entrepreneurship, innovation, business information and stuff
In the evening I went to a ‘TV recording’ of Heather Wilkinson, The Founder and Managing Director of Striding Out, a pioneering support network for young people, aged 18-30, with enterprising ambitions.
I love their use of colour and strong images to establish their brand.
Wednesday 15 November 2006
Anita Roddick gave an enthralling presentation entitled Commerce with a conscience: can business deliver social change, as part of our ‘Inspiring Entrepreneurs’ series.
She had some really wacky slides and started off with HOMO-ECONOMICUS+HOMO CONSUMICUS = HOMO-SCREWEDUPICUS
Earlier on in the day I met John Bird the founder of the Big Issue who was using one of our rooms for a live online forum session on the Real Business website.
One of the great things about my job is meeting people who are making business successes in the most unlikely places. How abut Dee Wright whose business card describes her as ‘Lice Assassin’. She is the founder of The Hairforce, and has managed to make dealing with hair lice sexy.
Thursday 16 November 2006
Jacqui Harper, MBE came into the Library and gave a Presentation Skills Master-class. It was fascinating to hear techniques that she had learnt from her days as a television presenter at the BBC and GMTV.
She gave us a techniques to bring more warmth to our voices and to become physically relaxed before presenting to an audience.
Friday 17 November 2006
I spent the day at the Business Startup Exhibition at Olympia.
Our stand was overrun by entrepreneurs who could not understand why The British Library were exhibiting. It was great to be able to tell them about what we had available in the Business & IP Centre, and the fact that it was all free.
Tuesday 17 October 2006
My current favourite source for new business ideas is the Springwise fortnightly newsletter. Tagline ‘new business ideas for entrepreneurial minds. They claim a global network of 8,000 spotters who scan the globe for smart new business ideas, delivering instant inspiration to entrepreneurial minds.
In particular they look for ideas that can be replicated or franchised in the readers home country.
It’s free and comes in a nicely designed html email or pdf download from Netherlands based Springwise BV.
I’ve put a sample story below to show the kind of thing they do:
Born out of frustration from hearing their female friends complaining of frizzy hair, entrepreneurs Richard Starrett and Neil Macka took it upon themselves to devise a solution. They came up with the Straight Up machine.
Trading under the name Beautiful Vending Ltd, the two men realised there was a gap in the market, since English weather can turn perfectly styled hair to frizz, ruining a night out for women fixed on having pin-straight hair. It took them a year of research to develop the Straight Up, a patented vending machine that lets women purchase short use of a ceramic straightening iron. The vending machines use professional-grade GHD tongs, “the irons that styled a thousand catwalks”, and 90 seconds’ use goes for one pound (approx USD 1.85/EUR 1.50).
Offering style-conscious females the opportunity to look their best at all times -– regardless of unpredictable weather — this is a simple business idea with low start-up costs and serious potential. The business is currently run solely in the United Kingdom, where 500 units have been placed so far, but Beautiful Vending is seeking to grow quickly and franchise opportunities are available worldwide. Press hype regarding the product has been huge in the UK, garnering much interest from club and bar owners. Straight Up machines will of course be a hit anywhere women preen and primp: restaurants, gyms, shopping malls, office buildings…
Website: www.beautifulvending.com
Contact: richard@beautifulvending.com