Defining growth and success in your business

 

 

 

Although she initially started as an online shop www.chocchick.com, Galia realised that the best growth came from the retail sector in the UK and being stocked by multiples is now her company’s main focus. Having seen a sharp increase in demand of CHOC Chick’s organic raw cacao powder in Whole Foods Market and Holland and Barrett over the past two years, Galia has listened and adapted to customer needs and is working to increase the company’s product range with a new product line of blended raw cacao powders which will be launched in September 2015. The company’s growth plan is to continue to develop new products and work with existing retailers like Holland and Barrett and distributors to grow sales and increase awareness primarily in the UK and will be working with international distribution to bring her products to Europe and continue the growth in the USA.

 

Born in South America, Galia has over 25 years of business experience in law, high tech, internet marketing and the voluntary sector. In 2009 she left full time employment to find a better work life balance and turned her passion for chocolate into a successful online and retail business. Her unique raw chocolate making kits (CHOC Chick Kits), organic raw cacao ingredients and her simple recipes can be found online and in retailers across the UK, Europe and the USA (John Lewis Food Halls, Holland & Barrett, Whole Foods Market and over 300 independent shops).  

 

Jacky believes that growth and success in business is often linked with employing more people, increasing your turnover, moving to bigger offices and working long hours. But what if you don’t want this? Jacky will be paying particular attention to the ‘you’ in your business and the different definitions of growth and success.

 

Jacky has over 20 years’ experience in business development from Sales Manager level through to MD of an award winning sales and marketing company. This has given her a great insight into the responsibilities and pressures of growing a business as well as how to recruit, motivate and retain the best people. She now works with a select group of high growth companies at board and team level to ensure they maintain a profitable client base and a high performing team. Sectors she has worked in include digital, software, construction, retail and manufacturing.

 

For Simon, growth means “winning additional new customers and business in a planned way that provides a long term benefit to your business. It’s not about the silver bullet that solves your growth needs for 5 years, it’s much more about the activities you focus on day in day out."

 

Simon is the branch manager of Handelsbanken in Hove. He previously ran his own business locally, which was sold in 2007. He then joined Barclays where he was Head of International, running one of the largest trade teams in UK banking.  He has appeared before the House of Lords Select Committee on Exports and worked with the Reform think tank and the APPG for Trade and Investment. Simon also worked closely on export development with UK Trade investment and the Institute of Export where he was a non-exec director. He combines an understanding of corporate, business and retail banking with sound knowledge of leadership and strategic development.

 

The discussion will be facilitated by Rob Da Costa. Rob has 25+ years of commercial business experience from working in blue chip companies to starting, growing and selling his own successful PR, Marketing and Design agency. In 1991 he started his own marketing agency and over the next 11 years built an award winning business with 25 staff and revenues in excess of £1.5m.  He sold the business in 2002 and then retrained to become a coach and mentor. Since forming Da Costa Coaching in 2007 he has been helping owner-managed businesses to grow and create the kind of organisations they dreamed of.