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He took his considerable debt and created
DEATH™ Cigarettes. His Enlightened Tobacco Company PLC, which he
describes as a vertical learning curve, culminated after five years in a
spectacular tax arbitrage scheme, threatening to overturn the tobacco
industry and truly open up Europe for the consumer.
His Tobacco Direct scheme, took him to the
doors of the European Court of Justice, where he found himself up
against the combined might of the tobacco industry who were joined by
every Member State of Europe. He lost.
His verve and irreverent reputation led
him on to establish an Integrated Brand Marketing agency built upon his
experience in business and the philosophy of ‘Corporate Religion’, a UK
business best seller that he edited and to which he wrote the
introduction. He then went on to win business as diverse as Volkswagen,
Canon, Fairline Boats, Korn Ferry and Red Devil. He successfully sold
the Agency after three years in August 2001, coinciding with the birth
of his first child.
More recently, he and his wife have
launched the highly acclaimed Georgina Goodman brand of shoes and
accessories from their flagship store in the heart of Mayfair. The
Georgina Goodman luxury brand is now stocked by the major fashion
retailers globally. After just 18 months, GG’s hand-made exclusive GG
designs have attracted celebrity clients like Jerry Hall. The company is
seeing profits increase at a rate of 25% per season and a growth of over
50% yearly, a phenomenal achievement for an unknown designer competing
in a rarefied market against designers like Jimmy Choo. Having recently
appointed a new managing director, GG is set for continued success and
to compete with the good and the great designers of this century.
BJ is now channelling his energy into his
latest venture and taking his corporate learning into the SME market. In
his usual provocative style he will challenge business owners and
entrepreneurs to re-examine the truth and their brand.
BJ continues to work as an independent
brand marketing consultant and has become a much sought after keynote
and after dinner speaker for international conferences and events. |