B2B Wales speaker and one of the UK's most successful female entrepreneurs, Jacqueline Gold, of Ann Summers, goes under the Q&A spotlight May 3 2006
Sion Barry, Western Mail
What is your top tip/piece of advice for running a successful business?
Believe in yourself and don't let others deter you or put you down.
Do you have a business mantra or catchphrase?
No, but the best piece of advice I have been given is 'the greatest fear is fear itself'; ie, don't fear the competition. You can spend too much time worrying about the competition and not enough time focusing on your own business and what you are good at.
For you, what is the most difficult aspect of running a business?
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Running a large business like a small business. I like to run my business like a small business so I am hands-on, and am able to get feedback and respond and change things straight away. But sometimes it is hard when you are such a large business.
If you were setting up again is there anything you would do differently?
Yes, be myself. When I started in business as a woman in a male-dominated industry I emulated men and dressed like men. It was a mistake. Now I am myself.
Who has influenced you in business the most?
My father. Unfortunately there were no female role models when I was starting.
Do you have a business tool you find invaluable?
I can't live without my mobile phone and BlackBerry.
Is there any business/idea you wish you'd thought of?
I wish I had invented the battery. Our customers get through a lot of them!
Are there any mistakes you've made?
yes trying to launch a women's magazine, Bite, in the '90s which didn't work as newsagents kept putting it on the top shelf when actually it was a women's magazine targeted at the Cosmopolitan reader. It folded after a year, costing me a cool million pounds!
Most embarrassing business moment?
Many occasions of being stopped going through security at airports and getting searched and them pulling out Ann Summers products from my bags!
What would you have done if you hadn't been in this business?
Been an interior designer or something creative.
Next week Q&A with B2B speaker Simon Woodroffe
Sion Barry, Western Mail
What is your top tip/piece of advice for running a successful business?
Believe in yourself and don't let others deter you or put you down.
Do you have a business mantra or catchphrase?
No, but the best piece of advice I have been given is 'the greatest fear is fear itself'; ie, don't fear the competition. You can spend too much time worrying about the competition and not enough time focusing on your own business and what you are good at.
For you, what is the most difficult aspect of running a business?
Story continues
ADVERTISEMENT
Running a large business like a small business. I like to run my business like a small business so I am hands-on, and am able to get feedback and respond and change things straight away. But sometimes it is hard when you are such a large business.
If you were setting up again is there anything you would do differently?
Yes, be myself. When I started in business as a woman in a male-dominated industry I emulated men and dressed like men. It was a mistake. Now I am myself.
Who has influenced you in business the most?
My father. Unfortunately there were no female role models when I was starting.
Do you have a business tool you find invaluable?
I can't live without my mobile phone and BlackBerry.
Is there any business/idea you wish you'd thought of?
I wish I had invented the battery. Our customers get through a lot of them!
Are there any mistakes you've made?
yes trying to launch a women's magazine, Bite, in the '90s which didn't work as newsagents kept putting it on the top shelf when actually it was a women's magazine targeted at the Cosmopolitan reader. It folded after a year, costing me a cool million pounds!
Most embarrassing business moment?
Many occasions of being stopped going through security at airports and getting searched and them pulling out Ann Summers products from my bags!
What would you have done if you hadn't been in this business?
Been an interior designer or something creative.
Next week Q&A with B2B speaker Simon Woodroffe
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