News. What's going on in Furness
Retail Therapy
More than 70 people journeyed to the Lanternhouse on Wednesday evening to hear from top retail speakers, Edwin Booth and Sarah Dunning.
The Enterprise Masterclass, hosted by Furness Enterprise as part of the Encouraging Entrepreneurship in Furness project, was a sell-out success. Guests were attracted by the impressive speaker line-up and they were not to be disappointed.
Sarah Dunning, Chief Executive of Westmorland, kicked off the evening with a presentation on what makes her company different, and special. She spoke of the ethos square, local roots, and family values that drives the business. Taken together, it has made for a powerful combination that sees Westmorland grow from strength to strength.
Edwin Booth, Chairman of Booths Supermarkets, followed with an inspiring talk on how the fifth generation of Booths’ are taking on the huge competitive threat from the likes of Asda and Tesco, and still achieving growth. Edwin showed his deep knowledge of the workings of each aspect of the company, as well as a strategic vision that can only ensure Booths maintains its independence and upward curve.
It was the first time that these two retail chiefs had appeared on the same platform and the result was a great success. They provided the intellectual nourishment for an evening that finished up with a tasty buffet from Best Events, with many ingredients sourced from Booths.
John Barker, project manager at Furness Enterprise and host of the event, said: “We endeavour to bring top class speakers to Furness so local businesses can learn and benefit from their knowledge. Tonight was an example of how successful this can be; two great speakers, excellent feedback comments from the audience, and both Sarah and Edwin stayed for some time advising local small businesses how to access their supply chain. I’m delighted with how the evening has worked out.”
The next Enterprise Masterclass will be on 25th June with speakers David Williams of Impact Development Group and Matthew Mavers of Cater-Kwik. Please contact Michelle Proctor at Furness Enterprise for details.
Posted by Phil Powell on 25th April
