I have been involved with retail since 1980, but the biggest change has been in the last seven years, with the incredible growth of online sales and marketing. From installing till systems in the early 1980’s, developing and owning out of town superstore’s, and latterly golf retailing, I have a wide range of retail experience.
Golf Investments
1999 – 2010
For eleven years my golf courses owned and operated on course retail outlets selling golf equipment, clothing and footwear. We set up a successful online retail golf sales using eBay, amazon and our websites.
Bearwood Lakes Golf Club
1994 – 1997
At Bearwood Lakes we opened an upmarket golf retail shop stocking, the leading brands from most prestigious golf manufacturers.
Finance & Equity
1987 – 1992
As a consultancy firm we were retained by Security Pacific Eurofinance (UK) Ltd advising on leisure and retail developments.
Grandstand Sports & Leisure PLC
1984 – 1987
Began this retail company with two other directors with our own money and raised £1million of venture capital to open the first out of town retail superstore in 1986 selling sports and leisure goods in the UK.
We built and opened over 50,000-sq ft of retail selling space in two locations in eighteen months.
Created a successful profitable retail business with a turnover in excess of £5 million.
Grandstand was sold to Sears Holdings Plc to form the basis of their Olympus Outdoor World Superstores (bought by Sports Division in 1995 which was taken over by JJB Sports in 1998).
