business topics.

Today’s seminars will cover effective internet marketing, lessons for SMEs, sales and marketing skills, growing business in a competitive environment and reducing your business’s carbon footprint.

The LDP Business HUB will also include an exhibition featuring a wide range of business specialists, an interactive learning zone, and Make Your Mark speed networking events.

The HUB is designed for owners, directors, managers and entrepreneurs running small and medium-sized businesses. It seeks to provide inspiration, education, motivation and the opportunity to do business.

A second day of top events on Wednesday will see James Averdieck, founder of Gü Chocolate Puddings, discuss creating a brand from scratch.

Seminars in the learning zone will cover marketing communications, negotiating and branding. There are also seminars on corporate social responsibility and increased productivity in a greener environment.

LDP business editor Bill Gleeson said: “The LDP Business HUB is the latest development in our ever-deepening relationship with the region’s business community that has already this year seen the launch of a glossy business magazine, a members club, a weekly radio show and a relaunched website.

“It is all designed to bring us closer to you, and to provide you with the information that you are looking for.

“The LDP Business HUB, which brings together experts, as speakers and seminar leaders, organisations that can really benefit your business, both public and private sector bodies, and ways to meet them, through the exhibition and Make Your Mark speed networking events, does the same.”

The HUB opens at 10am each day at the Echo Arena – come along and see how your business can benefit.

SEE tomorrow’s LDP Business for more coverage of the HUB 2008 event.

alex.turner