Gerald Ratner to Speak at MENTA Business Show
The largest business to business exhibition to be held in Suffolk, will take place on Tuesday 2nd October. The MENTA Business Show, which is sponsored by MENTA Patron, Atkins Thomson Solicitors will be held at The Apex, Charter Square in Bury St Edmunds from 9am until 4.30pm
The event is free to attend. It will be the 10th consecutive year the business support agency has organised the event which attracts business leaders from across the region.
MENTA has invited guest speaker, Gerald Ratner, a businessman whose fall from grace was one of the most spectacular ever seen in our times. Gerald took over as CEO of the family jewellery chain in the mid-80s, becoming one of Britain's best-known businessmen. He transformed it from 130 stores with sales of £13m, to a public company with 2,500 stores and sales of over £1.2bn. By 1990, Ratner’s was the world's largest jewellery retailer with profits in excess of £120m.
The 'gaffe’ he made forced him to leave his business. After clawing his way back to the top, Gerald talks with typical candour about the rollercoaster journey and the valuable lessons learned.
Following Mr Ratner’s talk the audience will be invited to enjoy a stand up, networking brunch on The Apex stage. Students from the catering and hospitality department of West Suffolk College will prepare and serve brunch canapes whilst a jazz pianist plays.
The event is supported by Invest in Suffolkwhich promotes Suffolk as a great place to do business.
70 innovative and creative businesses will be showcasing their goods and services at the MENTA Business Show and more than 600 visitors are expected to attend the free event. Robert Dellow, director of Atkins Thomson is based at their Nowton office commented, “I’m looking forward to meeting with business owners, both exhibitors and visitors and celebrating all that is good about building a local business.”
To book tickets to hear Gerald Ratner and enjoy brunch, click here.
For more on the MENTA Business Show visit www.menta.org.ukor call 01284 760206 for more details.
