Show guide: essential advice for small businesses.(Growing your own business: showcase & conference)

Your future starts here

Welcome to the GROWING YOUR OWN BUSINESS SHOWCASE & CONFERENCE 2003 where I am delighted to be opening the event by talking about my experiences at Majestic Wine.

The showcase profiles an extensive range of good business support services plus a wealth of free information and impartial advice to help you develop your knowledge and provide you with the resources required to build your own successful business. The free seminars are also an invaluable source of practical advice and information.

Developing a business beyond startup is a whole new challenge. Starting a business is about writing a business plan, sourcing funding and opening your doors to opportunities. When growing a business keep abreast of opportunities and threats in the market and maintain a competitive advantage by updating your business model in order to survive and grow.

I took over running Majestic Wine in the grip of the recession in 1991. We had the plan to float the business in five years but the reality was that we went backwards for a while and 1992 was very tough--even the most brilliant master plans need to be flexible.

A series of bold cost-cutting decisions and new marketing activities in early 1993 turned the business from toss to profit. We achieved our goal of flotation on the AIM in 1996 and in the last two years our share price has tripled.

My work as chief executive of Majestic Wine has shown me how hugely rewarding creating a successful business can be--and I don't just mean financially. We now have 110 stores across the whole of the UK, all filled with intelligent, talented staff with whom I get to work daily. Providing them with the best staff training programmes in the wine trade and helping them develop is an integral part of the company's success.

In the last 12 years at Majestic I have accumulated plenty of experience at developing and growing within the retail market and I took forward to sharing this with you.

I hope you have a very rewarding and informative two days!

Tim How, Chief Executive, Majestic Wine Plc

OPENING TIMES: Friday 12 September--10:00-17:00 * Saturday 13 September--10:00-16:00

TICKETS: 8 [pounds sterling] if booked in advance via 01280 707 465 * 7 [pounds sterling] if more than one ticket is ordered in advance * 13 [pounds sterling] on the door.

DON'T MISS WHAT'S ON IN THE ECADEMY NETWORKING LOUNGE!!

A dedicated Networking Lounge at the event allows you to learn from your peers, share ideas and make valuable contacts.

The Ecademy Networking Lounge is Located within the Growing Your Own Business Showcase.

The Lounge is open all day, with FREE sessions hosted at the following times:

Friday 12 September

OPENING ADDRESS

(1) 10:15-10:45 * Majestic Wine--a story of growth

* Building and maintaining a unique concept

* Differentiating yourself from the competition

* The role of your staff in attaining success

* How to sustain consistent strong growth

Tim How, Chief Executive, Majestic Wine Plc

Since the establishment of Majestic Wine Plc in 1989, Tim has steered the business from a loss-maker to a 125m [pounds sterling] turnover, now employing 600 staff, with 106 …