Keynote SpeakersGerald Ratner was the CEO of Ratners Group.
He became head of the family jewellery chain in the mid-80s, becoming one of Britain’s best-known businessmen.
Gerald 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, Ratners was the world’s largest jewellery retailer, with more than £120m in profits.
Following his infamous ‘Gerald Ratner Speech‘ in which he described some of the products sold in the stores as ‘total crap’, he was forced to sell the business.
Watch the Gerald Ratner ‘Total Crap’ speech – delivered in 1991 at The IoD.
Gerald could not have predicted the damage caused by his casual remarks about his best-selling line. He went from the world’s most prominent jeweller to nothing in a stroke.
However, in 2003, he launched a new venture, geraldonline.com.
The specialist diamond retailer sells jewellery, watches, hallmarked gold and silver. The online business is already the largest of its kind in Britain.
Gerald’s biography, ‘Gerald Ratner: The Rise and Fall… and Rise Again‘, was released in 2007 and serialised in the Sunday Times
Gerald Ratner Speaker:
As a keynote speaker, Gerald offers audiences a first-hand account of the demise of his multi-million-pound jewellery business. He also discusses how he has put this behind him and successfully re-launched his career in a highly competitive marketplace.
Strong practical business messages and the execution of management strategies, combined with innovative ideas, are guaranteed to show audiences how to beat the competition, delight customers, and increase sales and profits.
After clawing his way back to the top, Gerald talks with typical candour about the rollercoaster journey and the valuable lessons learned.
Gerald, an incisive and astute businessman, is also a charming and witty speaker. As a result, he captivates audiences with the incredible story of his success and failure.
Speaking topics include:
- Retailing
- Overcoming Adversity
- Marketing and Branding
- Recovering from Adversity
- Entrepreneurship
- Strategic Management
- Risk
- Recovering from disaster
