MoneyMaker Jun/Jul 2013

ISSUE SIX | JUNE/JULY 2013

www.moneymakermagazine.co.uk

MAKE IT • SPEND IT • LIVE IT

How will.i.am has tranformed from hip hop artist to global entrepreneur

#WILLPOWER is TAKING OVER

PLUS Finding hidden value in your business the power of design Wine and the SWAG Markets

editor’s letter DEAR Reader, Welcome to the first MoneyMaker of what promises to be a busy summer period for us, and hopefully all the entrepreneurs and MoneyMakers around the UK. The improvement in weather looks set to bring a new wave of optimism in British business with it, and that’s a sentiment we’re keen for us and you to ride together.

We had a great couple of months putting together this issue, starting with our entrepreneur spotlight, will.i.am. When it comes to inspirational figures in the world of business, you’ll have to go a long, long way to beat Mr William Adams. The man is motivated and has an unbelievable hunger to self-improve, not to mention to being supremely talented, as we discovered when we met him at the L.A. hub from which he is taking over the world. And to top it all, he’s never satisfied simply basking in his own success; There’s always a way to do things bigger, and better, something else to achieve, or a new avenue to explore.

When the Black Eyed Peas frontman talks about his vision of a digitally driven future, you don’t just want to believe him, you buy into him unequivocally. If you agree with us that it’s entrepreneurs who will drive the world forward into tomorrow, then will.i.am is one of the most important people on the planet right now.

We’ve also been busy hunting the best summer experiences and retreats for you all month. Consequently, in addition to this month’s Spend It, we have been running the inaugural MoneyMaker Luxury Travel Awards on our website. The response to the nominations has been overwhelming, and we’re pleased to announce that we will be publishing the results in the next issue of MoneyMaker. The voting is still open for another month, so head to the website and have your say before the final tallies are counted and the winners released.

We’re also looking for the best start-ups and growing companies looking for investment to feature in the upcoming issues. MoneyMaker is read by a vast network of investors looking for the next great business idea to back, so if you think that’s your company, and you’re looking to offer equity for a capital investment, then do not hesitate to contact us at invest@moneymakermagazine.co.uk. If we like your offering we will feature you in an upcoming issue of the magazine.

Anyway, that’s enough from me for now. I hope you enjoy the issue.

Best wishes Alex Hammond Editor in Chief, MoneyMaker Magazine

Editor in Chief Alex Hammond Managing Editor Mark Southern Associate Editor Lisa Curtiss Features Writers Phil Green Natasha Heard Alessio Rastani Eve Hartridge Sophie Horn Lucy Bartholomew Contributors Louise Hinchen Paul Herman Mark Mills Tony Drury Judy Nancy Belle-Dales George Johnson Bill Clark Mark Upton Art Director IF Design & Art Direction Videography Adrian Butterworth Photography Simon Jessop Head of Sales Tim Bevington sales@moneymakermagazine.co.uk Marketing & PR Polygon PR CELEBRITY LIAISON Simon Wiltshire

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contents

JUNE/JULY 2013

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UPFRONT 8

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News In Brief

MAke it 10 16 20 24 28 30 32 34 36 38 42 46 48 58 60 62 64

will.i.am Dress to Impress Tinchy Stryder Tomorrow’s Talent How to - Sell Your Company LonDON DRAPER Business Workshops Investment Networking Dreamchaser Franchise Marketing The Pitch Tony Drury Mark Mills RS Financials David Haye

INvest IT 68 72 74 78 82 86 90

Wayne Hemingway Celia Sawyer Collectibles Classic Cars Northern Art Wine Invesment Wine Spotlight

Trade IT 94 96 98 100

Alessio Rastani Trader Book Club Education Great Trades

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Give Back 104 Chris Burghes

Be Better 108 Cycling 110 Fitness

Spend It 112 126 128 130 132 136 138 140 142 146 148 150 152 178

Drive, Sail, Fly Concierge Airline Review Spa London Calling Gastrofiles Hotels Alyn Williams Gin Bespoke Lifestyle Fashion Sport Property How I Spend It

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Send in your stories: Got a story MoneyMaker should be reporting on?

Contact us at www.moneymaker magazine.co.uk

News in Brief what we’re talking about right now

World’s Most Powerful Electric Drive Powerboat Concept Unveiled From cars to sailing craft – Mercedes-AMG has joined forces with Cigarette Racing, taken components from its gullwing SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive, and integrated them into a stunning off-shore powerboat to create what’s called the ‘Cigarette AMG Electric Drive Concept’.

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The high-performance drive fitted in the iconic electric super-sports car makes the offshore powerboat the world’s fastest and most powerful electrically driven motor boat ever, with an output of 1656 kW, maximum torque of 3,000 Nm and top speed of 99mph. This

may not sound much in terms of road speeds, but on water this is remarkably fast. However, the low centre of gravity, and raft of other technology borrowed from both the SLS and F1, mean the powerboat still retains pin-sharp handling and stability.

JAGUAR F-TYPE HAILED 2013 WORLD CAR DESIGN OF THE YEAR Jaguar’s stunning new F-TYPE, the super stylish two-seater sports car, has just been declared the 2013 World Car Design of the Year.

The F-TYPE faced stiff competition from 43 other models considered for the award, this selection then being reduced to a shortlist by an advisory panel of design experts before final consideration by the 66 World Car of the Year jury members.

A member of the WCOTY advisory panel said “the F-TYPE exterior maintains Jaguar’s own elegance in its horizontal proportion and rounded surfaces, yet it looks very dynamic.

But I would like to say the interior design is even more attractive. It is clearly driveroriented, and a grip bar for the passenger is nicely integrated into the big centre console.

The seat design is superb, too.”

Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar,

said: “No design project has given me greater pleasure than the creation of the F-TYPE. It’s a project I’ve looked forward to from the moment I joined Jaguar, and it’s one that’s given my team and I great satisfaction. The F-TYPE is a sports car that is true to Jaguar’s design values – beauty of line and purity of form – and I’m honoured that the World Car of the Year jury has recognised our work with this award.”

Horses increase in popularity as investments of passion among High Net Worth communities according to Knight Frank’s Wealth Report Knight Frank’s annual Wealth Report has revealed that sports teams and activities (e.g. horses) is now the 6th most popular investment of passion among the global high net worth community, ranking behind other popular investments such as art, wine and classic cars, but ahead of antique furniture, stamps and other collectables.

This statistic might surprise the risk averse as investments into sports teams and, in particular, racehorses are often regarded as one of the riskiest an individual can make.

“This should not be such a surprise,” says Daniel Cook, managing director of Eclipse Equine Advisory, the high net worth equine advisory firm, “as many HNWs from these markets already have a good appetite for

risk. Many of our clients tell us that their horses, unlike the other investment in passion categories, provide them with the additional, real life excitement of sporting competition as well as a chance to enjoy their investment with family and friends at world class events.”

The Knight Frank report shows that growth in spending on sports teams and activities (e.g. horses) is predominately led by HNWs in the Middle East & Africa, which anticipates an increase of 10% in 2013.

“Bearing in mind the Middle East’s love affair with racing this might be expected,” says Cook, “although we are seeing an interest in other disciplines such as show jumping, eventing and dressage which may be attributed, at least in part, to Saudi Arabia’s

success in the 2012 London Olympics.

Australia also has a longstanding passion for horse racing with the industry generating in excess of AU$6.2 billion each year. One must also bear in mind the social prestige of horseracing in these regions, where there are spectacular winnings. Indeed, these regions are now home to two of the three richest races in the world: the Dubai World Cup ($10m), the Japan Cup ($6.7m) and the Melbourne Cup ($6.4m).

In Asia, however, Knight Frank’s report states that investment in this category is expected to grow by only 2%, although this is still ahead of the fiscally tormented European and North American continents that are expecting a decline in investment.

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will.i.am

It’s All About #will power Entrepreneurship in its purest form is all about inspiration, individuality, creativeness and drive. Many aspire to it, but few actually have it. One man who does is global icon turned business mogul will.i.am

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will.i.am

“I’m just a maker. I still make music, but now I’m also a maker of things”

Y

ou can be forgiven for thinking you know everything there is to know about William Adams. After all, in 2012 the man was everywhere. Whether it be starring in BBC1 Saturday night entertainment goliath The Voice, doing a stint on the Olympic torch run, or dominating the virtual online world through an enormous amount of social media activity, there’s no doubt that Will’s face is one of the lasting images of the past twelve

months.

From breaking into global consciousness as the driving force behind mainstream hip hop outfit The Black Eyed Peas, Will has taken his will.i.am persona and expanded his influential portfolio across the world of music and beyond.

From growing up with nothing more than a love of music and a desire to make it big, the young man from Los Angeles has catapulted himself from new boy on the music scene, to a major player in the industry, to a true A List superstar. It doesn’t matter in which corner of the globe you find yourself, there are very few faces more familiar to the people around you than will.i.am’s.

And that, of course, is part of Will’s success. The man is a walking, talking brand. Whether you find his constant self-promotion irritating or inspiring, no one can deny it is effective. He holds seven million people worldwide in the palm of his hand via his @iamwill Twitter account, and has carefully sculpted his image to make himself one of the most iconic, recognisable people in the world. From LED hairstyles, an outlandishly unique sense of fashion, or million dollar custom cars, Will knows that individuality and standing out from the crowd is what makes for a successful product.

In fact, in many ways will.i.am is the ultimate role model for any budding entrepreneur. He’s smart, talented and creative. He understands marketing, particularly online, better than most marketing directors at major companies and institutions. He sets himself ambitious goals, and then finds the drive and determination to be relentless until the task is done. And perhaps most importantly, he is never satisfied with his own success.

The Black Eyed Peas had more singles in the Top Ten of

the UK charts in the noughties than any other band (twelve, including five No.1s) and three coveted No.1s on the US Billboard Top 100. When you combine that with more than 30 million album sales worldwide, a host of global sell-out tours and a Super Bowl halftime show seen by over a billion people, there is absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind that Will was the front man of one of the biggest, and most successful bands on the planet. But that wasn’t enough, so he took a hiatus from the industry he grew up in, and instead turned his attention to new ventures.

“I’m a maker. I still make music, but now I’m a maker of things”, Will explains to us when we meet him in his LA office. And if there’s a better explanation of a multi-avenue entrepreneur, we are yet to hear it. It’s simple, but really gets to the heart of what will.i.am is as an industrialist. He’s creative, he’s innovative, and he gets things done.

And when we say “gets thing done”, we mean a lot of things. Will’s music industry dominance over the past decade is pretty much unparalleled, from The Black Eyed Peas and solo projects, to collaborations with the likes of Britney Spears, Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus, and a host of credits as a producer with the biggest names in pop. However, it is in more and more alternative ventures that Will is now determined to make his mark.

Although he isn’t turning his back on the music industry, there is a feeling in some circles that his entrepreneurial instincts may have outgrown the business that allowed him to ride to the top, and so pastures new is where Will is going to be focusing the majority of his energy going forward.

He already endorses a range of products, from bespoke cars to headphones, and has some very interesting job titles, including Director of Creative Innovation at Intel and Director at EKOCYCLE, the project Will set up in conjunction with Coca Cola to manufacture products with recycled materials (he’s also big into philanthropy as well – and is at the forefront of education of the under-privileged through his non-profit organisation i.am angel. Rumours are that he even donated his £500,000 fee for The Voice to charities helping young people in the UK discover technology through education).

But perhaps it is his foray into the world of tech start-ups over the past few years that give the biggest clue as to where the

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will.i.am

“I’ll still make music. You’ve still got to promote the things you make, that’s the original use of music. it’s just that the people making it have never participated in the things that were sold around it”

entrepreneurial career of Mr i.am lies.

It’s an open secret that he’s currently looking to head back to school in the near future, with a view to retraining as a computer programmer. Music is still as much a passion for Will as it was when the Peas formed in the late 1980s, but whilst it can reach millions, it can’t change the world. Technology can, and that’s where Will is at on his entrepreneurial journey right now. He wants to think big, and there’s nothing bigger than conquering the internet. It’s currently Facebook and Twitter that dominate the virtual scenery, if anyone is going to challenge that hierarchy it will be an entrepreneur with the disruptive personality and determination of will.i.am.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing in the tech world for Will though. His social media platform intended to bring music lovers together, DipDive, was not a success. This is somewhat surprising considering Will’s ultimate grasp of the social media world, but he is the first to admit that the lessons learnt from the DipDive endeavour have been invaluable in helping him progress as an entrepreneur. And anyway, as all good entrepreneurs know, it’s not how many times you fall down that matters, it’s how you get back up.

And that’s exactly what Will has been doing in spades, dedicating his head and heart to both physical and digital product development. He is working hard at Intel to carve a unique niche in the smartphone market, and has got his eyes set on delivering a smart television device affordable to homes across the planet.

Identifying the smartphone market as one of the technology sectors most intertwined with popular culture, Will has personally developed a series of iPhone accessories through his i.am technology company. The first, the i.am+ foto.sosho, an enhanced camera and fashion accessory, is already available in the UK and USA, and looks set to take the world by storm in much the same way Dr Dre’s Beats headphones did a couple of years ago. When you seed good technology in the right areas of popular culture, you’re onto a sure winner.

And as well as developing the hardware of the future, Will is also casting his magic wand over the world of the app. Identifying the disruptive nature of apps and the way they’re changing our interactive approach to the internet,

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it’s a natural fit for Will to be in front of the curve when it comes to app innovation.

Developing apps is a doctrine that he practices, but also one that he preaches. Always engaging, and never without looking us straight in the eye as he waxes lyrical about his future plans, Will the entrepreneur believes in the power of technology to transform the lives of people across the world, and also of the developers themselves. The financial might of the web is a large pie, and he wants as many people to grab a piece of it as possible. In his own words, “We’re transitioning away from the web to apps. So whatever field, jump on building apps.

Not necessarily apps for sale, apps for free, because aggregating eyeballs is where it’s at.” The message is simple: learn to master technology, and profit from building the future. It’s a mantra all entrepreneurs can take to heart.

There are even rumblings of a “Tech Factor” TV show in the works, where Will personally scours the globe for the Bill Gates and Steve Jobs of tomorrow, backed up by an entourage of online apps and platforms. It’s a novel idea, and certainly one that would garner more interest if it were to harness its creative drive from the digital world Will is adamant will overtake traditional television as the primary broadcast mechanism of the future – after all, if YouTube can make a Korean man singing an extremely dubious song in his native language one of the most famous men in the English speaking world, it’s fairly obvious that we are yet to reach the full potential of how powerful the online channels can be. There’s no better way of proving your entrepreneurial theory than putting your money where your mouth is, get it right and will.i.am OnlineTV really could be the legacy Will is searching for.

But Will really ever consider turning his back on the music world forever? There’s a brief silence as Will closes his eyes for a split second before breaking into that enigmatic smile we’re so used to seeing on television.

“I’ll still make music. You’ve still got to promote the things you make. So I’ll use my music to bring awareness to the things I make. It’s the original use of music. It’s just that the people making music never participated in the things that were sold around it.” Again it’s the entrepreneur, not the entertainer, who is doing the talking. And that’s why we’re such big fans of William Adams – when it comes to disruptive entrepreneurs, there aren’t many who think the same way as Mr will.i.am.

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how to

Dress to Impress In business first impressions can be everything, and that means looking every inch the part of a MoneyMaker mogul. Savile Row tailors Cad & The Dandy tell us just how to perfect an effortlessly sophisticated business style

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A well-proportioned cut, complimenting your shape, will never let you down. Attention to detail is everything

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usiness suits no longer have to be like the office uniforms of days gone by, made to blend in with the workday crowd, in traditional black, grey and navy blue.

These days, it’s important to stand out and distinguish yourself, without compromising your professionalism or sporting the wrong look for your business environment. For instance, you might adopt a much less conservative look in a creative business workplace than you would in the more traditional banking or legal environments, so it’s important to consider a choice of dress to complement your role and workplace, as well as reflecting your own personality.

For us, nothing presents a better business style than a good business suit. It says a lot about the wearer, reflecting professionalism, good taste and an expression of personal style.

There are several elements to consider when choosing a business suit – the texture, weight and practicality of cloth, the style, cut and a fit that’s right for you. A well-proportioned cut, complimenting your shape, will never let you down.

It’s worth remembering that when dressing for business, attention to detail is everything.

Colour combinations should be carefully considered and for the majority of business environments, it’s best to avoid lurid tones and clashing patterns. But it’s not just the colour and pattern of a suit that you need to think about. Business suits endure a great deal of wear and tear, be it jostling with the crowds on the daily commute, hours spent sitting in airports and on flights, hot footing it in cabs around town, twelve hour days spent in boardrooms, client meetings, corporate events, business dinners and working lunches.

An elegant, well-crafted suit instils comfort and confidence in the wearer - an absolute must when making that all important first impression. There’s no doubt that bespoke dressing is an investment, creating a perfectly proportioned silhouette, with exceptional attention to detail and an accuracy that guarantees the perfect fit.

If an off-the-peg suit is more in keeping with your budget, there’s always the option of taking it along to an alterations tailor to achieve an improved fit. The length of a sleeve, jacket and trouser can all be simply adjusted within moderation, as can the taper of a trouser and both the sleeves and body of a shirt.

There are a few other key things to note when dressing to impress, and here’s our top-to-toe tips.

Hair should be combed and tidy.

A clean shave or well-trimmed beard should be an essential part of any dress to impress daily grooming routine. A freshly laundered, well-pressed shirt is an absolute must, paying particular attention to collars, cuffs and front panels. Turning up in a creased, grubby shirt will always make an impression, but it will definitely be the wrong one. Trousers should fit well, have a sharp hem and ideally be in a weight of cloth that

“these days it’s important to stand out and distinguish yourself, without compromising your professionalism”

will naturally hold the front centre crease. Baggy, crumpled crotches showing the remains of yesterday’s lunch are a definite no-no.

It’s worth remembering that if you look well put together overall this also delivers the subtler message that you pay great attention to detail. It suggests that if you put this much effort into your presentation, you’re likely to be just as meticulous in your work.

We can very simply demonstrate the effect that dressing has on impact and success in the professional world by relaying the following story, about a client who came to us quite by chance. It goes a little something like this…..

Ian and James (our founding directors) were walking through the City one day when a young gentleman approached them. He stopped to ask if they could recommend a good tailor, as they looked like “a couple of well-dressed chaps”. They told him they just happened to be tailors themselves, with a fitting room around the corner, into which they invited him for a consultation. He was introduced to bespoke dressing and bought his first two-piece suit at the entry level price point.

Over the course of time, he returned with various friends, buying more suits and sharing his fortunate find. On one of these many occasions, he told us that his new improved style of dress had gotten him into trouble at work. He was working in public sector accounting at the time and explained that his boss had pulled him to one side to tell him that since he had started wearing his new suits, he was making everyone else in the office look bad.

Not surprisingly, he decided this might be the right time to look for a new job. He now works in private sector accounting and earns more than twice the salary he was on before. No more entry price suits for him!

So, there we have it. Looking your best and dressing well for business really does pay and proves the old saying “Dress for the job you want, not for the job you have”, to be a very effective one. Whatever your clothing of choice, when you’re out to impress in the world of business always remember to look clean, sharp, accentuate your best features and never compromise on quality. Business dressing should never be about fashion but should always be about style.

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tinchy stryder

Living on Cloud 9 MoneyMaker sits down with British sensation and music mogul Tinchy Stryder to talk show business, and how stars of the industry are reshaping just what it means to be a music entrepreneur

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How did you get started in the music industry?

I started creating music when I was young because it has always a passion of mine, and over time things have just gotten bigger and bigger up to where I am today. I used to MC in my bedroom with my mates because we shared a similar taste in music, and eventually we started our own group called Ruff Sqwad. We used to do a lot of raves and pirate radio stations with similar artists including Wiley and Dizzee Rascal, and then from a booking I got in Norwich to perform with JME I met my managers and it all started from there. I haven’t looked back.

What’s the highlight of your career so far?

I think the highlight of my career has to be my first number one, which was called Number 1 featuring N-Dubz. For a British artist there isn’t a greater moment in your career than getting that first number one, particularly as it was the culmination of so much hard work. It was a crazy feeling, and exceeded my expectations by staying at number one for four consecutive weeks.

Which industries outside of music are you particularly interested in?

I’m really interested in the fashion industry, and have always been since I was breaking into the music scene. I have my own clothing range called Star In The Hood, which I actually started as a small entrepreneurial business venture to fund my first album as I wasn’t signed to a record label at the time.

But as my career took off the fashion line thrived as well.

With two No.1s and four more top ten singles Tinchy Stryder is one of the most successful UK Hip Hop artists of all time

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Are there more options open to musicians in terms of business than in the past?

Artists definitely have more options in terms of business ventures than in previous generations, both in the music industry and in other areas. Sponsors and collaborations are both far more common than they used to be within the music industry, and the influence of music artists in popular culture is such that the marketability of the artist themselves as a brand is at the most valuable it has ever been. So whether it’s clothing, headphones, phones or even drinks, artist endorsements to products are now big business, as it’s

a more open market and the public increasingly want what you’re representing.

So would you ever consider retiring from music and pursuing other ventures full time?

No I wouldn’t. I love music and it will always be my number one priority. I’ve never even considered working in music as a job, it has always just been my life, so I could never walk away from it. All of the business opportunities that have come my way as a bi-product of doing what I love, and every day I count being a part of the music industry as a blessing.

What’s your ultimate ambition as a businessman?

My ultimate ambition is to continue being a successful artist that makes waves with my own material and promoting other artists from my record label, Cloud 9. I’m also dedicating myself to expanding all my other business ventures, including my headphones collection and my clothing line.

Did you ever have any doubts you wouldn’t be successful? And if you did what did you say to yourself to overcome them?

Yes I have had doubts at times in my career, but when it comes to the pathway to success I have always believed that you have to take risks, believe in yourself, know what you want and focus on it. If you believe in yourself you can achieve everything you want in life. Having the right people

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“Stay focused, work hard, do not be afraid of falling, and above all be unique. Everyone is different, not forgetting that will get noticed” around you is also key to success. People you trust and who share your vision are invaluable.

What advice would you give anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

My advice would be to stay focused, work hard, do not be afraid of failing, and above all be unique. Everyone is different, and knowing that and not forgetting who you are is what will get you noticed in an industry like music.

Do you have a master plan you’re working to, and how far are you down the road to achieving it?

You have to have a plan and know what you want to achieve if you’re ever going to reach your goals. I suppose to the outside world it may look like I’ve achieved a lot in in a short space of time, but there’s still so much I want to accomplish in the industry, so I think of myself as still taking early steps along the master plan.

You latest entrepreneurial project is with Goji headphones. How did that project come about?

Goji first approached me about the collaboration, and it

tinchy stryder

Tinchy Stryder’s Goji headphones and speaker range are available exclusively from Currys and PC World

just seemed like a natural fit for me and my brand. I had seen how successful Dr Dre had been with his headphone range, and wanted to bring out my own product which matched the great quality, but at a more affordable price.

There were a lot of meetings back and forth with regards to the product design, but it was worth it in the end as we now have a brand that we’re really proud of.

How important have your business partners been in your successes?

I have to say it’s been very important in my path to success. You have to be able to listen and take in everyone’s opinion, two brains are better than one. I’ve been fortunate enough to have had the chance to work with some great people so far, and look forward to working with other up-and-coming business people in the future.

Tinchy Stryder has teamed up with Goji to produce the Goji Tinchy Stryder: On Cloud 9 audio range which is available exclusively at Currys and PC World.

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One to Watch

The Rich List Rich Martell, 24, is a serial internet entrepreneur in every sense. After narrowly escaping being expelled from university for setting up a popular student flirting and social media website called FitFinder, he has gone on to create a number of highly successful technology companies. His current project is Munch, a hi-tech food delivery company which helps restaurant chains, including high street powerhouses Nando’s, Wagamama and Byron deliver takeout food to customers. He also still sits as Chairman of Floxx Media Group - a company he founded when he was just 21. We caught up with Rich to discover more about just how he’s made it as such a successful young entrepreneur.

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One to Watch

“steve jobs once famously said ‘all i want to do is make a dent in the universe’. that’s the attitude i want to emulate”

When did you decide you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Rich Martell: I’m not sure when the exact point was. I’ve always been fairly ‘entrepreneurial’. As I was growing up I was encouraged to get a job at a pub as a waiter to earn some cash, but I hated it so much I tried to find other ways to make money. My first venture at school involved sneaking out and buying doughnuts at the local supermarket, bringing them back and then undercutting the school tuck shop! Both my mum and dad run their own businesses respectively so I must have picked something up from them too.

How have you grown your business from the early days to where you are now?

RM: Lots of hard work. There is no easy way in business and no matter what people say, you have to be dedicated and hugely passionate about what you are doing. It’s quite easy to get the idealistic view of Richard Branson on Necker Island running the Virgin Group and being surrounded by cash, but being entrepreneur is not like that. There are so many times when it’s 2am and you’ve just worked 18 hours straight. The only thing that keeps you going is your passion.

What are the benefits of working in the technology industry?

RM: For me the biggest benefit is that I have a genuine interest in it. I’ve always been fascinated by technology, from when I was first bought an Acorn computer. I taught myself to code when I was about 14, and then went on to read Computer Science at UCL so have always found myself to be a bit more technologically minded than most. Technology is also so engrained in pretty much every other industry nowadays, which is why it’s such a good space to be in. If you look at how industries such as taxis have been disrupted by apps such as Hailo, then that’s just one example that proves just how much technology has made a dent in people’s everyday lives.

Is the tech industry in the UK catching up with the rest of the world?

RM: We’re ahead of most of it. We’re still playing catch up with San Francisco but London especially has a thriving tech community. What we really need is a superstar company to be a real success in the UK to show the rest of the world what we’re made of. If we can show that Brits can build companies that can be worth $1bn or more, then that’s when a lot

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more venture capital investment will flood in. We have some real potential winners in the likes of Mind Candy (Moshi Monsters), Spotify and Wonga.

Does the UK do enough to support young entrepreneurs?

RM: There’s a lot of support out there, but like everything you just have to go digging around for it. Investment schemes such as EIS and SEIS are great kick-starters to help young companies raise investment, by giving the investors some rather juicy tax breaks. What I would say though to any first-time entrepreneurs is that you should make friends with other people also starting up businesses. Having a strong support network is so valuable in the early stages, and finding great mentors can really help when things get tough.

What’s the proudest moment of your career as an entrepreneur?

RM: It’s hard to pick one exact moment to be honest. I’ve had an extraordinary journey so far, and hopefully much more to go before all is said and done. If I had to pick one thought it would probably be winning one of the places in Wayra for my new company Munch. We were one of 3,100 companies that applied to be part of the programme, and made it into the final seventeen that ended up raising investment from Telefonica. We had a couple of tough weeks to get where we were, and there were a lot of doubters, but I was hugely proud of my whole team when we heard we had been selected.

As a young entrepreneur, do you have any inspirations in the industry?

RM: I have a lot of friends who also run tech start-ups. They inspire me every day to be better. There are so many great stories out there of people trying to do amazing things that it’s hard not to want to give something a go. I particularly like seeing people like Elon Musk (Ex Paypal, Founder of Tesla and Space X) really push the boundaries of the industries they’re in. As Steve Jobs famously once said, all he wanted to do was “make a dent in the universe”. I admire those kind of entrepreneurs who are trying to disrupt an industry, and create a behaviour change for the better.

What practical advice could you give to young entrepreneurs looking to follow in your footsteps?

RM: Get up early, don’t be afraid of failing, and exercise!

What are you plans for growing your entrepreneurial empire in the future?

RM: I like to get involved in companies that I have a general interest in. The reason I started my second company, Munch, was because I was annoyed that the service I wanted didn’t exist. I like to build companies that solve my own problems.

I actually have a few interesting sock businesses launching soon too! One day I’d like to be in a position to angel invest.

I see so many decent entrepreneurs that I wish I could get behind and help them grow their businesses, but until then I’ll just focus relentlessly on improving every aspect of the companies I’m working on.

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Through the facilitation of partnerships, and with an extensive network of influential members, UKIBC provides knowledge and networks vital for UK companies to make the most of emerging opportunities in India.

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How To

Time To Sell Ensure your business is properly prepared for sale, by Paul Herman, Group CEO, Bluebox Corporate Finance Group

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“If you are selling a business make sure you are properly prepared. This cannot be done overnight, you need to address a wide range of areas across the business”

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am often asked by business owners and entrepreneurs about the process of selling their business. Most business owners don’t actually start their business with the intention of selling it, but it is fair to say that many do think about this as their company grows, they receive an approach or when they reach a certain stage in their life.

Having sold over 50 businesses across a range of sectors including Gu Chocolate Desserts, Princess Yachts and Mappin & Webb I recognise that for entrepreneurs, selling your own business can be one of the most rewarding elements in the business life cycle. However, it is fair to say that a sale process can be challenging, emotional and complex. It needs to be managed carefully.

Critical to ensuring that you achieve a successful sale of your business is making sure that you are properly prepared.

Sadly this preparatory work cannot be done overnight.

Planning for a sale needs the right amount of time and it needs to address a wide range of areas across your business.

I normally suggest anything between a six month and two year window for this planning. Planning for a sale will not only improve your chances of selling, but it can also have a dramatic impact on the price that you receive on the sale itself! Think about selling your house. Would you really start bringing potential buyers around for viewings before the walls were painted and the cracks had been covered? And, more importantly, don’t you think that you could achieve a better price if you had applied for some planning permission, even if the work hadn’t started, to demonstrate to a buyer how much better the house could be?

When one looks around the countless advisers who assist business owners in selling their business, I was shocked to see the statistic that over 80 per cent of business owners who try to sell their business fail. That truly concerns me. I started looking, along with a number of experienced colleagues, at the reasons why these businesses were failing to sell.

I spoke with James Caan, for whom I had sold a business some years back, and he immediately recognised the issue.

James had experienced the problems that arise as a result of a lack of planning first hand. He was so passionate about this problem that together with him we started the Bluebox Corporate Finance Group. The aim of Bluebox is to start working with business owners earlier on their journey to exit, making sure that their business is thoroughly prepared for sale at the time when it is “presented” to the market.

There are a number of things that you can do to ensure that your business is properly prepared for sale, but my five top tips are: Think about your potential buyers Long before you put your business up for sale, you need to

consider who is likely to be interested in buying it. Will it be a competitor, will it be an overseas buyer, or will it be someone working with a similar customer base? The reality is that each buyer will be looking for something different so starting to think about what will be attractive to a wide range of buyers at an early stage is likely to pay dividends.

Presentation of the “opportunity map” Buyers do not pay for what has happened in the past. Yes, they may be interested in the trends that are evidenced through historic trading, but the reality is that any price that they will pay will be driven by what they believe the business can achieve in the future. It is why the presentation of your growth opportunities, or the “Opportunity map” as we call it at Bluebox, is so important. Get this wrong and you are likely to miss the opportunity to maximise your value.

Review key value drivers Buyers will “value” your business in a number of different ways. Most will look at the level of your profitability, but some will also be driven by other metrics that are associated with your business. The number of long-standing customers, the turnover in different areas of the business, and the split of business in different territories are just some of the factors that could be considered when the future of the business is being weighed up. Make sure that you understand what these value drivers are as they will all be key to improving the price that someone will pay.

Management team planning Making sure that the management team that you are working with are aligned to future success is important, especially if there are members of that team that are critical to the success of the business. A buyer will want to ensure that the team is able to support the business going forward, and it may be that some share options are used to not only incentivise the team, but also to improve the price that you achieve.

Prepare for due diligence Due diligence is a necessary evil for most sale processes. It is the time during which a buyer takes a very close look at all of the key aspects of your business. Key to a successful sale is making sure that you are prepared, well in advance. As well as ensuring that your documents are properly collated, you should be careful to ensure that the documents and picture that you present do not have any holes in them that may give rise to a dreaded “price chip”.

I hope that you find these tips helpful, but for more information please do not hesitate to call me, Paul Herman, or my team at the Bluebox Corporate Finance Group on 020 7015 2222 or take a look at our website at www.blueboxCFG.com

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advertising

London Draper #1:

Daren Rubins, PHD Media To launch our new series profiling the very best of the UK’s advertising talent, we caught up with the celebrated CEO of PHD Media UK, Daren Rubins to get the lowdown on what every entrepreneur needs to know about the murky world of media How do you see the current UK advertising landscape?

In some ways, the UK landscape is exactly the same as it’s always been, an environment where we’re helping our clients to sell more stuff. There are differences though, largely that advertising is no longer the main landscape feature, it’s now just part of the scenery. And the tools we have to capture the landscape are now infinitely more powerful and sophisticated than they’ve ever been before.

What are your top tips entrepreneurs should know regarding advertising?

Great ads can make a monumental difference to your success – but great ads are the exception. Great media, on the other hand, can make a very significant difference – and great media is very achievable.

Also, too many people worry about “wear-out”, a perceived problem with the over-exposure of advertising. They should spend more time worrying about “wear-in”.

What are the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make within their advertising strategy?

Some entrepreneurs don’t believe they need to advertise, quoting brands like Google, eBay and Amazon. It’s true to say that there have been examples where brands have spread and thrived virally, but you can count them on two hands. And, interestingly, even these brands have invested in advertising more recently.

It’s important not to look at advertising as a box that’s been ticked after a launch campaign – the most successful brands are those that talk consistently to their audience, adapting their message as the brand grows and faces new opportunities and challenges.

What’s the future of the advertising industry, and how can entrepreneurs be at the forefront of developing techniques and technology?

The industry has, for some time now, been migrating towards two main areas. The first is the performance-driven side, which

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will become increasingly addressable and programmatic. It’s the science and technology that reaches current customers and traces potential customers, based on their media and purchasing habits. It’s constantly tested, reviewed and refined to make every pound directly accountable.

The second is the more creative side, which is reliant on great ideas that engage people in a way that creates a shift in behaviour or attitude. It’s the genius that gives the brand a meaningful purpose in people’s lives. Increasingly, this involves creating content, partnerships, sponsorship or experiences.

What makes PHD unique?

Most media agencies lean towards one of these areas but PHD excels in both. We understand how performance and creativity work together and, crucially, how traditional media works with newer channels.

We were the UK’s first planning-led agency, so creating communications that stand out and work is what we’ve always been known for. This, plus being part of Omnicom (the world’s largest marketing services group) gives us the scale, resources and expertise to out-manoeuvre the competition.

Why should entrepreneurs look to PHD for their advertising needs?

Unlike nearly all of our competitors, PHD was set up by entrepreneurs, and we’ve managed to foster this spirit. It means that we’re constantly looking to find a better way for our clients, and also a better way to run our own business. It means we treat our client’s money as if it was our own, and we take their individual successes and challenges personally.

Our entrepreneurial spirit is one of the main reasons why we appeal to innovative businesses like Wonga, Confused, Spotify, Expedia, Dyson, eHarmony, Viagogo and many others.

Is traditional advertising still the most potent method of an entrepreneur launching a new brand?

Not necessarily. A lot of the time decisions on these things depend on the timelines of the growth plan, but also factors like the sector the client is operating within, the proposition,

stakeholder expectations, etc.

That said, it’s no coincidence that television is currently thriving on ecommerce businesses trying to establish themselves as the default option in areas such as insurance.

What have been your most successful campaigns?

It’s easy to talk about the big, public campaigns that have received lots of accolades, such as the current Sainsbury’s ad-funded programme on Channel 4, What’s Cooking.

Or the final episode of the Harry Potter movie franchise, where we got fans to participate in the advertising. Or the Angina Monologues, a show we created for the British Heart Foundation, bringing Victoria Wood back to the stage and in the process creating a huge multi-media event. But to us, the most successful campaigns are the ones that do what the client was hoping for, and more – and in that regard we have a track record to die for.

Have you seen an upturn in people wanting to join

the advertising industry since the success of Mad Men? There has been an upturn but I would prefer to think it’s down to our industry being one of the most interesting and dynamic in the city. Media used to attract a certain type of brutish negotiator, but it’s now full of young, smart, entrepreneurial types.

That being said, you can’t fail to be slightly jealous of an era where pouring a Scotch at 10.30am was called “work”.

What should an entrepreneur seeking an advertising firm be looking for?

Two things. The first is the right credentials and experience, because no one wants to hand over hard earned/raised cash to a group of people that haven’t already done it successfully a dozen times.

And the second is a team of people you trust and want to work with. Life is too short not to make it interesting and enjoyable.

Daren Rubins is the CEO of PHD Media UK. Find out more at www.phdww.com

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Business Schools

Time to Head Back to School?

Novice business owners often need help to get an idea up and running, and one of the first decisions new entrepreneurs should consider is whether to invest in attending business classes or seminars. A £10m Cass initiative that brings together money, potential and guidance is one such business school, so we wanted to find out more about this exciting learning opportunity.

T

he first aspect of Cass that is so impressive is the organisational approach taken to support each element of a new business.

Cass Business School’s Centre for Entrepreneurship deploys a three-pronged approach to assisting aspiring entrepreneurs: funding for promising new companies sits alongside incubation support and programmes on new venture creation and management development.

Five new ventures launched by Cass alumni have received investment from the £10 million fund since its creation in July 2009 via a bequest by Peter Cullum, a Cass alumnus who founded the City insurance group Towergate.

It is this breadth of activity that Nick Badman, Chairman of the Centre and former head of UK buyouts for the private equity firm 3i, believes places Cass in a strong position to provide the expertise, skills and training to help launch the business leaders of tomorrow.

Where else, he asks, can you receive mentoring from leading entrepreneurs, have access to investment and affordable office space, and hear from the likes of Professor Cliff Oswick, Head of the Faculty of Management at Cass, at specifically tailored Sunday evening lectures? “A lot of academics in a lot of places would not do that,” says Badman, offering it as an example of how the academic and venture capital worlds can work together for the benefit of entrepreneurs.

The Centre’s incubation space at Cass is a good way for the investment team to get to know the Cass alumni and assess their potential without immediately handing over any cash.

The office space is home to Accutrainee, launched by Susan Cooper, a Cass Executive MBA graduate from the class of 2010. She also took the Centre’s new summer venture

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programme which aims to help budding entrepreneurs develop ideas that can grow into substantial businesses, spotting any pitfalls along the way and offering advice on investment deals and shareholder agreements.

Susan Cooper was a banking lawyer with Hogan Lovells, one of the City’s largest firms, but was keen to explore various opportunities in the legal industry. Tough times and increased competition mean law firms have been reluctant to take on a lot of trainees when they do not have a clear idea how many newly qualified solicitors they will need in two years’ time. In recent years there has been a 23% reduction in the number of trainees taken on.

Accutrainee recruits aspiring solicitors then places trainees with firms and in-house legal teams for agreed periods. The trainees get the experience they need and the secondments offer firms a cost effective, flexible way to manage their graduate recruitment.

Cooper says: “Once people understand how the model

“Five new ventures from the CASS alumni have received investment from the £10 million fund”

works, we get fantastic feedback. It’s a traditional industry and I have no doubt things will take time, but the model is designed to work alongside a firm’s existing graduate recruitment processes as well as stand alone, delivering significant advantages along the way.”

From what we’ve seen the Cass Business School is offering budding entrepreneurs a fantastic opportunity to dip their toes into the world of business, and get a first step up onto the ladder of commercial success. We thoroughly recommend you pay them a visit.

For more information about Cass business school visit www.cass.city.ac.uk.

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Investment

Investment Markets are Heating Up this Summer Given the low UK interest rates, is there now heated competition among investors looking to back business and how will this affect the UK investment market? n By Perry Anderson

U

K interest rates are currently in the basement, and that really doesn’t look like changing in the medium term. For The Bank of England, keeping interest rates at record lows for extends periods, as has been the case for the past few years, is an obvious mechanism to keep the value of the pound weak, a must in the current economic climate.

But what does that mean for private individuals and investment houses? The answer, quite simply, is that there is no value in stockpiling capital in banks. Whilst some banking instruments will be more fruitful than others, little to nothing can be gained financially by merely sitting on cash. From the global venture capitalist all the way down to the private financier, investors are therefore left with a dilemma that they simply weren’t faced with when the economy was booming in the middle of the last decade, namely how to cover the shortfall in expected returns created by a lack of interest rate support.

The only solution, of course, aside from temporarily moving capital outside of the UK and into a more buoyant currency such as the Australian dollar which in itself comes with a new set of problems, is to move additional capital out of the banks and into new investments.

In theory, therefore, the Bank of England‘s continued grip on a low interest rate inevitably increases the competition between investors for the most profitable ventures in which to amass equity. If demand to find good homes for capital is growing, and supply of good investment opportunities is relatively fixed, then there is a natural “squeeze” on the investment industry as a whole.

There is currently a trillion dollars of capital sitting on the side lines worldwide, as a direct result of the global economic downturn. When the financial markets collapsed the initial reaction of institutional investors was to batten down the hatches, and avoid being caught in the downward economic spiral that was engulfing investments globally.

The economic outlook is now much more promising,

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and as a consequence investors, who are naturally risk conscious operators, are more prepared to move money from “safe havens” to positions of risk to compete for better returns. Although the global economy is far from healed, the investment community’s confidence in its performance is recovering quickly, and that means a shifting in attitude from “how can we avoid making huge loses?” to “how can we position ourselves to make increased returns?” Clearly this new thinking doesn’t involve retaining capital in minimal interest banking mechanisms, which is why the “trillion dollars” is beginning to wake from its slumber.

And, of course, with so many investors having a similar mind-set with regards to so much capital, an increase in competition for the best investment opportunities is unavoidable. Even in the fastest growing business sectors in the UK, the most obvious of which being the technology, social media, and smart phone app development industries, the market of investors looking to place capital in for equity is greater than the total number of profitable opportunities available.

Overseas investors are increasingly being drawn to the UK because of the prospects created by favourable business conditions, and whilst his is evidence that there are good opportunities to invest, this again only serves to increase the strain on the domestic investment market because of the increased competition in the most sought after investment sectors. The weakness of the pound, the low cost of debt instruments and the dramatic reduction costs of resources, in particular skilled labour, are all contribute to an influx of investment capital from outside of the UK. This trend will in all likelihood continue until such a time as the investment market becomes exhausted.

The bottom line is that as the trillion dollars mobilises itself, predominantly with the improvement of the economic outlook and the historically low interest rates as the primary drivers, there will be more capital available than good homes to accommodate it. Even with the aforementioned favourable conditions for start-ups and business expansion within the UK , there aren’t enough companies looking for investment

who will be projecting big enough returns to satisfy the saturated investment market.

This can only be negative for the UK investment market as a whole.

Competition will be fierce, and for those investors who lose out on the prime investment opportunities are limited.

Keeping capital on the side lines and waiting for a better opportunity is a possibility, but with interest rates so low returns from this avenue will be almost zero, which is of course extremely undesirable for the institutional investor.

And if the investor sees no potential returns from the currency or commodities markets as an alternative source of investment, then this shoe horns the investor into investing the UK business market for lower returns.

An increase in competition for any commodity puts the advantage with the buyer and not the sellers, which in turn leads to a reduction in price. Because there is more investment capital in the UK than good homes for it, particularly in the banking sector, businesses themselves are in a far better position to negotiate investment than if capital were scarce.

So whilst now may be the time for investors to begin placing capital back into the market to allow their money to work with, rather than in spite of low interest rates, the increased competition to place capital both domestically and from overseas investors will inevitably result in a degree of settling for diminished returns from all but the prime investment opportunities.

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Networking

MONOPOLISING MAYFAIR Stylish new private members venue The Clubhouse recently launched a networking event for entrepreneurs, promising outstanding opportunities for elite businesspeople to do business in the heart of Mayfair. Mark Southern discovered The Clubhouse Entrepreneurs Club to be ideal for those seeking connected contacts looking to walk the walk, and not just talk the talk

The Clubhouse is a smart, sophisticated environment that gives businesspeople a unique opportunity to meet in West London

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ayfair doesn’t tend to be the most obvious location for entrepreneur networking events, with more modern London business leaders tending to congregate more centrally or in the East than the Monopoly board’s premium address. However, with more and more elite businesspeople focusing on the acquisition of ultra-high net worth contacts, the capital’s more traditional money zone is coming back into fashion as a hotspot of entrepreneur interactions.

We’ve noticed a rising number of invites for entrepreneur networking opportunities in the area, so

tried out the most talked about in elite business circles, The Clubhouse Entrepreneurs Club.

Taking place at the impressive eponymous club on Grafton Street, which successfully aims to combine a private members’ club and five star business lounge, the event retains an exclusive feel, and offers entrepreneurs a buzzy and modernist place to do business.

We arrive and are made to feel welcome, before being introduced to many of the other entrepreneurs milling about. There is a pleasantly surprisingly eclectic number of industries represented from tech entrepreneurs to international businesspeople looking to make deals there and then. The Clubhouse staff work hard to create a positive and non-pushy ambience, and we find we glide from one entrepreneur to the next seamlessly, and politely.

Drinks are plentiful and light, and we find that we are nearing the point where a break would be a good idea when the night’s speaker, James Lohan, the founder of Mr and Mrs Smith, gives a smart, bright and amusing interlude performance, before we’re chatting business again with more connected entrepreneurs.

Despite the obviously nice surroundings of The Clubhouse, we judge a networking event on the people it brings together, and our scientifically sound business card scoring system (a business card is added to our left jacket pocket if we feel we could do business with them, and right if we feel we couldn’t), reveals more than a 90% hit rate, which is good by any measure.

Mayfair may be seen as traditional money, but it’s a very nice mix of the new and the old we encounter here, in what is fast becoming one of the most must-attend networking events for entrepreneurs in London. www.theclubhouselondon.com

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Dreamchaser

THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE Just a few years ago Kate Winstanley was merely another face in a sea of stressed out advertising execs, until discovering the secret that would change her life forever.

A chance introduction to acupuncture opened her eyes to a new way of living, inspiring the entrepreneur inside her to retrain and become the most in-demand celebrity health brand in London. We found out how the entrepreneur embraced a new way of life, and became the go-to wellbeing guru to royalty.

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Dreamchaser

T

hey say everything in life happens in cycles, but the ancient Chinese art of acupuncture’s cycle has taken a rather longer time to complete its 360 degree comeback. The practice originated nearly 4,000 years ago, and its influence peaked in the middle ages, before business went a little quiet. And, aside from the odd moment in the spotlight, it has kept a low profile in the Western world ever since.

However, after millennia of humble tranquillity, things are changing rapidly, with A-listers the world over turning to the practice’s incredible properties to help heal and even hold off the effect of age. Like Elvis in 1968, acupuncture has risen again, and it’s on the lips of kings and queens throughout the world.

Every new revolution needs a leader, and at the forefront of the new wave of acupuncture is the brilliantly inspired entrepreneur, Kate Winstanley, the woman behind the most in-demand acupuncture service in Europe. With a black book of celebrity clients that would make a Middleton blush, Winstanley has become the practitioner to the world’s elite, with oligarchs, sheikhs and UK and overseas royal families all ensuring her air miles look as healthy as her finished patients.

But the globetrotting businesswoman wasn’t always so happy in her life, and just a few years ago was struggling through her mundane corporate life, stressful day after stressful day. That is until she experienced that epiphany so many entrepreneurs will relate to, that changed her life forever.

Since that fateful day, the health-obsessed entrepreneur has retrained, launched two new clinics in London, and established her own brand as one of the world’s most desirable and successful acupuncture services. Taking on the role of running the businesses, as well as delivering much of the acupuncture herself, Winstanley is nothing if not ambitious, and her single minded determination to be the best she can be has seen her labelled by one Hollywood A-lister as “the reason she still works in the movie business”.

We met up with the entrepreneur at her exclusive Chelsea clinic, where we notice a particularly impressive cavalcade of blacked out cars outside.

Kate Winstanley looks every inch the international celebrity’s guru. In fact, she looks every inch the international celebrity, and her softly spoken words carry an aura of absolute assuredness. Sporting a healthy tan from the three days she has just spent on board a Russian billionaire’s yacht (he and his family have become complete acupuncture converts since she first succeeded in helping his back pain with a single session), the acupuncturist exudes a natural calm, which noticeably soothes everyone in its radius.

However, lurking just under the peaceful exterior lies the heart of a visionary entrepreneur, and her ability to change the way that the elite view the ancient practice is truly extraordinary. We asked her to share with us the secrets of her success.

What were you doing before changing your life?

Like many people in their early twenties I had left university with a good degree, but without being entirely sure what career path to choose. I moved up to London with a vague idea that

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I wanted to be in marketing, and was lucky enough to get a job at a top agency, working my way up to become an Account Director working on top FTSE 100 brands.

However, whilst the job was rewarding in parts, the corporate world wasn’t for me, and like many people out there I was being dragged down by the constant stress.

At what point did you realise that you had to make a change?

On approaching the office and walking towards my desk my chest would start pounding in anticipation of the stressful day ahead. As I logged on to my computer I felt a sense of impending doom. I dreaded picking up the phone for yet another difficult conversation.

When I confided in a colleague she said, “I’m regularly sick before meetings I’m so nervous”, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. This started my thought process that there must be an alternative to climbing the cut-throat corporate ladder.

How did you make the change?

When I was younger I wanted to be a doctor or a physio, but ended up studying humanities, and my first degree was in English Literature.

As I got older I was no longer sure that Western medicine had all the answers, and developed an interest in alternative medicine and the theories behind them. It was after an acupuncture treatment for a nagging pain in my lower back that I had my ‘eureka’ moment. Not only was my back pain resolved, but I had a sense of clarity and perspective.

I was telling a friend how incredible acupuncture was, and in that moment I knew I wanted to be an acupuncturist. I did research into available courses and went along to open days. I enrolled onto one then and there, and handed in my notice at work.

What challenges did you face at first?

Not having a job was the first concern! I had to adjust my lifestyle and spending, use up my savings, move home, and watch my overdraft increase.

Also, there was a loss of status, which I never realised would affect me. I had liked telling people that I worked in what was perceived as a ‘cool’ industry, and telling people I was now studying acupuncture and living back at home, and seeing their slightly perplexed faces, was difficult for me.

I also naively thought that doing the four year full time training was the hard part, when of course the setting up your own business is the hard part. I had had some business development guidance on this as part of my training, but it really felt like a baptism of fire.

What lessons did you learn from setting up on your own?

When you are employed you have the luxury of just doing the job. Running your own company means you have to run the business as well, and I have learnt to not underestimate the amount of time this takes up.

It’s so important to be disciplined, and not let the paperwork build up, and hiring a great accountant is critical to help you manage your taxes. I’d also advise everyone to

Every revolution needs a leader, and when it comes to the new wave of acupuncture taking the UK by storm, Kate Winstanley is right at the forefront

“i remember thinking that there must be something better than the cut-throat corporate world i had found myself in”

library, GP surgery, physio, coffee shop, gym, beautician in the areas around my clinics and introduced myself and my brand, and left a card and leaflets - you’re the best brand ambassador your company will ever have.

At what moment did you realise you had made the right decision?

Deep down it had always felt like the right decision. The big confirmation moment for me was when I was in the student clinic and treated my first patient. Her health improved quickly and she sent me a card saying thank you. The sense of amazement that I had from knowing that I had facilitated her return to health was immense and all the confirmation I needed to know that it had been the right decision.

What would you have done differently, looking back?

I would not have signed up to a rental agreement at my first clinic. This meant I was paying a weekly rent when I didn’t have enough patients to cover it, which caused sleepless nights.

I would also not have tried to set up my own website. It was time consuming, frustrating and didn’t look very good. I now have a great guy who builds me fantastic websites, and has the know-how to advise me on SEO, blogging, social media. He is worth his weight in gold. get a business mobile phone, partly as this keeps it a business expense, but mainly as you know that when the ‘bat phone’ rings you need to be in a business frame of mind.

It’s also important for entrepreneurs to never ever forget that they are a brand, in charge of a brand, and it’s vital that entrepreneurs take time right at the start to work out what their brand is. You can’t be all things to all people, so you have to decide who you are and who you want to talk to. Take a piece of paper and brainstorm - what colour is my brand? Which words describe my brand? What images? What people? This will focus the mind and you will come up with a consistent, recognisable look and feel through all your marketing. Being clear on your brand will help you make the right decisions for your business.

And it’s critical to talk to your audience - embrace social networking, share information, be interesting, be useful. Have a voice and a point of view. And not just in the virtual world, physically get out there. I went into every health food shop,

What does the future hold for you and the brand?

The last few years have been about establishing the brand and ensuring that patient gets the best possible results.

The next year is about strengthening the brand with several high profile projects and collaborations and new clinic launches. Going forward I plan to grow my personal position as a trusted spokesperson for acupuncture to the medical profession and wider public.

The Harley Street and Chelsea clinics are fully booked, and we have a new Canary Wharf clinic opening shortly, which is the next step, and I am looking at international options, as many of our clients are from the Middle East and farther afield.

In addition, cosmetic acupuncture is a real growth area as people are turning their back on artificial treatments and looking for a non-surgical approach to anti-ageing. I have developed my own bespoke procedures, which are a natural alternative to invasive approaches, and are proven to drastically reduce the effects of aging. It’s a hugely exciting time.

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FRANCHISE

Going for Gold In 2007 Laban Roomes was an up-and-coming entrepreneur dreaming of a big future. Six years and one Dragon’s Den appearance later, and Laban is a global business mogul at the top of the international gold plating industry. We caught up with Laban to learn more about his remarkable success story

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How did Goldgenie launch? What were you doing before Goldgenie?

I have always been a hard worker. Growing up in a poor family, I started work at an early age to help my mum out. I did a bit of everything, from cutting hedges to buying cars and shipping them to Jamaica, and by the age of 19 I had paid off the mortgage on my family home. Things were going great until my business partner sold my business behind my back and I was left with nothing. It was a really dark time in my life and I was sleeping on a friend’s living room floor whilst I tried to come up with an idea that would get me back on my feet. I remembered a gold plating system that I had seen in America the year before, and that had always stuck at the back of my mind. I drew up some plans for a portable gold plating device and had one made, and that’s when Goldgenie was born.

Did you know you wanted to be an entrepreneur before you launched Goldgenie?

Absolutely. Even from a young age I had lots of small businesses on the go, as I just had an eye for making money. I always loved the idea of being my own boss, coming up with new ventures and being in control of my own future.

How was your experience with Dragon’s Den? Dragon’s Den was a fantastic experience and since I appeared on it in 2007, my life has been a whirlwind. However, after I was selected for the show, nerves got the better of me and I pulled out at the last minute. It wasn’t until the third time I was asked to go onto the show that I actually decided to go through with it. That decision was made after a good friend of mine had passed away: It made me realise that you should make the most of every opportunity, and I’ve never looked back since.

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FRANCHISE

“There’s been many highlights, but I think designing an ipod for elton john is at the top of my list” Would Goldgenie be here today without Dragons Den? Appearing on Dragon’s Den and winning investment from James Caan has no doubt had a huge impact on the success of Goldgenie, and I am incredibly grateful for the financial support and opportunities the show has given me. However, I am a very ambitious and determined person so there is no doubt in my mind that Goldgenie would still have been a success without Dragon’s Den. Before I appeared on the show I had been flown to Los Angeles to gold plate 55 mobile phones for Emmy Award winners including Denzel Washington and Helen Mirren, so I was already on my way up before the show.

Would you advise other would be entrepreneurs to seek mentors/investors?

Of course having the financial support is important to any entrepreneur starting up a business. However, more important than that is having a mentor to support and advise you. Advice and guidance is priceless, which is why I now spend a lot of time supporting other aspiring entrepreneurs in launching their businesses. It’s my way of giving something back to the business community.

What’s the highlight of your career as an entrepreneur to date?

There have been so many highlights, but I think being approached by Elton John to design a 24ct. gold-plated iPod for his annual White Tie and Tiara Ball auction is probably at the top of the list. Twelve iPods were auctioned off to VIP guests including Will Smith, raising more than £100,000 for Elton’s AIDS Foundation. We also sold the product in Harrods and Selfridges, and they have been our most successful product to date.

Is the recession affecting your business?

Many of our clients are from the Middle East, Russia or Asia where their economies are growing rapidly and there is demand for high end luxury products like ours. Our business is continuing to grow year on year and we have been lucky not to have been affected by the recession unlike so many others.

Tell us about how you are now franchising Goldgenie in the UK and abroad?

We offer international master franchising as well as low entry level business opportunities here in the UK. We have 18 master franchises worldwide, including Italy, South Africa and most recently Bahrain. The business opportunities are also very

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popular and allow individuals to set up their own gold plating business for which we provide a complete business solution, training and support.

What is in the future for you? Are you looking at new businesses outside of Goldgenie?

I’m 100% focused on Goldgenie at the moment. The company is constantly evolving and I want to focus on growing the business and introducing new products and services. Not only do we sell luxury products such as 24ct. gold-plated iPhones, iPads and BlackBerrys, but we also have a customisation service where we gold plate bathrooms and even temples and mosques. There is an increasing demand for all of our services and I don’t intend to take my eye off the ball any time soon.

Do you have an inspiration in the business world?

They say you should never meet your idol, but given the opportunity the one business mogul that I would like to have met would be John D Rockefeller. His business and life story inspired me from a young age.

If you could offer one piece of advice to young entrepreneurs, what would it be?

I would encourage young entrepreneurs to really think about exactly what it is that they want to achieve and to keep that at the front of their minds. Everyone’s image of success is different, so it’s important that you can visualise your goal and focus on achieving it. We all lead busy lives and it can be easy to become distracted as to what it is that we really want. Stay focused and anything you desire can be yours.

With a larger-than-life personality and backing from entrepreneur James Caan, Laban has taken his unique product and turned it into a global business

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Marketing

Understanding and Optimising QR code use

By Ryan Higginson - Vice President, Digital Channels Europe at Pitney Bowes

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“The QR CODE is the marketing tool currently experiencing the most rapid growth, with a 2012 report finding a 96% increase in scanning codes”

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very day marketing gurus read about how advances in technology are simplifying connections between the physical and digital world: augmented reality, NFC and location-based notifications to name a few.

These are all great ways for companies to reach consumers, but they are hindered by the fact that the interaction does not happen in a natural manner. Augmented reality requires lengthy scanning, most smartphones are not NFC enabled and consumers are often irritated by the invasive nature of location-based notifications. With innovations such as Google Glass quickly becoming a consumer reality, marketers are approaching a point where natural interactions, such as looking at something, can yield more information than first meets the eye.

The QR code is one interactive marketing tool that is currently experiencing rapid growth. Invented around 30 years ago, it is not until recently that marketers began to use them extensively and today their use for marketing is one of the fastest growing trends, with a 2012 comScore report finding a 96% increase in the scanning of codes compared with the year before.

If businesses are to maximise the impact of QR codes, they need to ensure they understand the basics first.

It is an incredibly simple tool but an easy one to use incorrectly, such as on spinning posters or in areas without data access, making it virtually impossible for customers to use. At pbSmartEssentials, we have come up with C.O.D.E, a simple four-step approach to planning a successful campaign. It will help businesses take advantage of the QR code opportunity and help them get the best results from their campaigns.

C.O.D.E.

Step 1: Create an irresistible offer. When a customer sees the call-to-action for a QR code, businesses should ensure consumers know what they will get and why they should scan the code. Excite and pique customers’ curiosity with a call-to-action that is simple and irresistible. Some examples: l “Scan now for an instant discount…” l “Scan here for a sneak-peek at our latest video…” l “Scan here for an interview with…”

Step 2: Optimise for mobile. In this fast-paced mobile world there are few things worse than scanning a QR code and waiting forever for the hard-to-navigate linked site to load. Businesses need to create mobile-optimised websites that load quickly, look great and make it easy for customers to take advantage of offers, make purchases or simply browse information. Mobile websites should be:

l Visually consistent with your call-to-action offer and your branding l Simple and specific (don’t try to include too much info) l Capture email addresses so that you can build your mailing list Step 3: Delight customers. Businesses need to ensure that scans immediately give value to consumers. No marketing tool disappoints as much as a QR code that simply points to a main website with no new information or offers to make it worth the time. Businesses need to create a valuable, worthwhile experience that customers will respond to and want to tell their friends about. A few ideas: l An instant discount, recipe, tip, fact, contest, prize or offer l A short, amusing YouTube/Vine video, photo or song clip l Links to offers or information on your Facebook or Twitter pages l A link to a survey with the chance to win a prize Step 4: Educate. This is the most important step as every campaign comes with new results to learn from. Through data analysis, businesses can work out which QR codeassociated content is generating the most interaction and, if on a fixed medium such as a poster, it can show the location of consumers when they browse content.

By examining all these areas, businesses can begin to understand which marketing materials are working best and subsequently develop a strategy to build on those successes.

This process doesn’t have to be complex as easy-to-use dashboards can display the required data.

It is essential to take time to really understand the data, analyse it and discuss the results with the wider business so the right things are being done to move marketing forward and learn from any mistakes made. Gone are the days when measuring campaign success was overly complex and costly; creating and measuring digital campaigns can now be done at a touch of a button and cost nothing if you’re clever about it – using analytics should be the foundation of any digital-savvy marketing strategy.

Conclusion

In our opinion, any business can launch a successful QR code campaign, but it is critical to design a professionallooking C.O.D.E and ensure the placement is suitable and eye-catching. In addition to optimising landing pages for mobile in order to provide an engaging experience, businesses should also be tracking results in real-time and using analytics to determine which campaigns have worked and which haven’t. QR codes may have existed for a long time, but it is the newest wave of technology that is making their adoption widespread. Those who experiment and innovate with QR codes now stand to extract maximum returns as digital marketing continues to evolve.

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THE PITCH

Catwalk Calling Get into the fashion business, with the talk of the town Brit brand, Garderobe

l THE BRAND Garderobe is a British luxury menswear label with real backbone. The collection was launched at London Fashion Week after being approached by the British Council to take part in what was only their second Menswear devoted presentation.

Already the label has received phenomenal interest from the cream of British fashion retail, including Mr Porter, Harvey Nichols, and Matches amongst others.

Our approach comes from a very personal desire to create the ultimate wardrobe-driven range, which has style, longevity and isn’t dictated to by trend. A range which is customer driven, and with a design process that is not driven merely by margin, but where cost is proportionate to quality and product level.

We have created a range that evolves each season with the same core values, attention to detail and foresight; a beautifully made luxury product that is attainable, and produced by the same factories that manufacture for Burberry, Givenchy and Gucci.

The label has already, without the aid of a PR team, begun to attract the attention of fashion publications and leading fashion bloggers, and we have been selected as a “One to Watch” by influential Phoenix magazine, steadily growing support for the brand. And this is all before our best ever A/W collection hits stores in August 2013. l THE TEAM The label was initiated a mere ten months ago by Chris Mossom and Sasha Rushworth, starting with nothing but an idea and a premise to build a completely uncompromising brand that we truly believed in.

Both founders had become somewhat jaded by what was out there, brands that sacrificed both style and substance, or that were completely inaccessible.

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market that is largely unexplored, with only a handful of European brands (Acne, The Kooples, and Sandro) recognising this growing market area.

Before now London as a style leading capital didn’t have a label that represents and meets the needs of this growth market.

The founders are the ever passionate, ever beating heart of Garderobe, with a combined 20 years’ experience in the industry, creating and building successful brands for other people. Between the pair they design, art direct and product develop the collection each season. l THE MARKET Men’s shopping habits are changing and the market is changing with them.

Men are becoming more informed and fashion aware. Indeed, according to Mintel marketing intelligence, the men’s fashion market has been the first to lift from recession.

Men as shoppers tend to by fewer items, but invest more in individual pieces, with more than one in five investing in luxury pieces compared to previous years.

The large divide between mass high street and unattainable luxury “super brands” is an area that both the founders understand, and believe in on a personal and professional level, and yet this is a

l FUNDING REQUIREMENTS An injection of funds would allow us continue our growth through expanding our current menswear line, as well as further the reach of the brand through PR and marketing, in order to realise the potential of the brand both in the UK and internationally.

We are already receiving interest from US department stores Bloomingdales and Neiman Marcus, and in addition we are beginning to receive interest from Asia, which we recognise as massively growing market.

In order to fully establish ourselves, we are seeking investment of £600,000. The investment would allow us to grow our in-house team to ensure and manage our business needs.

For Spring/Summer14 we plan to launch our first accessories and footwear range as part of the menswear line, and in the next three years we hope to launch a womenswear collection, with the same uncompromising ethos, eventually opening stores that deliver the full brand experience as well as capitalising on full retail sales. l TURNOVER AND PROJECTIONS The début collection launches into five stores in August 2013, with 2014 projected turnover at £400,000, with an estimated turnover of £1.09m for 2015. These figures take into account focusing on a UK market only.

If you are interested in discussing the investment more, email us at invest@ moneymakermagazine.co.uk, and we’ll share your details with the brand.

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THE PITCH

Destination Broadway Bret Easton Ellis’ best-selling novel, American Psycho has become an iconic hit around the world in both book and film forms. Investors are now being offered the chance to see Patrick Bateman come to life in the theatre, where the profits can be as slick as an 1980s yuppie’s hair. l THE BRAND AMERICAN PSYCHO is a new stage musical premiering at the Almeida Theatre in London this December. The show paints the shocking, funny and unsettling portrait of Patrick Bateman, a 26-year-old investment banker living the high life in 1980s Manhattan. The story is based on the controversial novel by Bret Easton Ellis, originally published in 1991, which has sold over one million copies in the US alone.

In 2000, Lionsgate released the popular film version, featuring Christian Bale in his star-turning performance. This iconic brand has long remained a part of contemporary pop-culture, and a stage musical provides a thrilling new platform through which to connect with audiences.

We are currently raising $150,000 via a Kickstarter campaign; the site provides additional information and visuals on the project, the music, the creative team and merchandising potential. l THE TEAM The music and lyrics are written by Tony,

Grammy and Olivier Award winner Duncan Sheik (“Spring Awakening”) and is penned by playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (“Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark,” Fox’s show “Glee”).

Olivier Award winning director Rupert Goold (“Macbeth,” “King Lear,” “Enron”) will stage the production as Artistic Director Designate at the Almeida Theatre. The commercial producers are David Johnson and Jesse Singer of Los Angeles-based development and production company Act 4 Entertainment. l THE MARKET Gross ticket sales on Broadway totalled almost $1.2 billion in 2012, a 10% increase over 2011. The total number of seats sold and average ticket prices also grew year on year. l FUNDING REQUIREMENTS An injection of funds would allow for our initial not-for-profit production to be more fully enhanced (live music, additional rehearsal time, larger cast). It would also increase our PR and marketing budget and give us the ability to present our show in the best possible light to later-stage

investors and commercial theatre owners.

Early developmental funds are sought up to $500,000, and would carry over to any potential commercial transfer (West End or Broadway), on terms to be discussed. Please note this does not constitute an offering, which can be accomplished only pursuant to a prospectus. l TURNOVER AND PROJECTIONS It is too hard to say this early, but past commercial successes on Broadway and the West End have returned multiples to their investors. A hit show can potentially gross well in excess of $1m/week and run for years. Other potential streams of revenue include, but are not limited to, touring productions, cast album sales and merchandise.

To find out more about the project, visit www.APtheMusical.com and to find out more about Act 4 Entertainment, visit www. act4entertainment.com. If you are interested in discussing the investment more, email us at invest@moneymakermagazine.co.uk, and we’ll share your details with the brand.

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THE PITCH

Joint Ownership Medical technology can be famously lucrative, but also provides an investor with a genuinely worthwhile asset in their portfolio.

HydraCartilage™ offers something unique for the right investor, that could make a real difference to the world l THE BRAND The HydraCartilage™ implant is a water-like polymer that has been developed to mimic natural human cartilage. The HydraCartilage™ implant range is cylindrical in shape and is designed for use as a resurfacing device to restore joint function for patients with arthritic disease and/or defects in joint cartilage.

An initial development spend of £1million has enabled this technology to match the natural characteristics of human cartilage, and has proven to be biocompatible, biostable, bioinert, wear resistant and durable. It is designed to be highly lubricious (low coefficient of friction, similar to human hyaline cartilage) in order to facilitate frictionless movement within the articulating joint.

The cost of production is £50 per unit, which we are then able to sell for £800 per unit.

What medical problems does it solve?

It helps with a number of problems, including the first MTP joint (big toe), which is susceptible to an array of disorders such as traumatic injury, sports injury, problems of overuse and systemic disorders.

Hallux Valgas (bunions) is one of the most common foot problems. When the big toe is angled towards the second toe, this causes a “bump” on the side of the foot at the base of the big toe. In addition, there is often a thickening of the skin and tissue next to the affected joint. Patients often have significant family history of bunion deformity and treatment can be challenging as the deformity

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may range from benign and systematic to severe and disabling.

The HydraCartilage™ implant can make a real difference with these real problems, and more. l THE TEAM The management team at HydraCartilage™ has vast experience in the medical devices industry at senior and board level. Each director brings specialist expertise: Yousef Taktak (PhD MBA) is a Director and industrialist with significant experience at senior level in start-ups and international technology-based companies, with a proven record in strategic business and product/ technology development, business/resource planning and financing. He holds several patents in the fields of medical technology and industrial chemistry.

David Reed holds 40 years of experience gained in the field of precision engineering and the medical devices sector, especially Orthopaedics. He has significant expertise in the design, development and manufacturing of medical devices and instrumentation using the latest technological advances.

Louise Holliday’s experience is in the chemicals industry stocks and supply chain.

She has five years experience as a stock and supply chain manager to the medical device industry, five years’ Regional Development Agency experience (Bioscience/Healthcare sectors) and six years’ as a business development manager in the genetics/ healthcare industry.

l THE MARKET In the UK there are 22 million adults over the age of 50, and 1 in 33 (640,000 patients) will develop large toe complications. Meanwhile, a massive 40% of the population suffer arthritic joint pain.

The NHS delivers 27,000 large toe procedures annually, at a cost of around £4,500 for a standard toe fusion. Our HydraCartilage™ solution halves this cost.

The NHS annually delivers 110,000 knee joint procedures, and 110,000 hip joint procedures too, whilst there are a further 10,000 patients seen by the NHS over shoulder and elbow joints, amongst others, and we can offer real savings here.

Meanwhile, there is a significant overseas market, estimated to be ten times the UK market, and we have real interest already generated in Europe. l FUNDING REQUIREMENT & USE OF FUNDS We are seeking an investment of £300,000 for the commercialisation of small and non-weight bearing joints. We will invest the money into testing and production, amid a 12 month programme, for which the management team is prepared to release up to 30% equity.

Returns are expected to reach £4.45 million within four years, with a gross profit of £3.95 million.

If you are interested in discussing the investment more, email us at: invest@moneymakermagazine.co.uk

“the nhs delivers 27,000 large toe procedures annually, at a cost of around £4,500 per fusion.

Hydracartilage halves this cost”

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THE PITCH

Recycling Profits

As the world becomes more technology dependent, and goods become ever more disposable, investors are sought for a solution to a global issue l THE BRAND We are Suez Environment for electronic waste, and MobiCycle Ltd is a for profit social enterprise, recognised by the UK’s Technology Strategy Board for its innovative approach to electronic waste management.

In one year the company has run pilots, conducted market research, formed strategic partnerships and designed containers to recycle users’ old technology. The e-waste containers have an internal mechanism to protect mobile phone and tablet deposits that are left within them, with the design also including RFID sensor technology to read RFID tags on the technology. Meanwhile, the sensor sends data to a web portal, where our customers pay subscription fees to purchase the inventory. l THE TEAM Entrepreneur Roslyn Scott launched the brand to allow her knowledge of change management in organisations to change consumer behaviour.

In addition, the team is also made up of a collective of visionary, experienced entrepreneurs, including a founder who holds an MSc in Major Programme Management from Said Business School, Oxford, and has over a decade of international experience in project management within manufacturing and service sectors.

One non-executive director led the start of Orange in the UK from £0 to £900m in annual revenues, whilst another exited two successful businesses, the most recent built CloudXL from £0

to £18m in annual revenue within five years. l THE MARKET The brand solves a valuable problem in a huge, growing market for electronic waste. There are no specialist e-waste container companies, yet legislation in China, the US and the EU all mandates that phones be collected.

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) there are about six billion phone subscriptions across the globe, for a population of nearly seven billion people.

The average retail value of a container in the UK is £250-£500. l FUNDING REQUIREMENT In a business with healthy margins and low capital requirements, we seek £2m in exchange for equity to provide working capital and match funding for grants. Tasks involve finalising the prototype for manufacturing and developing the hardware/ software around the RFID sensor technology. l TURNOVER & PROJECTIONS We are pre-revenue, and seek an investment of £500,000 to enable us to manufacture and sell our product internationally. Revenue projections are £500,000 in 2014, £2 million in 2015 and £5 million in 2016.

If you are interested in discussing the investment more, email us at invest@ moneymakermagazine.co.uk, and we’ll share your details with the brand.

“There are six billion phone subscriptions across the globe, for a population of seven billion people.”

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THE PITCH

A Design for Life Great design is a fundamental part of successful premium products in 2013, and D*Haus offers investors a chance to change the way consumers live l THE BRAND The D*Haus Company is an experimental design and architecture practice, producing products inspired by mathematics. We use a common mathematical principle and apply it across three areas of design: architecture, art and lifestyle products. For example, our application of Henry Ernest Dudeney’s discovery has allowed us to generate a family of ideas: some of which are products for use in the home, and others which are the home itself.

The D*Haus Company was established in 2011, since then, D*Haus has appeared in a number of exhibitions in the UK, international magazines, journals and television features around the world including: The Sunday Times, Daily Mail, BBC Culture Show, The Virgin Media House of the Future, Hello Magazine, Globe and Mail Canada, FastCompany, Vogue Italy, Home & Decor Singapore, Huffington Post and Wired Magazine. We have also been short-listed for a number of awards including The Blueprint Design Awards 2011 and Dezeen’s Top Videos of 2012.

The first product the company is releasing is the D*Table - a flexible and adaptable low table that can transform into eight different positions, to suit different spaces. We already have a number of confirmed orders for the table, and a series of international retailers who wish to stock it.

Our ultimate goal is to realise the world’s first dynamic house, The D*Haus Dynamic - a shape shifting house that can change its form to respond to environmental and

North London, and work with a support team, including a product development specialist and a web/digital designer. l THE MARKET The recent financial crisis and knock-on effects on the housing market have left many lovers of high-end furniture design and innovative home design less inclined to make new purchases.

However, we believe the recovery in these markets and an increase in consumer confidence mean that the full launch of D*Haus has been timed perfectly. seasonal conditions. We already have a series of potential clients for this project in locations, including the UK, US and Middle East.

We are also working with a well known and respected manufacturer from the automation industry, who is supporting the idea, and with whom we aim to build a working prototype to present at The Grand Designs Live Exhibition, London 2014.

We are now seeking financial backing to make the project a reality. l THE TEAM The company is formed by its two Directors, David Ben Grunberg and Daniel Woolfson.

Both are qualified architects, who met whilst studying at the University of Manchester, and both have worked for a number of different architectural practices in the UK and abroad before establishing D*Haus.

They run the company from its studio in

l FUNDING REQUIREMENT An investment of funds would allow for us to reduce the production costs of D*Table, develop some elements of the design, allow international distribution, increased PR and marketing, recruitment of required personnel, increase studio space along with research and development into future D*Haus products.

We are aiming to have all our investors covered by the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and therefore are looking for a maximum of £150,000 for an equity stake in the company. l TURNOVER AND PROJECTIONS Through sales of the D*Table we believe we can raise around £300,000 in our first year, with satellite products raising an additional £100,000.

“Our ultimate goal is to realise the world’s first dynamic house, the d*house Dynamic - a shape shifting house that can change its form to need or want”

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“SMEs represent high risk that needs to be subsidised by the government. it’s a detailed argument but we believed the minister understood our points”

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Tony Drury

The Drury Report Corporate financier and SME guru Tony Drury was asked to present a report to the Treasury outlining suggestions on how to improve the supply of equity finance to SMEs. We sit down with Tony to discuss the report’s findings What is the Drury Report?

The Drury report is an independently produced series of ten recommendations suggesting ways that the Small-Cap Sector (defined as sub-£50 million by capitalisation) can make a greater contribution to the UK’s recovery from recession. It is predicated on a belief that the availability of early stage equity finance is vital if SMEs are to maximise their true potential.

How did you come to be asked to produce the Drury Report?

In the early part of 2012 I blogged extensively on enterprisebritain.com about my concerns about the impending collapse of PLUS Markets. In a series of four articles I explained what to do about it. These not only received a higher than usual level of interest, but also my local MP and the Treasury read them. I was asked to summarise my views. However the MP advised I needed to get peer group support from the City.

I put together the members and we worked well together. I was then asked to attend a meeting with Treasury officials and then a majority of the members recently met with Greg Clark MP the Financial Secretary to the Treasury. We are waiting for Andrew Selous MP to debrief with the Minister following our exchange of views.

Tony Drury is a profesCaption: Evellorpor sional corporate finanandunti aspelestenis docier, andCusande author. loratblogger ectecabo. ofbisitem novels Megan’s Game es ut doles pliThe Deal tatet es nosand re voluptur?

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Did you find any surprising results from the report?

There has been widespread support for the report. The underlying concern is that such is the draconian effect of the current regulatory regime that it is difficult to see how the small-cap community regenerates itself.

How was the report received when it was presented?

We were impressed by the attitude of the Minister. Greg Clark MP was very well informed and wanted to listen. We are waiting for his summary views. During my own meeting with the Treasury my MP suggested that “nobody had spoken to them like that before.” He was referring to my theme that the best solutions come from the markets not from regulation. I received several emails of thanks for my comments.

What is the underlying message the Drury report is trying to get across?

a) The small-cap sector can make a much greater contribution to the economic recovering b) The provision of early stage equity finance underpins bank support for SMEs c) We can help improve the introduction of government schemes by applying a practical assessment e.g. The SEED/ EIS scheme that has failed to make an impact but which has great merit.

What active steps can government take to assist SMEs? The truth is that the two steps they could and should take will not happen: a) SMEs represent high risk (because they are small and have weak balance sheets). That risk needs to be subsidised by government. It’s a detailed argument but we believe the Minister understood the point. b) Advisers to SMEs need to improve their skills. This can only happen with government subsidising their costs.

Is there any indication that actions will be taken off the back of the report?

We are waiting for the Minister’s debrief. However, the Group has asked to stay together. We are currently researching globally small-cap stock markets and preparing our proposals for an Enterprise Stock Market.

If the Drury report were to be implemented, over what time scale could SMEs expect to see the consequences and what practical differences would it make? a) SMEs generally don’t believe a word of what government says. An example is the SEED/EIS scheme.

It’s a good idea which has been wrecked by the FSA’s regulatory regime and the Revenue’s imposition of additional rules. The section in the Finance Bill is 64 pages long.

We think SMEs would welcome our market aspirations and solutions. We have received a number of representations along these lines. You must remember however that the FSA is operating a feared and accusatory approach which is crushing enterprise. b) Our forthcoming proposals for an Enterprise Market could have an immediate effect because its aim is to improve the supply of early stage equity finance.

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MANAGEMENT

“the key to getting the most from your business is to focus on your strengths, find a niche and adapt to any changing trends”

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Finding the Hidden Value in Your Business

By Mark Mills, CEO – Comerga Consulting

E Mark Mills is a highly sought after specialist business sales broker, non executive director and business speaker

very business has a hidden value that can be unveiled through a degree of selfassessment and re-evaluation. When people have been running a business for a while they become so close to it that it can be hard for them to imagine doing things differently, let alone shifting the entire focus of the company. This close-mindedness, whether intentional or not, means missing out on profit, and no one wants that.

It can simply take an outsider to provide a fresh perspective on where you are up to, and give business leaders a gentle shove in the right direction. I often simply say to CEOs, “There’s one branch of your business that you may not have invested a lot of resources in but that could make a lot money. What is it?” or I ask them “If you were starting up again tomorrow, which specific piece of the business would you start first and why?” as this tends to flush out the most profitable avenues currently being under-utilised.

Given a bit of time to think about it, most can identify an area of their business that fulfils these criteria. It’s often something fairly niche and low cost, but with a high margin. It’s something that you could make huge profits from if you focused on it, but you still need the broader business to bring customers in, which is consuming your time and resources. If you’re going to expand this arm of your business it will take a lot of work, re-organisation and publicity.

The arduous short term requirements often put people off. This is a frustrating response as the longer term benefits could be enormous.

I once worked with Tactical Solutions, a field sales agency, who were a testament to this theory. The company was going out day after day putting products on shelves; however one of the real potentials for profit was in product recall. We came to realise that this was their niche, and an area that should be honed in on. For example if an FMCG company were to call up and say they needed to recall a batch of tinned soup, they wouldn’t be in a position to negotiate a price because they would need all

of Tactical Solutions’ 500 staff to go out and collect those products as quickly as possible. Factor in the fact that the insurance company would pay out for the expense and so it wouldn’t really cost the manufacturer anything, a real business opportunity with high margins was there to exploit.

Tactical Solutions had the staff and processes in place to do this job effectively, but they weren’t publicising it or presenting it as a service in its own right. I persuaded them to change this and we set up productrecall.co.uk. Within a couple of months they had a recall and the exercise produced almost £100,000 of bottom line profit. This clearly demonstrates the unlocking of their hidden value.

Companies have to learn to adapt as times change to fulfil their profit potential and this may not be in a way that is immediately obvious. I once worked with a “push to talk” radio company who felt pressure to switch to digital technology as their industry developed. It would have cost them around a £1m to go digital but everyone else was doing it so it seemed like the only solution.

Together we realised that it would benefit them more to do nothing at all. There was about to be a huge void in people supplying analogue equipment and a hangover of people who didn’t want to go digital as they didn’t see the benefits in it. Whilst some people would still buy new analogue radios, we identified that there would be an excess in demand for an analogue radio maintenance company. So we rewrote the brand and the website and that’s what they became. They didn’t have to invest the money in new technology and they were making a higher recurring income than ever before.

It doesn’t matter what the industry is: finding the hidden value is all about focusing on your strengths, finding a niche and adapting to changing trends. The solution may be right under your nose, but it can take a fresh pair of eyes and a new perspective to draw your attention to it. Companies have to stay dynamic and be prepared to evolve their strategy in order to keep their business in the best condition that it could possibly be and most importantly, be prepared to continue to take risks.

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BANKING

A Private Banking Revolution Private Banking innovators RS Financials are reinventing proven approaches to meet the goals of demanding clients

RS Financials are at the forefront of Swiss private banking. For more information about their superb service contact Managing Partner Judy Nancy Belle-Dales

RS Financial Services AG – Switzerland

SAFE AND SOLID

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How do today’s financial markets differentiate themselves from those of the past?

The differences originate from an increase in options, and an increase in choices. The market is bigger, the banking sector contains more financial innovations and structured products with built in complexity, and more funds than listed single equities exist. There are also more global influences pulling the market in different directions, which of course means more uncertainty, and inevitably more analysts to process and make sense of all the data at our disposal.

However, all this increased activity brings with it a wealth of opportunities for MoneyMakers, and on the flipside a lot more risks.

More than ever before the True Private Banking approach we’ve been cultivating at RS Financial Services AG for more than twenty years allows us to precisely meet the individual requirements of our clients.

We’re located in Switzerland, which is famous for beautiful mountain views and exquisite watches, but above all rock solid political stability, legal security and highly specialised skills in almost all wealth management and financial disciplines.

True Private Banking emphasises creating a financial services bundle using the best possible know how, strategies and competences at our disposal in order to service our clients’ needs. It also means cultivating long term and trusting relationships over decades, and generations, especially when sensitive subjects and problems need tailored measured solutions.

True Private Banking and Asset Management - The Cornerstones In terms of Asset Management, our approach firstly emphasises a close coordination with the client regarding investment philosophy. Tactical strategy is paramount when establishing the individual framework of a personal Asset Management programme.

This can be concisely summarised by stating that RS Financial Services AG’s focus can be harnessed through a number of key principles: l The private sector is economically more efficient than the public sector l Within the private sector there are always outstanding companies, and also less successful ones l Large financial institutions optimise their own profits, and not the performance of their clients l No usage of financial innovations, funds and bank products etc., only act with the greatest restraint with regards

to treasury bills, and instead focus on carefully selected bonds and equities Take advantage of the profit potential of volatility premiums related to the financial system, by using a well-balanced covered call option writing strategy on equity portfolios ➻ For more information on RS Financial Services, or their personal banking products, email Judy Nancy Belle-Dales, Managing Partner of RS Financial Services AG at judy.nancy@rsfsag.ch or phone 0041 44 241 08 20 ➻ www.rsfsag.ch ➻ Weberstrasse 21, CH-8036 Zürich, Switzerland

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David Haye

Packing a Punch with

David Haye We sit down with The Hayemaker to talk money, boxing and the lessons entrepreneurs can learn from the noble art Boxing has been described as the most entrepreneurial sport in Britain. Do you think that’s a fair reputation?

It’s certainly the loneliest sport there is. You pretty much train alone, run alone and then fight alone. And, along the way, if you’re able to maintain control of your career and not align yourself with major promoters – as I have done – then I guess you could call it entrepreneurial. I have taken calculated risks throughout my career and, for the most part, they have paid off. I’ve been one of the lucky ones, though. Most boxers are not allowed to think for themselves or map out their own career paths. I was determined to not be one of them.

How important is the promotional side of the boxing business?

It’s vital, especially nowadays. We no longer have the luxury of terrestrial television covering boxing and that means each of us has to work that little bit harder to promote themselves and their event. It’s no good just being a great boxer any more.

That isn’t enough to alert the general public and get them interested in you and your story. Nowadays you have to have some kind of X-factor, a little bit of personality and a desire to sell yourself. It’s not always easy, as boxers aren’t trained to talk or promote, but it’s absolutely vital. If you don’t embrace the media and don’t realise the importance of PR then you’ll never be a star in this sport.

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David Haye

“boxing established a lot of the cliches you now hear in business. Never give up. If you get knocked down, get straight back up. fight your heart out” You keep yourself busy outside the ring. What business projects do you also have going on now, and any lined up for the future?

I’m working on a few things right now. At the start of the year I released my own fitness video, “David Haye’s Box & Tone” - and that has done really well - and soon I will be bringing out my own protein shake. The protein shake will be different from all the others on the market and will be made up of vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidant properties, and will be packed with a high amino acid content, which includes all nine of the essential branch chain amino acids.

It’s going to be the best protein shake on the market, without a doubt.

Business leaders can learn a lot about focus and winning from sports stars. What do you think boxing in particular offers by way of lesson to those who want to succeed in life?

Boxing established a lot of the clichés you now hear in the business world. Never give up. If you get knocked down, get straight back up. Fight your heart out. Counterpunch when your enemy least expects it. Boxing and business share many similarities and I carry the same mind-set and attitude into both. I try to stay as independent as possible, maintain control of my destiny and always look for the deal or punch that makes the most sense at the time.

You’ve been described as a “sponsor’s dream” for your own marketability, as well as commitment to your sponsors. What’s your secret?

I know how important it is to be marketable. Boxing skills alone won’t turn you into a star, and they won’t earn you lots of money, but putting yourself out there and standing out from the crowd will certainly help you become marketable.

A lot of boxers don’t realise this, or they think it’s too much work. All I’ve done is understand how to play the game and then used it to my advantage.

You’ve been involved in some famously controversial boxing feuds over the years. How important to the promotion of a fight is the narrative around the build up?

Very important. When people pay money to see a fight they generally want to see a bit of spite and a bit of needle between two fighters. Nobody wants to pay to see two best friends have a play around in a ring. Where’s the fun in that? No, as humans, we have a desire to see fights, battles and good versus evil encounters, and that is why, on some level, boxing will always appeal to a certain part of human nature. And though we hate to admit it, the more violent and spiteful a fight, the better. Fans want to see knockouts and they want to see blood spilled.

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You had your career mapped out as a “future world champion” from a very early age. How important is it to have a plan, and stick to it? What can entrepreneurs learn about success from that?

You’re lost without some kind of plan. I remember meeting with my trainer and manager Adam Booth months before I turned professional, and outlining our future. We were sat in a fast food restaurant and decided it was vital we maintained complete control of my pro career, and that I escaped from the sport having achieved my goals and made lots of money, with my faculties still intact. And every step of the way, whether negotiating with Don King, Frank Warren or the Klitschko brothers, we kept that pledge in mind and followed through with it.

You have a lot going on in your life, as well as the boxing. How important is it to keep your mind and body active at all times, if you want to achieve the most in life?

It’s the most important thing. Even when I’m training for a fight, and my body is super active, I still go out of my way to keep my mind active as well. Otherwise you’ll end up getting run down by the training and the constant thinking about the fight. Sometimes you need a break from it all; your body needs a break and your mind needs a break.

It’s actually during fight camps when I have some of my best entrepreneurial ideas. I have been known to produce magazines and take on various other projects in the lead-up to fights, simply because I’m always in need of some kind of diversion from the task at hand. Adam, my trainer, hates it, but I feel it’s necessary.

How do you see the Charr fight going, and how confident are you?

I see it being very exciting and I see him giving it his all.

That’s exactly why we chose him as an opponent. He’s big, strong, fresh and is four years younger than me, so still has plenty of hunger. He’s also a proud Syrian and has said he will be fighting for his country on 29th June in Manchester.

That means he feels responsible for his people, and that kind of responsibility can make a man superhuman on the night of a fight. I’m definitely not underestimating him.

But, ultimately, I have beaten better boxers than him in the past and have won many world titles in my career.

Competing at a world-class level is something I have done for over six years now, whereas Charr has only just arrived on that stage. This, I believe, will be the difference when the time comes to fight. We are operating at different levels.

You’ve been called “Britain’s Most Bankable Boxing Star”. Which other sports stars do you admire in terms of earning potential?

Well, in terms of earning potential, footballers are pretty big in this country. They make a hell of a lot of money for essentially just kicking a football around a field for 90 minutes. But their sport is popular, their teams are popular, and, as a result, they make a ton of money. I don’t necessarily admire the way they promote themselves, though. They are promoted by their sport and by their teams, much in the same way as basketball or baseball players are in America. They don’t have to do all that much themselves. Someone like Floyd Mayweather, on the other hand, is a self-made man in an individual sport and he has to go out there and push his name. He can’t rely on other people to do it for him. He can’t rely on the popularity of his sport. And for that, I admire him.

David Haye captured the WBA World Heavyweight Boxing Championship by defeating Nikolai Valuev (above) in November 2009

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Wayne Hemingway

Wayne’s World Wayne Hemingway has been at the fulcrum of British design for three decades. From high street retail to catwalk chic, he’s knows the world of fashion like the back of his hand. Today his creative eye is taking the world of social design by storm. We sit down with the master of urban regeneration to talk social development, “design for the power of good” and just what it takes to make it in the ultra-competitive world of creativity.

When you embark on a new project of social design, such as the recent Dreamland project in Margate, what are the most important factors that you consider before you get started?

There is a whole series of thoughts that you’ve got to try and square in your mind before you embark on a project like Dreamland, one of which is making sure that whatever you do has got lasting benefit for the community. A project cannot just be something that’s had a bit of money thrown at it and then shines brightly for a short while before fading away, because that’s often quite what happens with regeneration.

Money often comes from somewhere that has to be spent by a certain time, and all that creates is a flurry of excitement initially followed by a feeling that the lasting benefits aren’t what everybody felt that they could have been. So we work very hard to not just spend money, but to really think about what we’re doing and what sort of legacy we want to create.

What that means practically is that a lot of moving parts have to be in place to get something right. A great example is Dreamland in Margate. We wouldn’t have taken on the Dreamland project if Margate wasn’t also starting to regenerate on other fronts as well, if Margate didn’t have a critical mass of creative people who were trying things out developing the old town, and the various galleries and workshops that are opening. Then we really focus on the questions “who are we trying to help here? And what are we trying to achieve?” And then ultimately the project

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has to wash its face. With anything that you do, you have to think “Is it economically sustainable?

Is it socially sustainable? And it is environmentally sustainable?”

Would you say you feel a sense of responsibility to the people in the surrounding area, because of the huge difference a successful redevelopment could make to the prospects of a town?

Yes, in a way. We’re good designers, we’re a really strong design team and we can deliver, but what we don’t like to do is just come into an area, do our stuff and walk away without seeing positive results to the community. In fact it goes even further than just lifting an area through design, we prefer to work with people and impart some of our skills as well as regenerate an area.

We’ve heard the expression “using design to the power of good” mentioned frequently.

Is that what you understand the expression to mean, using design to pass on skills, and teaching people to be creative as well as improving people’s way of life?

Yes. I think design can often be looked at as being a frivolous thing and something that you don’t really need. Some people see a designer as being somebody who comes up with the idea that spots are the new stripes, or black is the new brown, or something like that. But that’s just styling. Most good designers think

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WAYNE Hemingway

“the world changes at a pretty quick pace. new generations want new ideas. Human beings are never going to stand still” about design to make life better.

That’s why when you’re working on something like Dreamland in Margate you’re thinking of so many things.

One, you’re thinking about bringing positivity to a town that’s been lacking positivity for some time. That process has already begun over the last few years and now it’s our responsibility to bring the next wave of happiness, fun and good news stories to a seaside town that’s got loads of great value but has been missing something for a while.

You also want people to come from the outside, you’re thinking about the money that people will spend and how that will benefit jobs and people’s businesses.

There’s a big difference between doing something that’s just average, just getting a job done, and just spending Heritage Lottery money and doing something that is really, really thought out. It is the difference between doing something that’s okay for the town and something that’s going to be really transformational. In everything that we do we aim to be transformational.

What’s your opinion on the pace of change of design across the UK? Do you think that a different approach to social design and urban design could be used to help British businesses?

The world changes at a pretty quick pace. New generations want new ideas. Human beings are never going to stand still.

We get bored too easily. We want change. We welcome change.

And there are some fantastic figures about the power of design, and the value of design. Without doubt it’s been a long time coming, but the research that the Design Council has done has shown the returns that businesses receive from good design. For every pound they invest the return is really significant, and it has been proved that businesses that really embrace design outperform ones that don’t.

Would you say that the UK is particularly efficient in terms of its approach to social design? Or do you think that we are slow on the uptake and are actually behind other countries in terms of the rate that we’re progressing?

I think we have got a very strong design ethos and a very strong design education system, but in terms of implementation we’re behind some countries at the moment.

We produce a lot of the world’s designers, and we also educate a lot of overseas designers. So in that respect we are very strong.

However I think in terms of social design we’ve not totally grasped the concept. I don’t think that people realise that to have designers on the trustee boards of institutions, the NHS or schools, would add an extra voice to progress discussions that could make a huge difference to performance and efficiency.

I think they do that a little better in northern Europe at the moment and that’s why you end up with designers playing big

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roles in the political thinking, including the planning systems of countries such as Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, The Netherlands.

Have you always considered yourself as being an entrepreneurial designer?

I suppose I’ve always liked the idea. I’ve come from a family with no money and I’ve always known that money does make your life easier, and life is about happiness. My granddad used to tell me “You’re only here three score and ten. Try and live as much of it with a smile on your face.”

So I knew at a very early age that money made me happier, and it was the same with Geraldine. We met very young and I was always happier when I had money to buy records, to go out, to dance, to go and watch bands and to buy clothes. I was working from the age of twelve, maybe a little bit younger. I’d bought my own car by the time I was sixteen. I couldn’t drive obviously, but I’d bought it and I’d started to do bits on it.

You’re involved in the Prince’s Trust as a mentor.

How did that come about and do you think it’s important for successful people like yourself to be developing the next generation of up and coming talent?

I’ve probably been with the Prince’s Trust for about fifteen years now. It came about through a friend who I was best man for. He and his wife started their business together when they were reasonably young, they had a shared interest in windsurfing and they set up a business. They had no money at all, but got a £5,000 grant from the Prince’s Trust and got mentored by a lovely old chap.

They always said that they would never have started their

From the changing world of fashion design through to urban landscaping and housing, Wayne Hemingway has left his mark on almost every area of British culture

“designers can’t switch off. it’s impossible. there’s always something stimulating you”

business and had the fun that they’ve had without the Prince’s Trust and the mentoring they received, so when one of your best friends has that experience and you’ve got a chance to give that back, you’re going to do it.

When I was starting out the word “mentoring” was never used. It has been around donkey’s years, but the expression wasn’t in service like it is today. Without expressly stating it I was mentored by so many people, from shoe manufacturers, to people at Dr Martens when we were designing for them, to retailers. We’ve never had any business advisers but we’ve always talked to people who we’ve worked with on something.

Sometimes you can throw yourself in and you learn by your mistakes and sometimes that’s not bad at all, but if there are people who you respect, then they can pass things on and that advice can be invaluable.

What advice could you give to entrepreneurs looking to get into the design industry or to better use those design concepts that we were talking about to increase the potential and the efficiency of their business?

If you’re going to be an entrepreneur in design you’ve got to be driven by it. Design has become increasingly competitive now because it’s become sexy for people. When I grew up, I didn’t know the word designer, but now more than in previous decades design and creativity are being valued as rival professions to the traditional career paths such as law or medicine. This obviously leads to competition which is good, but it also can lead to too many people trying it because they’re drawn to it for the wrong reasons.

There are certain jobs that you don’t have to be totally obsessed with. I don’t think you have to be obsessed with teeth to be a dentist. You’ve obviously got to have an interest in it, but I don’t think you have to dream about it, day in, day out.

You can switch off.

Designers can’t switch off. It’s impossible. I’ve never known a designer that switches off at all because there’s always something that’s stimulating you. And it’s not really something you need to switch off from, because it’s fun.

Wayne and his wife Geraldine have made for a formidable partnership in the world of design for decades

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Celia Sawyer

Deal, Or No Deal?

Four Rooms and MoneyMaker columnist Celia Sawyer lets us in on her top tips for negotiating your way to an optimum investment opportunity Where can you find the best value collectables, in private sales, auctions or on shop floors?

I always find the best value collectibles in private sales before items have a chance to go on the market, as you tend to get more value for money this way and don’t end up paying high commissions at auctions. It’s very rare that you find much on shop floors, although having said that, if you have time to go through some second hand shops and even flea markets, you can sometimes find a real gem.

Celia Sawyer is a collector, and expert in interior design with an exclusive celebrity client list. She is also a star of Channel 4 antiques and collectibles show Four Rooms

How do you approach a purchase transaction? Do you set a top price and stick to it?

Generally when I have seen an item that I might want, I’ll begin by researching it more fully if I don’t have a huge knowledge of it, and set myself a maximum price that I would be happy to pay. When negotiations start I start low, for obvious reasons, and mainly to stick to it. Of course though, very occasionally this changes, especially if you’re really after something rare and you can afford to push your offer up a little bit more. However, it’s very easy to start thinking that you are not spending proper money, and that you are playing a game of Monopoly, so you have to be really careful and strong with yourself and always know when it’s time to back down.

Do you have any unique negotiating tactics?

Of course, but I’m not revealing them! I am good at reading people and have a good b******t radar, which is probably the most important thing. I also don’t show what I’m prepared to pay, some say I have a bit of a “poker face”, which is a reputation I’m happy to cultivate. Negotiations are sometimes like a game of poker, the more information you can get and the less you give away the better.

Who are the hardest people to make a deal with?

Fellow professionals or amateurs?

Fellow professionals are by a distance. Most amateurs are fine to do business with (although there’s always the odd exception to the rule!) but other dealers are a nightmare, they can be very tricky so I very rarely deal with them. The few times I have , it has either proven a complete waste of time as they want too much money, or we’ve ended up falling out over a deal.

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Should you know 100% provenance of an item before you purchase it?

Yes, if you want it to be a worthwhile purchase. Provenance is key to any great purchase, and to any client. There is no point in someone showing me something that is supposed to be worth a lot of money due to its story but who then cannot back it up. The value of most collectibles is mainly due to a back story and connection with the item.

What percentage profit should someone be aiming for with each item you buy/sell?

As much as possible, but I look at a minimum of 25% profit.

Quite often it can be a lot more than this, but as a general rule I don’t go below this as the investment value for my capital isn’t there.

Should you always have a buyer in mind before you purchase something? If you have a buyer, does this alter the profit margin you’re prepared to buy the item for?

No not always. I’ve bought pieces as I understand the values in that particular field, not because I have a buyer already. I sometimes buy to keep and appreciate for a short while, and sometimes items can be seen as good investments to sell on at a later stage. For instance some artists are still up and coming, and it’s good to hang on to a piece of their work so that you can benefit from selling it once they have made their name. It’s important to remember that just because you have a buyer you should still stick to the same profit margins. A good dealer will not negotiate in a different way just because someone else is footing the initial bill, that’s a mistake that many make.

If you could give one piece of advice to amateurs trying to become good buyers/sellers, what would it be?

Do your research! You must have full knowledge about what you are either buying or selling. There are many places to gather information these days, whether it is on the internet, asking and looking at auction houses or merely speaking to dealers for information. If you haven’t done your research then there’s a much greater chance you will come unstuck.

“I’m good at reading people, and have a good b******T radar, which is probably the most important thing when you’re making deals on a regular basis”

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Collectibles

“The names of guitar makers have become etched into our minds through the music they helped shape”

A Very Sound Investment Want to own a piece of music history, but don’t know whether you’d be making a sound investment? We asked MoneyMaker collectibles expert George Johnson to find out more about the world of rock memorabilia and its ultimate draw for collectors, the electric guitar

Is there a big market for vintage guitars?

I was aware of there being a large market in guitars but I wanted a second opinion so I asked specialised guitar auctioneer Luke Hobbs of Gardiner Houlgate his opinion - “There is a big market. The prices have increased very quickly over the past 10 - 15 years, mostly because vintage guitars of the fifties and sixties such as Gibson and Fender are very hard to come across since the majority have been bought and put into various collections. Since the birth of the electric guitar, they have always held a very “cool” image and therefore are a very commercial and fashionable thing to collect. Not only can you collect and invest, but you can use them and enjoy them at the same time. People are always after iconic guitar used by their heroes.”

What are the big names investors should be looking for when purchasing guitars?

The names of famous guitar makers have become etched in our minds through the music they helped shape. Who could think of Chuck Berry and not see him in that classic pose with his Gibson Les Paul at the ready like a musical machine gun. Paul McCartney will also always be linked with his famous Beatlemania Rickenbacker bass, it is because of these connections that these guitar makers will always be recognisable to the man on the street even if he can’t even play a note.

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Collectibles

“guitars owned by famous musicians do come onto the market occasionally, but most are housed in private collections and rarely see the light of day”

The most desirable guitars are models by Fender, Gibson and Martin from the 1950s and 60s, but I have it on good advice that the market in 1970s models is the one to watch, because as the collectors find it harder to source earlier models this later 1970s market is strengthening. It is also worth noting that non US made guitars are now starting to become collectible, with some European guitar manufacturers such as Hagstrom now becoming very desirable as collectors are squeezed out of the American market by price and lack of supply. The same is also true for some of the Japanese makers.

Is a guitar owned by a legend considered the ultimate in music memorabilia? What are the biggest names that have their guitars collected?

A great example of how ownership can affect price is the Pete Townshend Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Gold Top Guitar that was sold by Christie’s Auction house on the 14th June 2011. Pete Townshend, The Who’s famous lead guitarist, used this guitar during the band’s legendary Quadrophenia tour of 1973-1975. The sale achieved £31,250 on the day, which was quite a remarkable feat as the “book price” for that particular guitar without any provenance in 9/10 condition is $3,300 to $3,600 US dollars, and I have personally seen the same type of guitar sell for as low as £2,000. So we can see how ownership by a well known figure can affect values.

But caution should be used when dipping into the market as unless it has been used extensively, or has been visually connected with a particular star, it does not always increase price. Take the recent “Richard Gere Guitar Collection” sale, where the majority of these instruments only sold for their normal market value. The same goes for the many John Entwistle instruments that have come onto the market recently, not only is ownership needed but also the cultural significance of the individual instrument too.

The most expensive known sale of a guitar was Eric Clapton’s ‘Blackie’, which was sold

by Christie’s in 2004 for an amazing $959,500.

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Are there any auctions that specifically cater for musical instruments?

One of the British auction houses that has specialist guitar sales is Gardiner at Bath Auction Rooms, but many of the

other large auction houses have specialist instrument sales too, so it is worth having a search online to see who has sales coming up.

What is the most expensive guitar sale you are aware of?

The most expensive known sale of a guitar was Eric Clapton’s ‘Blackie’, which was sold by Christie’s in 2004 for an amazing $959,500. It is always a good thing to buy guitar associated with huge household names such as Clapton or Hendrix. They will only ever hold their value as the provenance makes them very rare.

However, I know of one guitar that can beat this price hands down and that is Jimi Hendrix’s 1968 Stratocaster guitar that he played at Woodstock in 1969. It was originally sold by Mitch Mitchell at Sotheby’s in 1990, Gabriele Ansaloni was the lucky buyer who paid an astronomical sum of £198,000 for the pleasure of owning it. Ansaloni kept the guitar for only two years before Microsoft CEO Paul Allen bought it from him for an undisclosed sum, but it has been rumoured to have been upwards of $2 million US dollars. And where is this guitar now? Allen decided to put it in “The Experience Music Project”, a museum he founded in Seattle that tells the history of Jimi Hendrix as well as rock and roll in general, because he believed the guitar was such an important artefact in the history of music.

How regularly do custom guitars played by famous musicians hit the market?

Guitars owned by famous musicians do come on the market, but the majority are housed in large private collections and rarely see the light of day unless the owner dies.

Is condition or provenance more important for collectors?

This is a very interesting question; I suppose it depends on the individual guitar and how or why it is in a poor condition. A guitar set on fire by Hendrix in front of thousands of screaming fans will always be worth good

money, but another guitar that has just been treated badly might not, so the circumstances are what makes the difference. But provenance is always the key, hearsay or word of mouth is not enough as you will need hard documentation to achieve high prices. Caution should be used when dealing in rare guitars and instruments though.

With guitars like the world famous 1959 Les Paul achieving figures of around £100,000, there are many talented people faking these items.

Would playing an instrument like this lower its value?

As long as a guitar is cared for and stored correctly the act of playing it will not alter the value of the instrument.

In many cases it is advisable to play the instrument now and again, as it is the best way to make sure it is in good condition. One of the worst mistakes a collector can make is for a guitar to be stored with strings under tension and not played, as this will warp the neck of the instrument over time.

Where would be the place to start collecting? Can you start for a relatively small start up price?

I would be tempted to advise people to collect a couple of 1970s classics as these have yet to achieve the high prices of the earlier examples from the fifties and sixties,

but with prices rising in this area it would seem a safe bet that you will achieve a good long term return on your investment. However, further research and advice should be sought out before sinking any money into this market.

I asked Luke Hobbs of Gardiner Houlgate his view on the current market in guitars, which was that “like every market the economic climate has affected vintage guitars. The market peaked about five years ago and has fluctuated a lot since. The very high prices, for example 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standards were fetching £100,000+, but they are now falling. They can now be bought for between £70,000 - 90,000, condition dependant.”

Taking this into account it does seem to be a buyer’s market currently, and you never know you might make some sweet sounds of success.

George Johnson is an antiques expert, and owner of Lady Kentmores antique, retro and vintage store. Follow him on Twitter @ladykentmores or visit www.ladykentmores.com

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classic cars

The Classical Charts 2013 Classic cars are still proving a highly viable investment buy. Lisa Curtiss caught up with Bonhams Group Motoring Director James Knight to find out what makes and models are currently selling particularly well, and also those that could prove to be highly profitable purchases in the future

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onhams has a number of major sales coming up soon, which typically attract bids from serious classic car buyers from across the globe. This year, they expect to see records broken again for values achieved – with some exceptional lots, including racers with impeccable pedigrees, on offer at their 20th annual Goodwood Festival of Speed sale.

Highlights include a rare Maserati 300S SportsRacing Spider, an Austin-Healey 100 special test car, plus the most important historic racing car to have ever been offered at a public auction – an F1 car that the legendary Fangio won races in.

But which classics are the manufacturers, and models, that we should be looking to add to our collection today?

Bonhams Group Motoring Director James Knight is keen to highlight renewed in interest in veteran cars, sports racing cars from the 1950s, classic Ferraris including the iconic Daytona, Aston Martins, and a number of Porsches, particularly the early 70s 911RS. “Jaguar E-Types are also still a perennial favourite”, Knight continues, “but be wary of conversions, such as LHD cars from the US being converted to right hand to be driven here. Also, Bentleys with pedigree and impeccable coachwork are still realising high prices. Bonhams has the world record for the Berkin Bentley which sold for just over £5million.”

Austin Healey Test Car This model - ‘NOJ 392’, is the lightweight Austin Healey 100 Special Test Car that was the Works team entry into the 1953 Mille Miglia and Le Mans 24 Hour Race. The sixth built at

“A resurgence in interest in the dawn of motoring has resulted in a new demand for special cars built between 1886 and 1904”

Warwick in early 1953, the second of four racing models, and the only one to remain in its original form, this important car is highly original and offered in exceptional condition.

Knight comments “having handled the sister car, NOJ 393, that achieved a new world record for any Austin Healey in December 2011, I am naturally delighted that Bonhams has been asked to handle the sale of NOJ 392.” This car uniquely remains in Special Test Car configuration, the specification that it ran as a Works entry at the 1953 Le Mans 24-hours and Mille Miglia races. It is the sole survivor in this form as NOJ 391 no longer exists and NOJ 393 evolved into the 100S.

Aston Martin With 2013 being the company’s centenary anniversary, and with a host of commemorative events being held worldwide, Aston Martins are at the forefront of people’s minds at present as highly desirable cars to invest in.

Knight confirms this is indeed a good manufacturer to consider. He and his colleagues recently looked at past catalogues and compared the prices these cars sold for at a Bonhams sale back in 2000, to what they are worth today.

Forty Astons that sold then returned around £2m, those same cars today are now valued at more at the £7m mark – over three times the value.

An indication of this surge in value can be seen at the forthcoming Aston Martin and Lagonda sale at Newport Pagnell on May 18th, where a multi-award winning 1960 DB4GT Bertone ‘Jet’ – the only one of its type ever built, is expected to realise between £2.8m and £3.8m, a staggering amount.

Veteran Cars “A resurgence of interest in the dawn of motoring has resulted in a new demand for these special cars built between 1886 and 1904, which are performing better now in recent years than for quite some time.” says Knight.

“People have seemed to have had less of an affinity, a connection with these veteran models than sportscars from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s – the cars that they remember being around during their childhood. Things have changed – maybe due to the presence of these stately cars in hugely popular historic dramas such as Downton Abbey, but also due to a revival of veteran runs and other events you can actually take part in with these cars now.”

Knight advises you invest in models from well-known manufacturers – not from the numerous, often rather obscure ones that sprung up overnight and went out of business or stopped production after just a year or two. “Wolseley, MMC and Panhard Lavassor models are amongst the most

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classic cars

and sliding-gear transmission.

Despite being hardly aerodynamic, Panhard et Levassor cars were also raced. In 1895, 1,205cc Panhard et Levassors finished first and second in the Paris–Bordeaux–Paris race, and these cars went on to win numerous more races from 1895 to 1903.

1950s Sports Racing Cars desirable, and go for those with at least twin cylinders and as original a body as possible. It’s about preservation rather than restoration.”

Wolseley models may not be the ones to invest in for those interested in purity of line and performance, but in terms of ground-breaking innovation and heritage, they don’t come much better.

Wolseley Motors Limited was a British motor vehicle manufacturer founded in early 1901 by Vickers and Herbert Austin. The company made a range of large luxury models that dominated the Edwardian era, and went on to become the largest motor manufacturer in the UK, producing 12,000 cars a year. But it is this over-expansion that is said to have led to the company being forced into receivership in 1927, when it was bought by William Morris as a personal investment, and years later moved into his Morris Motors empire.

Iconic, stunning looking and still decent to drive now, it’s easy to see why 1950s Sports Racing cars are proving hugely desirable at present. As with the veteran cars, an emergence of revival events enable people to not only see these cars in all their glory, but to race them too, should they wish.

James Knight says “In collecting terms, Sports Racing cars of the 1950s are the most coveted of all. The competition between the great marques from this period – Aston Martin, Ferrari, Jaguar, Maserati – is as fierce today as it was then. The Maserati 300S is right up there among the greats. A car equally at home on road or track, offering impeccable handling and, crucially, able to accommodate two in comfort, it is the perfect all-round vehicle and eligible for all the great historic events, including the Mille Miglia, Le Mans Classic and Goodwood Revival.

“At Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed auction, we’ve got a superb Maserati 300S, we expect to reach £3.5 – 4m, plus an Austin Healey Works which should realise £500K.”

Panhard et Levassor

Maserati 300S

A car manufacturing company founded by René Panhard and Émile Levassor in 1887, Panhard Levassor launched its first model three years later, which was based on a Daimler engine licence.

These first vehicles set many of the modern standards in car engineering. In 1895 Panhard et Levassor is credited with developing the first modern transmission. The company offered its Systeme Panhard model in 1891 for 3500 francs, complete with a front-mounted engine with rear wheel drive,

The Maserati 300S certainly has its fans – including Dire Straits’ frontman Mark Knopfler, who’s been a long term owner and racer of this stunning model.

Produced by Maserati of Italy between 1955-58, the 300S successfully competed in the FIA’s World Sportscar Championship. Twenty eight examples were produced of this racer, which was powered by a 3.0-litre, 245 bhp engine based on the Maserati 250F’s Straight-6 . After an unremarkable first season it won at the famous Nurburgring in 1956 and finished second in the Championship overall.

The 300S on sale at the forthcoming auction is chassis no.

3053.This cracking example of the coveted model was the third 300S ordered by the great American collector, Briggs Swift Cunningham, for his old friend and team driver Bill Spear.

Upon delivery ‘3053’ was co-driven by Bill Spear and Sherwood Johnston in the 1955 Sebring 12-Hours race, the American round of the FIA Sports Car World Championship.

After racing ‘3053’ widely throughout the USA, Bill Spear sold the car in 1956 to Joe Giubardo of Valley Stream, Long

Wolseley Motors

“We’ve got a superb Maserati 300s we expect to reach £3.5-£4 million, plus an austin healey works which should realise £500k”

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“In 1989, they sold for around the £300K mark, but they’re not reaching this at the present time.”

A model on many a bucket list, the Daytona ticks boxes for looks, performance and investment desirability.

Officially known as the Ferrari 365 GTB/4, this Gran Turismo model was produced from 1968 to 1973. It made its debut to universal acclaim at the Paris Auto Salon in 1968, and quickly replaced the 275 GTB/4. It continued to be snapped up by the A-list set until the introduction of the mid-engined 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer in 1973. The Daytona name is said to have been coined by the media after Ferrari’s 1-2-3 finish in the February 1967 24 Hours of Daytona.

Designed by Pininfarina, many considered the look of the 365 GTB/4 to be a radical departure from other Ferraris, with its sharp lines and wedge shape more akin to those of a Lamborghini.

Porsche 911 RS

Island, who owned the car until 1964. Subsequently preserved by prominent Maserati authority Joel Eric Finn, ‘3053’ was acquired by leading German Maseratisto Dr Thomas Bscher in 1986. After some twenty years in his care – during which it was maintained in highly original order while being campaigned successfully in historic racing – the car passed from Dr Bscher to its present vendor.

Ferrari Daytona Ferraris continue to realise high amounts. “The Daytona is a potential good buy at the moment though.” Knight reveals.

The original and the best Porsche 911, say many. One of the world’s most recognisable and iconic cars, the 911 made its production debut back in 1963 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and is often cited as the most successful competition car ever.

James Knight cites the early 1970’s 911 RS as the one to look out for.

The 911 model most collectors are interested in is indeed the 1973 Carrera RS, built to enable Porsche to enter racing formulae that demanded that a certain minimum number of production cars were made. Compared with a standard 911S, the Carrera 2.7 RS had a larger engine, stiffened suspension, a “ducktail” rear spoiler, more powerful brakes, wider rear wheels and rear wings. 1,580 were made in total, exceeding the 500 that had to be made to qualify for the vital FIA Group 4 class. Forty nine Carrera RS cars were built with 2808cc engines producing 300 PS. Whichever of the classics you decide to buy or sell, originality is still key, with an emphasis on preservation if needed, rather than restoration. Beware of conversions, and for models such as Bentleys and Rolls Royces, coachwork really needs to be as pristine as possible.

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the golden touch Why you should opt for wine to make most of SWAG investments

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or most, when you mention the word investment it’s bonds, equities and stocks come to mind, but, as we at MoneyMaker know, in recent years there has been a growing move amongst those seeking to boost their returns to alternative investment options, for example silver, wine, art and gold (sometimes referred to as SWAG).

We asked Peter Shakeshaft, founder of Vin-X, the UK’s fastest growing fine wine investment specialist, why an increasing number of investors are seeking out SWAG opportunities, and just why he believes that wine is a better medium to long-term bet than any other SWAG option, particularly the gold market.

Reasons for Increased Demand in SWAG Investments The term SWAG investment, coined by author Joe Roseman just one year ago, is for many investors still a new, unexplored avenue for making money. However, due to a number of economic factors we’re seeing a growing number of investors seek out alternative markets in a bid to see some serious returns.

So why the move away from traditional investments such as bonds, stocks and shares to other less conventional options such as wine, fine art and silver? Quite simply, after a number of years of harsh economic realities investors are fed up and disillusioned with the returns they are getting through traditional avenues.

Due to the current global economic dynamics, with continued uncertainty in the eurozone, low interest rates providing no real returns for savers, inflation and currency pressures, investors are looking for options they feel secure with and tangible investments rather than futures. Investment in fine wine and art provide this security, more so than a piece of paper stating they own a specific bond. These investments have a perceived physical value that is to some degree detached from the vagaries of the financial markets.

The Merits of Specific SWAG Investments I would argue that out of the SWAG investment options, art and wine should be more appealing to investors than silver and gold, simply because they have no ties to the stock market and as such are valuable commodities in time of both boom and bust.

When investor confidence is low, demand for silver and gold increases as when the value for a currency falls investors know that they shall be able to use these items to trade with, come what may. This has been seen recently with a jump in the price of gold after increased speculation surrounding the Cyprus economy. However this relationship is reciprocal when both confidence and the value of currency are high. If things are good, gold is less appealing.

However, as both art and wine are not tied to the stock market, their values are less influenced by changes in the economic climate. To say that they are economy-proof is of course not true, but when compared to silver and gold they are far less volatile investment options. Wine for example is an international commodity and is traded throughout the world. Consequently wine offers an opportunity for investors to also hedge against currency dynamics, which should be of particular interest to UK residents at the moment with the

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current downward trend in Sterling value further undermining buying power and savings performance.

Also, unlike both gold and silver, wine and art perform particularly well in a strong economy, with an increase in lavish living habits seeing a strong correlation with demand for fine wine and art.

Why Wine?

There are several reasons why wine as an investment class can and has outperformed silver, art and gold in terms of compound annual growth rate, over the past 20 years. Firstly, wine is popular amongst investors because, whilst all of the four SWAG markets are relatively simple to enter, wine is by far the easiest to exit. For example, a case of investment grade wine can be sold almost immediately, with the only delays to the new buyer being quality assessment and delivery. To sell silver, gold and art you need specialist brokers and auction houses, making the process often laboured and complex.

However in theory an investor wishing to leave the fine wine market could announce his intention to sell and complete the sale on the same day.

Wines are scored according to quality and as such the value of a specific vintage can be widely communicated and understood, meaning it should not be difficult to find a buyer for a fine wine which has a high Parker rating (the score given by the world’s leading wine expert Robert Parker) and quality certification. This, coupled with rising demand for fine wine

“Whilst all four swag markets are easy to enter, wine is by far the easiest to exit.

A case of investment grade wine can be sold immediately, the only delays being quality assessment and method of delivery”

in the BRIC economies, particularly China and Russia, means there are a wide range of potential buyers out there, should investors wish to sell.

In contrast, with fine art the investor often has no idea how much a piece is worth and even less of an idea of its future value.

Art and the specific merits of an individual piece are subjective with one person’s masterpiece another’s average. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to know where you stand with an art investment and, with many investors owning just one piece from a specific artist, it can often prove particularly difficult to find a buyer with the same perception and valuation of the piece, making it particularly tough to exit the market.

Another point in the argument for wine over art as an investment class is that you can track the success of the wine industry as a whole, and the returns of a specific vintage over time, with art you cannot.

By using the Liv-ex index, which tracks changes in wine prices across the industry, it can be seen that over the last 20 years the fine wine investment market has experienced growth of 14.9 per cent and over the last 50 years, 11 per cent.

However the same analysis simply cannot be carried out on art as an investment class.

The last 20 years has been one of the biggest boom and bust periods in economic history yet fine wine has seen returns of 14.9 per cent, it truly is an asset class that offers the unusual combination of both stability and growth.

It is worth noting that in times of old many have pointed

to the risk the wine investment market poses due to a range of fraudulent operators, but the problem has always been with the people in the industry and not the asset itself. People are to blame for this image and hopefully with the recently launched Wine Investment Association (WIA), an independent body working alongside the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, rogue traders will be forced from the industry, with reputable firms becoming immediately identifiable through the WIA kitemark.

The future of SWAG investment With the recent budget announcement, particularly the further cutting of the UK growth forecast, I believe it is safe to say the economy is going nowhere fast for several years to come. In recent years there has been an increase in SWAG investments and with no economic relief around the corner traditional investment opportunities will remain unattractive which I would expect will result in a further increase in the number of people seeking out alternative markets with better returns.

Investor confidence has taken a battering over the past few years and with a period of stagflation on the horizon it is only natural that people will wish to find better ways to make their money work for them.

It seems at the moment that one plus one is making one and a half rather than two for the UK economy and with a particularly low incentive to save we believe SWAG investments will continue to rise in popularity.

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The Art of InvestmenT Reaching the Northern Heights Many gallery owners across the UK are reporting an increase in clients interested in investing in art for the first time. We caught up with Bill Clark, owner of the Clark Art Gallery, and expert in northern art, about key points to consider when delving into the world of investment in northern art for the very first time

I

’ve been running Clark Art for more nearly 15 years, and in the past two years there have been an increasing number of people looking to buy art for the first time. Many have turned to art as low interest rates at the bank continue, and investors look for alternative places to store their money for profit. Others find investing in art fun, whilst some are looking for a tax efficient way to avoid inheritance tax. But no matter what your primary motives are, almost everyone who invests in art gets a buzz from learning about, enjoying and appreciating the work of talented and impassioned individuals, whose view of the world can enhance their own.

Professional investors who have funds of millions, or hundreds of millions to invest apply diligence and pragmatic judgement to 97 per cent of their investment choices. With the remaining three per

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cent they have a little risky fun with art, collectibles, coins, stamps, start-up ventures, wine or whatever takes their fancy. There’s a very good lesson here.

Make sure you have all your bases covered and your future security catered for, in terms of provision for your later years. Then, if you want to speculate in the art market for rapid growth, or perhaps to deliver some gains for your legatees, do it for the fun of making a great margin, not as the central pillar of your financial planning.

Most of my clients aren’t vastly knowledgeable about art (some are, of course) but they tend to have “discretionary” sums available that might otherwise buy (say) a more expensive car or a second or third car, which they don’t really need. For £1,000, £5,000, £10,000 or £15,000 they can acquire a work of art either by an established northern artist or a promising newcomer who is “bubbling under”, and either gift it to their children (who will pay no IHT if

“No matter what your primary motives are , almost everyone who invests in art gets a buzz from learning about it, enjoying and appreciating the work of talented artists whose view of the world can enhance their own�

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“beware of fakes. there are some clever and unscrupulous people about who are quite prepared to make a good living from exploiting your ignorance and enthusiasm”

seven years elapse between the gift and the parent’s demise) or enjoy it for a few years before selling it on.

Northern art has been one of the strongest performing sectors of the art market in recent years. Works by L.S. Lowry have recently sold for £5.6 million at auction. Other northern artists such as Theodore Major, Adolphe Valette and William Turner have also proved to be sound investments in recently.

My list of top tips for anyone thinking of investing in British northern art are as follows: (1) Beware of fakes. There are some clever and unscrupulous people about who are quite prepared to make a good living from exploiting your ignorance and enthusiasm.

Be prepared to take advice from a recognised valuer, art dealer or auction house expert before sticking your neck out too far. Remember that as provenance and documentation are important components in the value of a work of art, fake documentation often accompanies fake works.

(2) The market is susceptible to the illegal sale of genuine, stolen works too. Always check that the work isn’t on a register of stolen paintings. You don’t want to end up being charged with criminally handling stolen property as well as losing money.

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(3) Remember that such things as labels, back stamps, old auction lot numbers, frames and mounts can give important clues to a painting’s authenticity. Don’t be in too much of a hurry to dispose of them. Cleaning or re-framing a picture can diminish a piece of art’s value, too. If you are going to get a piece framed, go to a qualified framer and make sure you go for conservation quality, UV reflecting glass which will protect your artwork against fading and humidity.

(4) Buy the best works you can afford, and buy typical works by the artist of your choice. The subject of the painting is more important than the size of the painting. A small L.S. Lowry industrial scene can be worth three times as much as a larger rural landscape. A pencil or charcoal drawing by a well-known artist will not command as much as (say) an oil painting. A watercolour may have a different scale of values, again. Research into recent prices and trends can give a good indication of the value of your investment.

(5) Don’t invest for the short term. The increase in value of works of art tends to be measured in years rather than weeks or months. Recently transacted works become “tired” to the market for at least a year or two.

(6) It is vital that you buy art you like, that has a strong

appeal to you at some level of emotion or taste. Firstly, because you and yours will be living with it for a while and, secondly, if a work “speaks” to you it will be more likely to resonate with another collector in years to come. Paintings are intended to communicate with the viewer; they should communicate with or move you, too.

(7) Buy work in good condition. Like antiques, condition is very important and expert restoration is very expensive.

(8) Consider buying the work of younger, up-and-coming artists, there are lots of them about. When you buy their work, you might encourage others to do so and this will create a market. A strong market will carry prices upward.

An example is Manchester artist Stephen Campbell, who is creating an impression on the art world at a young age.

His popularity has increased dramatically in the past twelve months and I now have waiting lists for new pieces and artwork sold before it has even dried on the canvas. Canny investors recognised his eye catching and unique style and bought into him at an early stage.

(9) For those who are more risk averse, buy the work of ageing living artists whose “body of work’” is complete or almost complete. At the risk of sounding brutally mercenary,

when it becomes clear that no more work will be coming from this source, prices are likely to rise sharply.

(10)You would be well advised to strike up a relationship with a reputable art dealer. In a market prone to fashion and trends, he or she could be an invaluable guide. Visit a few exhibitions and run some internet or library checks on the artists you fancy investing in before you leap into the unknown with your credit card. In this market, a little prior knowledge can count for a great deal!

Before you take the plunge and invest in a piece of art, learn the basics and do your research. Understand there will always be risks when investing in art so it’s vital you choose something you love that you’re happy to live with and take a long term view on. With conventional low-risk savings and investments performing so poorly, you could do an awful lot worse than use your discretionary or surplus savings to play the niche markets, like precious metal antiques or northern art, for some real fun and gains.

To view a selection of northern art, including artwork by Liam Spencer, Reg Gardner and Phil George, visit: www.clark-art.co.uk

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Empire State of Wine Lisa Curtiss met with Sue Chambers, CEO and founder of Wine Equals Friends Ltd, to discuss the often underrepresented wines of New Work State

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“Wolffer are based right in the middle of Great Gatsby country on the South Fork of Long Island, plumb in the middle of the fabled Hamptons area – playground to the rich and famous”

“I

discovered New York wines after a recommendation from a friend, who’s a food sustainability entrepreneur in her own right, based in Long Island, and decided to visit the wine country and consider importing” says Sue. “I became so passionate about the winemakers and their region that I took on the herculean task of knocking down doors in areas I hadn’t supplied (geographically, and to independent merchants and restaurants), in a market already flowing with wines from all over the world, having only directly supplied high net worth, private clients before.

“I spread the word through tastings, and by travelling around the UK to share my passion for this region and its wines. And award-winning sommeliers are still astounded when they taste the quality of the wines from a region they knew nothing about. It’s great to educate even some of the most knowledgeable people in the UK – I get a buzz every day when I go to work.

“I love it when I see a New York section appear on a wine list such as Gidleigh Park –

regularly awarded for its innovative wine list. We now even feature at the Vineyard at Stockcross, quite a coup given their flagship glass cellar mostly features collectible Californian wines produced by the cellar’s owner.

“There are some collectible wines from New York for the private client too. Our wines also appear cheek to cheek with collectables from California, in the impressive glass fronted cellar at the newly opened MASH (Modern American Steak House) in Soho (the old Atlantic Bar), where their Group Sommelier just came 13th in the World’s Best Sommelier Wine Competition in Tokyo. “ Joining the wine trade almost 20 years ago, after buying her husband a wine-tasting course, Sue Chambers hoped she would be able to create her own niche. She has certainly done that, from starting her second career at Oddbins to organising the legendary Le Pin vertical tasting at Bibendum in Primrose Hill. She has also been a Senior Judge at the International Wine Challenge for over six years.

Sue has plans to launch a Wine Club to develop direct access to the wine growers and the

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“The Riesling grape is the dominant signature wine of this region” people behind these great wines, with ambitions to strengthen these relationships into guided wine tours to Long Island and the Finger Lakes, with a spot of shopping in New York thrown in!

The Riesling grape is the dominant signature wine of this region and two of Wine Equals Friends’ wines were recently served at President Obama’s Inauguration Lunch: one from Bedell In Long Island and the other a Tierce Riesling from the Finger Lakes. This Riesling is a collaboration of three winemakers from three different wineries: Dave Whiting at Red Newt Cellars, Fox Run, with their quirky, fastidious winemaker Peter Bell and Johannes Reinhardt from Anthony Road. Not only does this wine illustrate the special cooperation that exists in this wine region, where many other regions would spawn fierce winemaker rivalries; the wine is also a beautiful expression of the region and its terroir.

Lamoreaux Landing also produces stunning single vineyard Rieslings (Red Oak – listed at the Vineyard at Stockcross and Yellow Dog) from different parcels of soil only a mile apart, each having their own distinctive flavour profile.

Another pioneer in the Finger Lakes is Dr Konstantin Frank, whose winery celebrated its fiftieth anniversary last year. The company is now on its fourth generation of winemakers, and their Salmon Run Riesling/Chardonnay blend has sold out here in the UK – it’s a favourite at Restaurant Nathan Outlaw in Cornwall, the JW Steakhouse at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane and Hedone and Chez Bruce – some of London’s

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best known Michelin starred restaurants.

As well as Riesling, the Finger Lakes also make delicious Cabernet Franc which is much more welcoming than its Loire counterparts. Red Newt Cellars make a beautifully rich Cabernet Franc, a favourite in Glasshouse, Vineyard at Stockcross, MASH and Arbutus restaurants. Lamoreaux Landing’s Pinot Noir has sold out, and this will soon be followed by Hermann J Wiemer’s and Red Newt Cellars’ stocks. New York makes a subtler wine of this variety displaying more minerality with layers of complexity than warmer climate states.

Eduoard Oger, award-winning sommelier from Gidleigh Park said that “New York wines provide a bridge between the Old and New Worlds”, a sentiment echoed by Yves Demaris, Master Sommelier at the W1 in the Cumberland Hotel in

Where to stay, dine and visit in Finger Lakes Wine Country ➻ Geneva on the lake –in the middle of the Finger Lakes Wine Country ➻ Woodcliff, Rochester on the edge of the Finger Lakes Region ➻ Chalet on Canandaguia, where the New York Wine & Culinary Centre is located Where to Dine ➻ Red Newt Cellars Restaurant, which offers stunning wines too ➻ New York Wine & Culinary Centre ➻ Glenora Restaurant, which overlooks Seneca Lake ➻ Suzanne’s – with stunning views of Seneca Lake Wineries to visit: ➻ Dr. Frank’s ➻ Lamoreaux Landing position and views across lake and stunning wines ➻ Hermann J. Wiemer, multi-award winning funky winery

Where to Stay, Dine and Visit in Long Island and The Hamptons La Maison Blanche A beautiful white linen and white wooden floors hotel on Shelter Island, reached either by car and small, charming ferries, or directly from East Side Manhattan to Shelter Island by sea plane. www.lamaisonblanche.com Bridgehampton Inn Located just around the corner from Channing Daughters and Wölffer Estate – in the middle of the Hamptons. A beautiful historic building with antique furniture, white walls, polished wooden floors and delicious breakfasts. It also hosts a cooking school. www.landfcookshop.com

Central London.

The ubiquitous Parker has regularly reviewed New York wines well, with scores reaching into the 90s on occasion.

One such delicious collectible is Assemblage 2007, from Paumanok on the North Fork of Long Island. Its winemaker, Kareem Massoud, is a second generation winemaker following in the footsteps of his Lebanese father and German mother’s vineyard dreams.

The Assemblage 2007 shows the depth and complexity that Long Island wines can develop – with its maritime climate and soil types very reminiscent of Bordeaux, which is why Merlot and other varietals blended in some of the great Bordeaux wines are found here with resounding success. Not to be overshadowed, the Finger Lakes has attracted its own critical acclaim recently. The Wine Spectator has just featured its first comprehensive tasting for the Finger Lakes, with James Molesworth recommending several of the wines that Wine Equals Friends imports into the UK. There is vintage variation like all collectible wine regions, with the cold providing a challenge in some years. But fortunately Hurricane Sandy was too late to affect the 2012 vintage as miraculously the harvest had been collected and was all safe at the beginning of September. There are generally more good years than bad, and recently there have been some stellar years particularly: 2005, 2007 for Long Island reds, and 2010 and 2012 also showing real potential. 2012 promises to be stunning for the whites.

North Fork Table & Inn Spectacular food and rooms. A good Long Island wine list on the North Fork in Southold, in the middle of the majority of the wineries on Long Island – including Lenz, Paumanok and McCall. www.nofoti.com Montauk Yacht Club A Hamptons full-service resort and spa, Montauk Yacht Club is well known as a Long Island family vacation and New York City weekend getaway.

Named as one of the top ten Marina Destinations in North America, Mexico, Bahamas and the Caribbean by Yachting Magazine. www.montaukyachtclub.com

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AlessiO rastani

Why I Am Not Waiting Till May To Sell n By Alessio Rastani

“S

ell in May and go away”, is how the old saying goes.

Statistically, the period between May and October is one of poor performance for the stock market. Stocks tend to perform the best in the period between November and April, so selling in May has proven to be a good strategy… at least so far, if history is

anything to go by.

But today I am writing to tell you that I am not going to wait till May to sell.

For one thing, it seems as though the traditional “sell-off” month of May has been pushed back a month in the last few years.

In 2012, for example, stocks made a top in early April before dropping nearly 10% during the height of the summer months (see chart).

Even though stocks tried to challenge those highs in May, they failed to do so. Notice also the “divergence” on MACD. (MACD is a momentum indicator which measures the force of a trend. A “divergence” occurred when price tried to re-test the April highs, came close but failed, and MACD also failed to make a new high).

In 2011, Stocks barely scratched the May month before selling off (the top was on May 2nd). In 2010 the top was also made in April before making a 15% correction.

However, the case for why I am looking to sell in April does not rely merely on a few years’ worth of statistics for strength.

The main reason why I remain cautious about buying and looking to sell relies on the fact that stocks right now are very expensive.

I like to look at the Bullish Percent Index which measures “overbought” and “oversold” levels in the stock market (see chart below). Typically, levels on this index above 80% are when stocks are considered “expensive” or “overvalued” (red circles). On the hand, levels below 50% (and 25%) are considered “cheap” or “fair value” (blue circle): Now look at this chart of the S&P 500, the index of the 500 largest companies in the world, and see what stocks did every time the bullish percent index went below 50% and above 80%:

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You will notice that when the bullish percent index went below 50% (blue circle) in June 2012, stocks bottomed in that month. Buying stocks at that point would have generated a return of nearly 22% to date.

On the other hand, when the bullish percent index went above the 80% level in March-April period of 2012, it did not take long before stocks topped. Soon after the S&P 500 made the 10% correction (or drop) that I mentioned earlier in this article.

Right now the bullish percent index is once again above the 80% level. Stocks are therefore classed as being expensive right now.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that stocks will not go higher in the long term, from a multi-year perspective.

However, in the short term, the risk of buying is too high. I would therefore wait for a correction before I’d look to “load up” on more stocks.

From a trader’s perspective there is enough reason to expect a correction in the coming weeks. Whether it happens in April or May, we are going to be prepared for it.

Alessio Rastani is a stock market and forex trader at: www.leadingtrader.com

$SPX S&P 500 Large Cap Index INDX 4 Apr-2013 1559.98 1550 1525 1500 1475 1450 1425 1400 1375 1350 1325 1300 1275 1250 1225 1200 1175 Dec 2012

Feb Mar

Apr May Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep Oct Nov Dec 2013 Feb Mar Apr

S&P 500 Index ($SPX) - Daily Chart - 2012

$BPSPX S&P 500 Bullish Percent Index (EOD) INDX 4 Apr-2013

1420.00

85.0

– $BPSPX (Daily) 81.20

140.00

82.5 81.20 80.0

1380.00

77.5 75.0

1360.00

72.5 1340.00

70.0 67.5

1320.00

65.0 62.5

1300.00

60.0 1280.00

57.5 55.0

-20.00

Divergence on MACD

52.5 50.0

1.22 -3.98

47.5 45.0 Dec 2012

Feb Mar

Apr May Jun

Jul

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-20.00 Dyn

Sep Oct Nov Dec 2013 Feb Mar Apr

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The traders’

Book Club

All three books from featured in this month’s Traders Book Club can be found at www.harrimanhouse.com

MoneyMaker’s answer to Oprah

Shares Made Simple: A beginner’s guide to the stock market

By Rodney Hobson

n Shares Made Simple is a book written for those who are new to stock market investment or who want to broaden and deepen their knowledge of how the stock market works.

Anyone wishing to make their own investment decisions, rather than hand their assets over to a fund manager or see them stagnate in bank and building society accounts, will benefit from this carefully crafted step by step guide.

Even people with little spare cash, but who want to be informed of the financial world we live in can gain a greater understanding of how the City of London and other business centres operate.

The book is also an invaluable tool for anyone who professionally needs to know about the stock market, from potential wheeler- dealers to advisers such as auditors and PR, to back office staff and students on business or media courses.

The book is organised to take readers logically through the various stages of understanding stock market investment, with each new concept explained in simple terms as it arises.

The author, Rodney Hobson, discusses how to make sensible decisions on which companies to invest in, sifting through the mine of information that is published through the Stock Exchange, and learning how to pick out the key points in company results, including the warning signs.

With the basics explained, Hobson goes on to look at how to buy and sell shares, where to get advice and how to remain well informed. He also looks at takeovers and mergers, the most exciting aspect of stock market investing and the area that offers most scope for making money to investors who, like those who have read this book, understand what is going on.

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“anyone wishing to make their own investment decisions will benefit from this carefully crafted guide”

The 17.6 Year Stock Market Cycle: Connecting the Panics of 1929, 1987, 2000 and 2007

By Kerry Balenthiran

n ‘Boom and bust’ occurs much more frequently than many imagine, and by studying historic stock market cycles we can learn a lot about their likely duration and path. A cycle doesn’t mean that the same exact thing will happen over and over again. A cycle is a sequence of events that repeat over time. The outcome won’t necessarily be the same each time, but the underlying characteristics are the same.

Well known investors such as Warren Buffett and Jim Rogers have written about 17/18 year stock market cycles, and numerous analysts have constructed charts showing 18 year bull and bear market cycles. Cycles of approximately 18 years have been documented by many stock market commentators.

Kerry Balenthiran’s research has identified the existence of a 17.6 year stock market cycle. Crucially he has discovered that the cycle consists of

increments of 2.2 years that correspond to major cyclical stock market turning points such as 1929, 1987, 2000, 2007 and beyond. He calls this the Balenthiran Cycle.

Balenthiran has been able to extrapolate his cycle forwards to provide a market roadmap stretching out to 2053 which outlines the changing character of the stock market through the different phases of the 17.6 year stock market cycle. By being aware of long-term secular cycles as well as the intermediate cyclical turning points investors will be better equipped to ensure that they have the right strategy for the prevailing stock market conditions.

In this excellent book, Balenthiran describes the background to market cycles, the research he undertook, how his 17.6 year cycle is constructed and the implications of the cycle for investors.

Beat the Street: A Trader’s Guide to Consistently Scoring in the Markets

By Adrian Manz

n Beat the Street is one of the most popular trading books available today. This new edition is completely updated, packed with timely examples and all the latest insights of author and master trader, Adrian Manz.

Adrian Manz has earned his living as a full-time professional equities trader for the past 15 years. “Those years,” he says, “have been characterised by constant learning” – a statement that should be no surprise to any other traders out there.

Somewhat uniquely for a leading professional trader, however, Manz is prepared to share in detail the secrets of what he has learnt. In Beat the Street, he reveals with great thoroughness all the strategies and tools that he has used to accomplish his success.

Manz’s trading has evolved significantly over the years, as has his thinking. He has developed a methodology that relies on market dynamics, represented in easy-to-spot patterns, to get him in front of trading opportunities with a high probability of a

successful outcome.

He prepares for tomorrow’s trading after the close of trading today. The results of this fastidious planning have been impressive, with a track record over the past six years that does not include a single losing month. There are losing days, and losing weeks, but month over month the strategies that he describes in this book have kept him in business while many of his contemporaries have been less fortunate.

Manz says his goal with this book is to teach the reader a consistent and conservative methodology for trading the financial markets. He has used the exact patterns and methods presented in its pages for 15 years to generate consistent trading results. Consistency is the key to survival in trading. Manz believes that by studying each chapter carefully, and internalising the spirit, cause and effect of each pattern, you will be better positioned to achieve consistency than 99% of the people who attempt to trade for a living.

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education

Volatility in FX and Commodity Markets New to trading and technical analysis? Then don’t underestimate the importance of volatility, and the benefits of utilising the ATR

V

olatility can be a factor in equities markets, but is far more prevalent and therefore important when trading commodities or currencies. By understanding the benefits and pitfalls associated with a volatility increase traders can both accentuate and maximise profits, and simultaneously manage and minimise risk.

Levels of expected volatility vary from currency to currency, and commodity to commodity, understanding these different volatilities will give you a better sense of how to calculate appropriate stoploss levels and realistic profit targets for individual trades.

It isn’t uncommon for a trade to fall into a loss before recovering into profit again. But just how deep should you allow yourself to get into a losing position before cutting your losses and bailing out? Without an appreciation of

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volatility you could accrue huge losses because the volatility isn’t there to get back to your original position. Alternatively placing a stop-loss too close to your opening position in a trend trade may mean you lose rather than profit because trades rarely rise continuously, and this may cause you to get closed out too soon.

The Average True Range indicator (ATR), was developed J. Welles Wilder, as an accurate calculator of market volatility.

The ATR is a moving average of the True Range (TR), which calculates the movement of a price bar over the period of time and can be set to the tastes of individual traders.

There is a historical difference between different commodities and currencies, as well as fundamental market analysis factors which increase or decrease volatility at a specific time. For example, when comparing the ATR of EURGBP with EURJPY, with all factors equal it is clear that EURJPY is far more volatile. When observing the

“There are various different ways the ATR can be utilised, Wilder used daily charts with 7 or 14 day periods” commodities markets, it is immediately apparent that oil is incredibly volatile when compared to similar commodities, with shifts regularly moving more than 50 points per hour.

There are various different ways the ATR can be utilised, Wilder used daily charts with 7 or 14 day periods. This would give a trader a daily average price movement over the course of a week or two weeks.

Daily, hourly or another ATR can all be important tools in calculating stop-losses and profit targets, depending on each individual trader’s strategy and strengths. The ATR does not give any indication of direction or trend, it therefore needs to be combined with other technical analysis tools to be of practical use to traders.

Another useful tool in harnessing the power of volatility, particularly in trending markets, is the Alligator Signal.

The Alligator Signal is comprised of three exponential moving averages (EMAs): five period, eight period and thirteen period EMA, coloured green, red and blue respectively.

As the price moves quickly each line will react: the green line will react the fastest because it will be most affected by the current price. The current price affects the thirteen day period EMA least, making the blue line the slowest to react.

By observing how the three lines differentiate from each other traders can get a better sense of how the market is reacting at a given time. The order of the lines will determine whether the market is in an uptrend or downtrend, and the distance between the lines will determine how volatile the market shift is. You can therefore use this information to set the appropriate stop-loss and profit target to avoid getting closed out of a trend too soon or too late.

The larger the timeframe in which you wish to trade a position or the more volatile the pair then the wider your stop-loss value should be. However, if you combine your knowledge of volatility with a correctly calculated riskreward ratio you’ll be set to maximise your profits in volatile markets.

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Great Trades

Paulson pulverises the Housing Market When the financial turmoil of 2007 swept through the US banking system, the economy tumbled into its biggest crisis since the Wall Street crash. Few saw the disaster coming, but for those who did the opportunity was a goldmine.

S

tep forward hedge fund manager John Paulson, the man who predicted the housing bubble bursting from the start.

Dismissed by some and ignored by many, in 2007 Paulson trusted his instincts, snubbed the instruments that told him he was wrong, and defied the critics by betting against the market. The result: a $15bn scoop, making Paulson’s trade the most profitable in market history.

In 2005 John Paulson was a relatively unknown New York hedge fund manager who had maintained an

under the radar profile. In 11 years he had methodically grown his fund, but in 2005 became increasingly unsure as to whether the US economy could sustain a high level of growth.

He began by rejecting the accepted opinion that the US housing market and mortgage markets would remain strong in spite of loose lending standards. National house prices would never fall, the boom was here to stay.

Paulson and employee Paolo Pelligrini saw things differently. The housing market was a bubble, and one that was at the point of bursting. They were convinced that if they managed

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to find the right way into the market and timed their move correctly there was a fortune in the offing. But with no obvious method of “shorting houses” immediately available the dilemma became more a question of how to take advantage of the opportunity, rather than if one was there in the first place.

It was Pelligrini who found the answer: short collaterised debt obligations slices and buying credit-default swaps, a mechanism to insure against mortgage securities going bad.

The greater the risk of the mortgage being defaulted on, the higher the cost of the credit-default would be. This played in Paulson’s hands, over confident mortgage experts had drastically underappreciated the burgeoning housing crisis on the horizon, meaning that the credit-default swaps were hugely undervalued.

Having found his way in, Paulson was determined to take as big an advantage as possible from the disparity. Despite his initial bets being losers, the information Paulson and his team collated on the state of mortgages across America the greater his strength of conviction became. Aggressive sub-prime lending was rife, and mortgagees were finding it increasingly difficult to collect on debts.

A hedge fund of $150m backed mostly by European investors was set up solely to bet against the housing market.

With confidence still high sceptics told Paulson he was out of his depth, ignoring the advice of those with more experience than him, and would accrue huge losses.

And at first the doubters were proved right: the market

“To put it into perspective, soros netted $1bn from the black wednesday trade.

Paulson reaped $15bn in 2007 alone”

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stayed strong and the fund dwindled.

“It’s just a matter of time”, Paulson would tell those closest to him, some of whom were pleading with him to cut his losses. But Paulson pushed on, shorting the ABX, a new index reflecting the value of a collection of subprime mortgages, when it arrived on the market in 2006.

This was the turning point of the whole trade, the index weakened from July to the end of 2006 and by the end of the year the fund was up 20%.

A second fund was set up, and once subprime giant New Century Financial Corp. projected quarterly losses in 2007 the writing was on the wall. The ABX, which began with a value of 100 in July 2006 fell into the 60s, with the Paulson fund rising 60% in February alone.

Once confident investors began to worry, and when two Bear Sterns hedge funds investing in subprimes collapsed the ABX continued to fall into the 20s. The rest, as they say, is history. The original Paulson fund eventually rose 590%, and the second rose 350%.

By concentrating the fund into credit default swaps, Paulson had guaranteed that as home owners defaulted on their mortgages he would collect a fortune. Complacency and lack of foresight had cost those around him their entire funds, but by identifying the strain the US economy was under and finding a mechanism to exploit that knowledge, Paulson had made billions.

Another key to his success was that Paulson didn’t enter the market too soon, unlike some other investors who also understood that the market was on the verge of collapse in much the same way as Paulson and Pelligrini did in 2005.

The downturn didn’t come for two years, and by that time many of the investors who had worked through the sums to arrive at the right conclusion had suffered such heavy losses that they’d been force to unwind their bearish bets.

Whether Paulson’s timing was luck, judgement, or a mixture of the two, is a matter of debate.

For some Paulson is seen as somewhat of a rogue figure, if only for the fact that he made his fortune trading on the failure and misery of others. Rumours were abound that Paulson prevented Bear Sterns from attempting to prop up the housing market, which may have rescued the savings of many, and there is no doubt that he has profited from the pain of others.

Paulson has never openly celebrated his success in backing the housing market to crash, and has always pointed the finger of blame at predatory subprime lenders who victimised mortgagors when the economy was strong. Identifying that the bursting of the bubble was imminent was in no way comparable to causing it, and recognising the danger that the US economy was heading towards could not be more blameworthy than remaining over-confident and idle whilst the crisis brewed.

George Soros’ selling of the pound on Black Wednesday is perhaps the most famous financial speculation in history. To put things into perspective Soros netted $1bn from the Black Wednesday trade, Paulson reaped $15bn in 2007 alone.

Paulson’s personal spoils from the success ended up being somewhere in the $3bn to $4bn range that year, believed to be the largest one year payday in Wall Street history. Not bad for a man who’d been told he couldn’t take on the housing market and win.

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give back

PHILANTHROPY

Changing The Face of Medical Research As part of our ongoing series of profiles of the UK’s most influential good cause visionaries, we caught up with Chris Burghes, the man responsible for one of the biggest medical research funds in Europe

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PHILANTHROPY

W

hether you think it’s right or wrong that elite business should play a role in the development of life saving research, it’s become a fundamental part of today’s world.

Across the globe, entrepreneurs are seeking a legacy that really means something, and the stats bear this out, with the percentage of charitable funds made available by billionaires up over 300% in the past ten years.

Leaving a lasting gift to the world is the entrepreneur’s greatest goal: a noble pursuit that will last far longer than a profit and loss sheet ever could, and will bring the kind of joy that no bank balance can match. In a century’s time, kids of the future won’t be flying around on hoverboards and learning that Bill Gates created a fortune, but that the Microsoft owner helped rid the world of malaria, and it’s this quest for a timeless memorial that is spurring more and more business A-listers to do their bit.

However, with over three million charities globally, how does an elite entrepreneur choose which research fund to support, where their money will really make a difference to the lives of others?

We caught up with Chris Burghes, CEO of the Royal Free Charity, and the man responsible for the organisation’s multi-million pound medical research fund.

From the first moment we meet, it’s clear that Burghes is a deeply interesting character. He’s an obvious entrepreneur, with the track record to back it up, but has turned away from the private sector that could make him a very wealthy man to invest his energies into a cause that means the world to him. Some people dream of changing the world, others just do it.

Burghes has transformed his charity in just three years, turning it from a lacklustre organisation into one of the UK’s most important and growing good causes. Today, the charity is amongst the single biggest investors in medical research in Britain, outside of the NHS. It spreads its funds across a variety of pioneering research programmes, from cancer, where the charity is making a real difference with breast cancer recovery, to technological advances, which allow GPs and consultants to make real-time diagnoses on patients. However, it’s the regenerative medicine field where Burghes’ charity fund really achieves international recognition, supporting the work of leading facial transplantation doctors, which takes place at the Royal Free Hospital the charity is based within.

opportunity to make an impact was irresistible.

Tell us about the Royal Free Charity Virtually every hospital in the UK has an associated charity and the Royal Free is one of the top ten NHS charities. The charity exists to improve the patient experience and to fund the pioneering medical research for which it’s become famous.

The Royal Free also has a medical training school.

How are you supporting this?

We’ve sponsored the development of a simulation programme that allows junior doctors to perform virtual operations. It’s so life-like that they can even feel a realistic degree of resistance when they apply pressure to particular organs.

What attracted you to the charity?

My motivation was purely altruistic. I saw the potential to make a real difference to people’s lives and to support medical advances that are truly cutting edge and so the

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What challenges did you face when you joined?

When I joined the Royal Free Charity as its first CEO, people didn’t understand why they should support a charity, they thought paying taxes was enough of a contribution. My challenge was to reposition the brand, raise its profile, and encourage people to engage with it.

What’s been your biggest achievement so far?

My biggest achievement was building a support base, and to show them that together we could make a difference.

Within the first year, funding to the charity was up by over 40% and I credit staff support for that success.

Perhaps one of the most unusual examples of supporter engagement is around intensive care. The Royal Free Hospital excels in this area, and one of the most common causes for patients needing to be in intensive care is a lack of oxygen to the brain. As such, the charity is sponsoring 200 volunteers to be monitored at high altitude on Everest. The majority of these volunteers are Royal Free Hospital staff, who are big supporters of the charity.

Your second plan to increase funding was to give out more money. That’s quite a radical strategy. Can you explain your rationale?

Since I joined the charity, grant funding – the money the charity gives away – has gone up by 45%. The result is that we’re now making more of an impact and people are more inclined to support a charity when they can see it’s having a positive impact. So giving funds away increases donations.

A lot of research is described as cutting edge. Can you give us some examples of medical advances your charity supports that are truly pioneering?

The focus for the charity’s funding is always on science and technology, and the work undertaken by the research centre at the Royal Free Hospital is truly cutting edge. For example, the hospital is researching the use of lenses and light to kill breast cancer, which will mean patients don’t have to undergo chemotherapy. We’ve also supported research into how patients’ own DNA can be used to attack cancer cells, and this treatment is now in progress at the Royal Free. We’ve also just bought the first MRI scanner solely for breast cancer, too.

Beyond funding cutting edge medical care, how is the charity improving the patient experience?

We’ve supported the development of iConsult – an app

“I saw the potential to make a real difference to people’s lives and to support medical advances that are truly cutting edge” that allows GPs to Skype consultants straight away about their patients’ treatment. This is currently being tested at the Royal Free, and initial results show that 80% of patients are getting seen quicker and over half don’t have to come into the hospital at all.

We’ve also funded the development of a computer program that helps cancer patients choose the best treatment for them based on their demographic, too.

This provides patients with the information they need to make choices about their own care.

What do the next few years hold for you?

A major ongoing project for the charity is to raise funds for a new research block at the hospital – a brand new global centre for immunity and transplantation. It’s a £47m project, and the goal is for the UK to have one of the top five such global centres (the other four are in the US). Two hundred new research staff will be sourced from across the world to run the new 5,000 square

metre facility, including a large research lab that will replace what is currently a multi-story car park.

One of the things the new centre will pioneer is the growing of organs from patients’ own DNA. There are currently 8,000 people in the UK waiting for a liver transplant. The wait is usually three years during which time patients are put on dialysis, which brings their immunity down. After an organ transplant, patients need to take drugs that discourage their body from rejecting the new organ. An organ grown from the patients’ own DNA is less likely to be rejected by their body, so more transplants will be successful and long term dependency on drugs to avoid organ rejection will be reduced. I’m committed to seeing this project through. Not only will this be cutting edge medicine, but it will also achieve huge cost savings in the long run.

The Royal Free Charity is actively seeking large scale investment for its groundbreaking medical research. www.royalfreecharity.org

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be better

Exercise

The Road to Success Building the corporate muscle one stroke at a time n By Mark Waite, Founder & CEO, Cycling CEO, Inc.

T For all enquiries Mark Waite can be contacted at: Cycling CEO Ltd Tel: (949) 231-9417 Email: Mark@cyclingceo.com SKYPE: Cycling_CEO

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here is no denying the fact that healthy employees boost a company’s bottom line.

Research demonstrates that by encouraging healthier choices amongst employees, companies are reaping long-term savings in terms of lower healthcare costs, fewer sick days, fewer claims and declining disability days.

Companies that have developed wellness cultures also stand to gain from factors such as higher job satisfaction, employee retention and recruitment, and employee engagement, all of which contribute to corporate success.

According to Health Promotion Advocates, a consortium of groups and individuals committed to health and fitness, for every dollar spent on work-site wellness and fitness programmes, a company saves $5.82 in absenteeism costs and $3.48 in medical costs.

Fitness programmes, specifically, have been shown to return an average of $4.90 for every dollar invested in the programme. As a result, an increasing number of companies are incorporating fitness programmes into their wellness initiatives.

There are many fitness options available to companies but none that offer the benefits of cycling.

It is the one sport that not only allows participants to further their social and business relationships but to do so while leading a healthy lifestyle. Cycling fuels a success-driven mentality, creating a very real sense of shared achievement and camaraderie amongst participants.

In addition, group rides allow participants to assess their comrades at a pure, primal level without the masks and personas of the normal business meetings. A willingness to work for a team

goal, self-sacrifice, aggression and resilience are all on display and impossible to fake when you are riding into a screaming headwind with 40kms still to ride.

Sometimes it’s the communal suffering of a tough ride that bonds participants.

As a 1986 West Point graduate, two-time national champion cyclist and member of the 1988 US Olympic cycling team, I have linked so much of my business success directly to what happens outside of the office. In 2012, I adopted the mantra that “cycling is the new golf” and created Cycling CEO™, the first and only company to design, implement and manage comprehensive corporate cycling programs for employees and executive teams.

Cycle to Work Every Day with Barclays Cycle Hire Almost three years on from the launch of the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme by the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL), cycling is now another key mode of transport for Londoners.

Since its launch in July 2010, there have been over 1.8 million journeys carried out on the now iconic blue bikes in the capital, with around 34,000 cycle journeys a day.

It is a really cost-effective way to make short trips around town with all journeys under 30 minutes free of usage charges, and access fees from £2 for 24 hours, £10 for 7 days and £90 for an entire year.

Cycling for Leisure Not only can you cycle through London for short journeys, TfL also offers a range of leisure routes through parks and greenways, and along canals, towpaths and waterways. These routes are a great way to see a greener side to the capital and for new cyclists to build their confidence on two wheels in a less crowded environment.

Our unique positioning in the corporate wellness space has quickly proven itself out and is garnering attention globally as a programme to benefit companies worldwide. Cycling has become a very popular activity in the UK, as shown by the bike to work initiatives in London and other cycling activities as a result of the 2012 Olympics. As a result, we are looking for partners to help us expand our services into the UK so that we can help companies capitalise on the benefits of our corporate cycling programmes.

Whether you partake in a group ride, commute by bike to work, or participate in an indoor cycling activity, our corporate cycling programs™ will help create a healthier and stronger corporate team.

Barclays Superhighway The Barclays Superhighways have benefited London’s cyclists with four routes, with another eight to be introduced by 2015, which will make it easier and

safer to commute by bicycle between outer and inner London on direct and continuous cycle routes.

As well as the Merton to the City (A24 and A3) and Barking to Tower Gateway (A13) routes, the Bow to Aldgate and Wandsworth to Westminster routes are fully open. In 2013, the Stratford to Bow and New Cross Gate to Victoria routes will be added, meaning that there will be six Barclay’s Superhighways up and running.

Business Benefit Businesses within a 1.5km radius of the Barclays Cycle Superhighways may be eligible for funding from Transport for London (TfL) to make cycling more accessible to their employees.

TfL offers businesses within a 1.5km radius of the Barclays Cycle Superhighways up to £9,000 of funding credits through the Superhighways Workplace scheme to promote cycling for commuter and business trips. Since the launch of the Workplace scheme TfL has funded cycle shelters and cycle racks at work places and provided staff with cycle training and bike safety check sessions.

This has resulted in many new employees taking to two wheels for the very first time.

To apply and reap the benefits, complete the registration form online at: http://tfl.gov.uk/ cyclingworkplaces

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be better

Exercise

Mens Sana In Corpore Sano Elite fitness trainer and Kinetica Sports Ambassador Jon Denoris reveals why, and when mind over matter really does count

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lthough the Greeks are currently playing out a modern day tragedy, we can still learn much from their ancient past when it comes to understanding the importance and relevance of exercise and staying in shape.

Most of us are well aware of the many physical benefits of exercise, but less obvious is the emerging research demonstrating the many benefits that simply staying in shape can have on our minds.

Plato gained honours for wrestling, and his values for daily gymnastic training are set out in The Republic, in which he stressed that keeping generally alert and free from ill health, and ready for eventual war or hardship were paramount to developing your thought processes. It is here we find the origins of the sound of

Train Your Brain You should begin by building your body and brain plan gradually, all forms of exercise are great for this, however novel ideas include; l “Walking-book” sessions, where you combine going hiking or cycling, or for a walk in the park with various “book breaks” to read along the way. l Taking up a sport such as tennis, squash or orienteering which involves decision making whilst being active. l Fitness sessions involving boxing based movements which require you to use both left and right sides of the brain and body. l “Juggling” either as an activity in its own right or in between sets of weights in the gym

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body and sound of mind philosophy.

As we become more and more technology driven & desk based, it’s easy to forget that we are actually “natural born movers”. Most of us know that we feel great after exercising, but we don’t really know why.

As a coach with 20 years experience and an ambassador for Kinetica Sports Nutrition I have developed programmes which I believe are cuttingedge, both in terms of exercise and nutrition, to allow business people and entrepreneurs to increase energy levels, and as a consequence their capacity to tolerate higher levels of stress, rather than trying to reduce the stress levels around them.

We treat all our corporate clients as we would our athletes, and as such we fuel them as we would our top performers. The careful and strategic use of quality sports nutrition and supplements (where appropriate) can play a vital role in increasing energy, endurance, focus and overall performance, not just for sportspeople but equally for the corporate athletes and weekend warriors.

I have always known intuitively that different types of exercise made my clients react and feel differently. Whilst all forms of exercise seemed to give them that endorphin rush, the buzz they got from running a 10K on the treadmill was different from that of playing squash or racquetball, agility or quickness drills. I discovered that integrating decision into fitness sessions seemed to be the difference.

In fact, if I wanted to get a client to forget about “work life” whilst training, I would ensure that their fitness session involved making quick decisions, such as boxing training, which seemed to force them to “forget”.

The mechanisms for the above, however are becoming clearer with new research in the area of how exercise impacts brain function. I work with peak performers from the worlds of business, sport and entertainment and they share similar traits. They ask me to put together strategies that not only improve their physical health, but that will make them more competitive, creative and focused.

These are the benefits of exercise and brain function that I stress most keenly to my entrepreneur

“Exercising improves executive functioning - this is the section of the brain concerned with planning, organising and multitasking ”

clients: 1. It elevates your stress threshold - exercise helps in the fight against the stress hormone cortisol, a product of chronic stress that can lead to depression and dementia. Exercise makes proteins that fixes the damage and delays the process.

2. It lifts your mood - in a landmark study in this area by researchers at Duke University (known as the SMILE study) exercise was compared against the anti-depressant (Zoloft) and was found to be at least as effective as medication in helping people with mild depression.

3. It improves “Executive Functioning” - this is the area of the brain concerned with planning, organising, and multi-tasking. The reasons for this are complex but include improved blood flow to the brain, and hence oxygen, fuel and nutrients. Exercise also increases levels of a substance called BDNF which encourages growth and communication between

the cells of the brain. Combining exercise with music can increase these benefits even more; researchers combined exercising with listening to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and found improvements in verbal skills and mood tests greater than exercising to the sound of silence.

4. Exercise improves sleep quality - Often a symptom of stress and anxiety, research suggests morning exercise may be the most beneficial time to exercise. This may be to do with our circadian rhythms.

5. It boosts the immune system - Aging and stress can harm our immune response. Moderate activity dials up the body’s production of T cells attacking bacteria, viruses and even helping reduce the risk of certain cancers. Physically active people have a 50% lower risk of developing colon cancer and active women have an 18% reduced risk of breast cancer (even those with a family history of the disease).

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Drive, Sail, Fly

Drive Time MoneyMaker hits the road again to bring you this month’s hottest machines on four wheels

LAFERRARI UNVEILED

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he wraps are finally off the LaFerrari. The Prancing Horse’s eagerly anticipated limited-series special, made its world debut recently at the Geneva International Motor Show. Just 499 will be produced – no prices are officially confirmed at the time of going to press, but expect to pay £1m plus.

“We chose to call this model LaFerrari,” declared Ferrari’s President, Luca di Montezemolo, “because it is the maximum expression of what defines our company – excellence. Excellence in terms of technological innovation, performance, visionary styling and the sheer thrill of driving. Aimed at our collectors, this is a truly extraordinary car. LaFerrari is the finest expression of our company’s unique, unparalleled engineering and design knowhow, including that acquired in Formula 1.”

This stunning model features a hybrid system drawing on Ferrari’s F1 KERS knowhow, to deliver blistering performance plus lower emissions, sprinting 0-62mph in 3 seconds, with a top speed of over 217mph.

Its 6262cc V12 punches out 800 CV and revs to a maximum of 9,250 rpm, a record for an engine of this displacement, and total torque is in excess of a whopping 900Nm, providing a constant supply of exceptional power throughout the whole rev range.

To guarantee exceptional dynamic handling and compact dimensions, great attention was placed on achieving the ideal weight distribution (59% at the rear), plus a compact wheelbase despite the extra bulk of the hybrid system.

With La Ferrari, the company’s engineers have created a model with the highest degree of aerodynamic efficiency ever achieved with any road car, with a coefficient of nearly 3, thanks to technical solutions honed with CFD analysis, finetuned in the F1 Wind Tunnel.

This latest Ferrari features sports active

aerodynamic devices, which deploy automatically to generate downforce when needed without compromising the car’s overall drag coefficient. The car responds intelligently to driver inputs, making for a seamless blend of unprecedented performance and ultimate driving excitement.

Its braking system is integrated with the hybrid system, and incorporates several new features, including new lightweight callipers designed to guarantee correct cooling and carbon-ceramic material (CCM) discs featuring a new composition. And the car’s extreme performance potential called for a special tyre set-up, and comes with 265/30 R 19 Pirelli P-Zeros on the front and 345/30 R 20s on the rear.

All in all the car guarantees maximum driving thrills in every situation and performance levels are top level: 0-100 km/h in less than three seconds and 0-200 km/h in under seven seconds, a lap time at Fiorano of under 1’20” – five seconds faster than the Enzo and over three seconds faster than the F12berlinetta. This makes the LaFerrari the fastest road car in Maranello’s long history.

Looks-wise, as you’d expect, it’s simply stunning. The Ferrari design team led

by Flavio Manzoni aimed to produce an extreme, innovative design which retains close links to the marque’s tradition. You can see this most clearly when viewing the car in profile, where you can appreciate its sharp, downward-sloping nose and a very low bonnet which emphasises its muscular wheelarches - a clear nod to the gloriously exuberant forms of late-1960s Ferrari sports prototypes.

Lucky enough to slip inside and you’ll find a newly-designed steering wheel sporting all the major commands, longer, more ergonomic paddles, and the signature bridge on which the F1 gearbox functions are clustered has taken on a sleek, suspended wing-like shape. The whole interior, in fact, has a fiercely track-inspired, pared-back allure.

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Bentley Mulsanne Revamping to Enhanced Spec

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entley’s introducing a range of new super-luxe features to its flagship model, the Mulsanne.

This ultimate in grand tourers will now feature luxury delights including duck down filled loose cushions, footrests and privacy curtains, plus sleek new paint options, and new bespoke fitted luggage.

Comfort and Convenience The new Comfort Specification includes new headrests, with manually adjustable wings for lateral support to aid relaxation when chauffeur-driven. The super-soft headrests are designed to fold neatly, avoiding any creasing of the hide, while also extending lower than standard headrests to ensure maximum comfort for an even greater range of passenger statures.

New footrests are now available, trimmed in flat-cut cabin carpet and hide to match each individual vehicle. The new addition is designed to blend in and provide unobtrusive additional comfort, especially when rear seats are reclined. The footrests can be stowed under the front seats when not in use.

Seat comfort is extended with fine duck down filled loose cushions, trimmed using the same traditionally-tanned hide

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as the seats, included with the Comfort Specification. The design incorporates Bentley Winged Emblems, but also bespoke stitching or piping can be specified.

Further cabin revisions have been made, with a new rear door armrest storage compartment introduced as standard. This hide-lined compartment, in each rear door, can conveniently hold mobile phones, personal items or Bluetooth headphones for Rear Seat Entertainment.

Maximising Privacy Whether relaxing or working in the luxurious surroundings of the rear cabin, privacy can be attained through the touch of a button, with new privacy curtains offered as a Crewe-fitted option.

Controlled from the driving seat or rear compartment via the window-lift switches, the curtains are fully integrated into the rear doors and rear windscreen surround.

Available in either Black or Ivory, the soft, opaque material gives the rear cabin a feeling of opulence and complete privacy, via one-touch operation with anti-trap protection.

Entertainment on Demand The new Crewe-fitted Entertainment Specification option offers a full menu of communication, entertainment and information, with rear picnic tables designed for an iPad and wireless keyboard.

Once deployed, the picnic tables reveal a smooth hide-trimmed writing surface, and at the touch of a button, the surface lifts to reveal a dedicated space for an iPad and keyboard, ready to connect to a web browser via the on-board Wi-Fi router.

Crafted in solid metal, fine veneer and hide, the tables feature an adjustable screen angle with an anti-trap sensor to protect fingers. An iPad can be charged when the ignition is on, yet is fully detachable and out of sight once stowed.

The Entertainment Specification is further enhanced with twin, eight inch LCD headrest screens, incorporating a 20 GB hard drive and DVD player, played through a “Naim for Bentley” premium audio system, while two sets of Bluetooth headphones and a remote control puts the

power in the hands of the occupants.

Connectivity at the Touch of a Button Connectivity is boosted with the introduction of a Wi-Fi router with a high speed Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) phone module and SIM card reader, located in the glove box, providing a rolling Wi-Fi hotspot for internet access which can be accessed by eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously.

There is a dedicated antenna housed in the boot lid, outside of the vehicle’s steel frame, giving improved signal strength versus a handheld device.

Bespoke Mulsanne Fitted Luggage Intended for the discerning traveller, a range of bespoke Mulsanne luggage pieces hand made by renowned Italian luggage specialists Schedoni are now available.

The full collection is made of six pieces, two large cases, two small cases and two foldable garment bags. The overall shape of the luggage is inspired by the inner door panel design of the car, with the frame surrounding the main side panels echoing the main feature frame of the door with its characteristic twin ridge.

The frame also serves to neatly guide

the luggage in position into the boot of the car whilst also protecting the handle.

The pieces are handmade to customers’ specification, featuring monogram Bentley lining and embossed Bentley logos on the main panels and use the same hides that go into a Bentley car. The items can be purchased as a full six piece set, single or multiple bags.

The architecture of the luggage allows the possibility to offer a colour split between the frame and the main panel.

Each set can be colour personalised, matching the primary hide colour of the interior of the car or the secondary, or even combining both.

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Drive, Sail, Fly

ALL-NEW RANGE ROVER SPORT

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ailed by Land Rover as its fastest, most agile and responsive model ever, expect to see the all-new Range Rover Sport gracing the driveways of the great and the good, city and country sets, worldwide in the not too distant future.

Developed alongside the highly acclaimed all-new Range Rover, this new sports orientated model will, the company says, deliver the brand’s best ever on-road dynamics, together with class-leading, genuine Land Rover all-terrain capability.

The new Sport comes fully loaded with the latest technology, even more luxurious spec, practicality with the option of occasional 5+2 seating, and more muscular and imposing looks. In addition, because of substantial weight savings through its all-new first-in-class aluminium architecture, it’s promising to perform even better than

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before, and run with emissions dropping to 194g/km – respectable considering its size, capability and power.

This all-new Range Rover Sport benefits from 75 per cent unique parts, a significant number of which directly influence the way the new Sport looks and feels.

As you’d expect, there are a host of options to personalise each Sport to its owner’s particular tastes, including the iconic “Viper’s Nest” wheel design, now available for the first time across all Range Rover models.

At launch, all-new Range Rover Sport customers will have a choice of two engines – a supercharged 5.0-litre 510PS V8 petrol engine and a 3.0-litre 292PS SDV6 diesel engine. The powertrain line-up will be expanded in early 2014 by the addition of a 3.0-litre 258PS TDV6 and high performance 4.4-litre 339PS SDV8 diesel engine. In addition, an innovative, high-efficiency diesel

Hybrid model will be available to order in 2014 as mentioned earlier.

Across the range, acceleration times for the 0-60mph dash start from five seconds, while fuel consumption is cut by up to 24 per cent. All petrol and diesel engines in the new Range Rover Sport are paired with the advanced electronically controlled ZF 8HP70 8-speed automatic gearbox.

New Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG

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romising to steal the crown as one of the most desirable high performance four-door coupés around, the all-new sleek, stylish, CLA 45 AMG from Mercedes certainly means business.

A glance at the model’s technical data reveals its AMG 2.0-litre turbo engine, delivering 360 bhp and 450 Nms of torque, is the most powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine in series production anywhere in the world.

This combination of high performance and hefty torque, working seamlessly with its performance-orientated, SLS adopted, AMG 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system, gives the CLA 45 AMG all the thrilling grunt, grip and agility of a genuinely tidy sports car coming in at twice the price.

Acceleration-wise, this classiest of coupé reaches 62 mph in just

4.6 seconds, and is capable of an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. Despite these stats, the engine is also impressive in terms of efficiency and environmental credentials, achieving 40.9 mpg combined, and already meeting the EU6 emissions standard that come into effect in 2015.

Attractive inside and out, the cabin is fully loaded with all the top-notch trim and technology you’d expect, and there are plenty of individualisation options to choose from. Highlights of these include dashing red painted callipers; a stylish exterior package comprising front splitter, side sill panel inserts etc; all in carbonfibre; stunning AMG multi-spoke light alloys in 8 x 19 fitted with 235/35 R 19 tyres, either painted in high-shine titanium grey, or matt black with high-sheen rim flange; AMG sports seats, privacy glass, steering wheel, and performance exhaust

system.

The CLA 45 AMG will arrive in the UK in the autumn of 2013. Full UK spec details and prices to be confirmed in the next few weeks.

Drive Time Stats Displacement: 1991 cc Max power: 360 bhp Max torque: 450 Nm Fuel consumption: 40.9 mpg combined CO2 emissions: 165 g/km Emissions standard: EU6 Acceleration 0-62 mph: 4.6 seconds Top speed: 155 mph

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On the Right Track The best track driving experiences in the UK

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ou may well have a garage full of gleaming supercars, but we’d hazard a guess they’re largely unused, thanks to our congested roads, and speed-loathing police who love little more than to nab a Ferrari streaking down the M4 the second it strays over 70mph.

It’s definitely frustrating. But, should you feel the need for serious speed, there’s no better experience than getting involved in one of the many track days being held every week up and down the UK. We’ve selected the best of the experiences on offer, all of which are within easy distance of London. So let the fun and games begin.

Mercedes-Benz World

Close to London, Mercedes-Benz World offers a wide variety of driving experiences for sports car fans to enjoy, two of the best being laps in the SLS AMG and C63 AMG Coupe Black Series.

At this impressive visitor attraction, visitors will find a 3D experience, a Mercedes-Benz cinema, interactive attractions and motorsport exhibits. There is the

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opportunity to see, touch and feel the latest MercedesBenz models which are displayed alongside a host of iconic classics and Formula 1 cars – all of which are ideal for those with families to entertain.

SLS AMG Experience

This experience is a must – the stunning SLS AMG, with its 6.3 litre V8 engine, is jaw-droppingly good to drive.

The car handles like a dream, and certainly looks the part too. The experiences start at £299 for one hour, but fans should opt for the £650 half day if your schedule allows.

C63 AMG Coupé Black Series Driving Experience From just £275 you can experience the raw power of the C63 AMG Coupé Black Series. The most powerful C-Class of all time, its 6.3-litre V8 produces a huge 517 bhp and hefty amount of torque, enabling an impressive 0-62mph sprint time of just 4.2 seconds.

Mercedes-Benz World driving experiences take place on purpose built Handling Circuits, a sophisticated Wet Skid Circle and a dynamic

Silverstone

It’s an ambition of many a petrol head to test their driving skills on one of the world’s most famous race tracks. So it’s no wonder that the wide range of driving experiences on offer at Silverstone, from single seats to 4x4s, are some of the most desirable, and enjoyable, anywhere in the UK. As with Mercedes Benz World, the instructors are excellent, giving great feedback, and thanks to their expert tuition you’re sure to leave at the end of the day feeling as though you’ve significantly improved your road and track driving skills.

Arguably Aston Martin’s finest car, the V8 Vantage is the epitome of style and innovation. Its front-engined layout allows the 4.5 litre V8 to sit far back in the chassis for perfect weight distribution, so the drive more than lives up to the promise of that beautiful shape.

The full Aston Martin experience, priced from £175, includes timed laps on one of Silverstone’s famous circuits, safety briefings and a useful debrief and driver assessment to discuss your performance and any areas to work on.

Head to Mercedes Benz World this summer for one of the best days out in the UK for adults and families

Ferrari Experience

straight. And for those looking for a bit of off-road fun, Mercedes-Benz World also has ten acres of challenging off-road terrain for 4x4 vehicles, complete with a water crossing and extreme slopes. The tuition on both surfaces is first class, you’re given detailed and useful feedback, and all instructors and centre staff are excellent.

For youngsters – those over 1.5m tall can get behind the wheel of a brand new Mercedes-Benz through the Under 16s Driving Experiences. With dual controls and a professional driving coach in the passenger seat, kids have the chance to experience their own driving lesson to develop real road skills, or even tackle the challenging off-road terrain in the latest four-wheel drive Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Those between three and six years old can also join in the fun with Little Learners - a special indoor driving zone where children can drive an electric miniature Mercedes.

In addition, during school holidays the centre’s own Silver Arrows display team show off their incredible car control skills to crowds in a spectacular show of precision driving and high-speed manoeuvres. n www.mercedes-benzworld.co.uk

You may already own a Ferrari or two, but even so, it never hurts to hone your skills on one of the world’s most famous circuits. And for those new to Ferraris, this is an excellent way of seeing for yourself just how good these Italian supercars really are.

From £225 per person, you start off in what’s known as the ultimate hot hatch – the supercharged Megane Renaultsport 250, to learn your lines, before sliding behind the wheel of a 400bhp V8 Ferrari for laps of grin-inducing joy. The instructors will help you reach your racing potential, guiding you as needed to get your lap times right down. n www.silverstone.co.uk/experiences/driving-days

Porsche Experience Centre

Silverstone’s also home to Porsche’s Experience Centre, where you can book to drive models from across the range, including the superb Cayman and 911 GT2 RS. The experiences run on a specially designed track that incorporates five elements; Handling, Kick Plate, Ice Hill, Low Friction and Off-Road circuits. Again the one-toone tuition is excellent, and you’re given valuable drive debriefs.

Ultimate GT Experience

The 911 GT2 and GT2 RS are the most powerful 911 variants ever produced. When driving both the GT2 and GT2 RS you experience the unbelievable performance of a twin turbo 911 GT. These run for 90mins and cost £550.

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Owning The Waves How you should open your eyes to the world of Superyacht buying - by Mark Upton, Director at MGMT Yacht

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he last word in luxury”. This is what chartering, buying, and especially having your own yacht custom built has always been referred to. It’s no surprise, therefore, that in the world of the millionaires and billionaires, Superyacht ownership is as much to do with status as personal enjoyment.

All of us will make a high value purchase in life, but before we do, the essential research, comparisons, tests, negotiation and loan applications normally take place.

But for years this simply was not the case within the Superyacht market.

There was generally only one route to owning a yacht, and that was through a broker. Brokers have access to the market and therefore you, if you were in the fortunate position to be able to purchase a Superyacht needed access to them. “Your broker”, as they would quickly become known, would open the door to a different world of luxury, they would make it possible for you to become a member of one the world’s most exclusive clubs, together with the ultimate expression of wealth and success. After all, how better to show the world you have made it than to have your yacht trackside for the Monaco Grand Prix?

Yes, there is of course the argument that the sensible money charters. Why expose yourself to the costs associated with buying, operating and ultimately selling a yacht? The answers are varied, ranging from actually being a part of the ownership experience to freedom, unbridled luxury and unwillingness to share, but most of all it is the status of ownership which is the overriding factor when clients are faced with the dilemma of whether to charter or to buy.

However, when we look around us today we see that the world is a different place than even as recently as five years ago. Economies are suffering, banks are failing and people are being made redundant.

Everyone suffers in an economic downturn, but

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of course some less than others. The lucky few who are still in the enviable position of being able to buy a Superyacht not only have the buyer’s advantage in a market where many are keen to sell, but they are also presented with a much wider choice at much more appealing prices.

A client of mine was looking for a new yacht recently.

We found him the perfect example, which, due to the slow market had been for sale for over a year, and the price had been reduced from $52m USD to $26m. After looking at the spec and agreeing it was potentially the right yacht, we made the call to the broker and managed to save a further $7m, due to the owner being so highly motivated to sell.

A new approach has been adopted in recent years due to the fact that demand is not as high as it was. The

“It’s key to know, as well as the purchase price, what your yacht is going to cost you in the next few years” smart buyer will now ask more questions, understand the market, and look at things from different angles.

Not all yachts are the same; the variables which need to be understood when buying are considerable. A small oversight in the review stages could mean €1 million per year difference in running costs.

A client recently approached me after a horror story of a purchase that cost him six weeks and €500,000 due to the fact that the yacht broke down and needed to go into a ship yard for a substantial amount of work immediately. This kind of problem is easily avoided during the buying process and can become a strong bargaining tool rather than the sort of thing that sours your experience.

Ultimately yachting is about fun. If you can’t enjoy the last word in luxury after you have paid for it then something has gone wrong during that process. Yacht buyers are now quite rightly paying much more attention to the potential costs and pitfalls of living with their purchase. Of course, it is still much more about the decadent lifestyle a yacht represents than it is about budgeting, but this is because today’s buyers ensure they are well informed beforehand in order to avoid the

€1 million mistake, the huge tax bill, or the seasick friends.

It is essential to know, in addition to the purchase price, what your yacht is going to cost you for the next few years. Budgets need to be produced and explained and quite simply, the questions nobody wants to ask need to be asked. How much is fuel? A 35m sailing yacht for example would use somewhere in the region of €100,000 in fuel per year but a 100m motor yacht could easily use €2.5m. What do I pay my crew? This again depends on crew numbers and levels of experience and qualification but a 35m sailing yacht again would cost approximately €30,000 per month whereas the 100m motor yacht could easily exceed €200,000. These are all perfectly sensible questions in any other walk of life, but not until recently in yachting.

Superyachts, for the very fortunate few are the ultimate expression of success and the very last word in luxury, service and relaxation. They will always be one of the most expensive things in your life but, approached correctly the costs will be acceptable rather than surprising.

Mark Upton is Director of MGMT yacht, the London based independent Superyacht advisory service.

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Here Comes the Sun New Sunseeker range ready to roll in the deep

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ecent months have seen good news for yacht fans (and let’s face it, who isn’t a yacht fan?). British luxury sports boat builder Sunseeker International has expanded its range with four exciting new additions to its fleet – the San Remo, Portofino 40, Predator 68 and Predator 80. And from what we’ve seen each new model is a super impressive and stylish vessel, perfect for entertaining and soaking up the sun this summer.

The nifty San Remo is sleek and aggressive. It’s been developed to take the experience on the water to an exciting new level, with power and agile handling, whilst still offering luxury comfort through a stylish interior.

Sunseeker says this new yacht in its fleet epitomises

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everything the San Remo was adored for in the 1980s and 1990s, whilst bringing it right up to date for 2013.

For those wanting a craft that offers everything, then the stunning new Portofino 40 may be more appropriate. The team at Sunseeker have succeeded in creating a truly class-leading all-rounder with ample power, excellent agility and handling, and a spacious layout which boasts two exquisitely designed cabins, a luxurious central saloon, galley and twin access shower rooms.

Equally as impressive are the incredibly versatile new Predator 80 and its sleek sister, the all-new Predator 68. The 80 offers limitless options from top-end sports performance through to long distance cruising. With a sharp, aggressive new look and a performance hull, it can

accommodate a guest party of eight, with crew quarters or a fifth guest suite in the stern.

The stunning new Predator 68 was also unveiled for the first time in London this January and was one of the stars of the show. The new addition to the Predator family takes its design cues from its sister the Predator 80, but accentuates some of the more aggressive styling features of the bigger model. The new addition still embodies all that is chic and sporty about the Predator range though, from its intelligent window design which allows natural light to flood each cabin, to the handcrafted interior with exquisite fixtures and fittings.

John Braithwaite, Technical Director at Sunseeker is unsurprisingly over the moon with his new fleet, and how the additions have been received by the yachting

community. When asked Braithwaite said: “This has been an extremely important year for everyone at Sunseeker as we launched four brand new boats across the world. Each addition to the new range brings new design and engineering elements to our range, from the beautifully designed interiors to the smallest technical enhancements which deliver real performance improvements. At Sunseeker we believe in perfection on every level and with the latest additions to the range we are confident that our yachts are the finest on the market today.�

Sunseeker will be launching the eagerly awaited new 68 Sport Yacht at Cannes Boat Show, and the hotly anticipated Predator 80 Sport Yacht, which is due to premiere at the Sydney Boat Show this August.

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TRAVEL

Super Marinas: Yas Marina In November this year, when much of the world is getting colder, it will be heating up in Abu Dhabi as the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, rolls into town. And at the heart of Abu Dhabi’s F1 weekend action from 1st-3rd November will be Yas Marina

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ituated on Yas Island and operated and managed by Camper & Nicholsons Marinas, Yas Marina has established itself as the premier yachting destination in the Middle East, having received the “Best Marina” accolade from both The World of Yachts Recognition Awards and The Arabian Gulf Yachting Awards. The 175-berth marina caters for yachts from 8 to 150 metres in size and, in addition to competitive annual berthing packages, the marina offers standalone Race Week berths that put local and visiting boat owners in the centre of the Grand Prix action.

Available as part of an annual berth or as a standalone rate, Race Week berths can include views of on-track action and, dependent on berth size, include a generous allocation of guest and crew passes that allow boat owners to extend the excitement of the weekend to friends and family. Race Week berth holders also gain access to exclusive off-track entertainment including the highly anticipated after-race concerts, which in previous years have hosted world-class artists such as Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, Eminem and Britney Spears performing each night of the weekend. On land, Yas Marina also

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hosts special events to complement the weekend’s festivities.

Outside Race Week, Yas Marina has emerged as the social centre of Yas Island, attracting guests via sea, land and even air thanks to a partnership with seaplane tour operator Seawings. The marina also provides the ideal base to explore Yas Island and its growing list of attractions, including Yas Links golf course, Ferrari World, and Yas Waterworld, the largest waterpark in Abu Dhabi.

“Yas Marina is a destination within a destination. We offer fantastic facilities on and offshore, and through our personal approach, can assist with every stage of our guest’s journey,” adds Le Rest. “We provide the highest level of service for both members and visitor boat owners including 24-hour berthing assistance, buggy service, onsite management and Wi Fi so you can stay in touch while you’re away.”

Also, by the time of publication, Yas Marina will have completed an expansion project that will transform the marina into a vibrant dining and entertainment precinct with eight restaurants offering panoramic views of the marina, a pedestrianised promenade, an interactive musical fountain and a children’s playground. As the gateway to Yas Island, Yas Marina offers an unforgettable

and affordable experience with something for everyone both afloat and ashore.

“Abu Dhabi is a great place to visit for friends and families,” says Kurt Fraser Sales & Marketing Director for Camper & Nicholsons Marinas Ltd. “You will experience the best of Arabian hospitality, one of the world’s finest yachting and racing experiences, and will be within reach of amazing entertainment options. There is no more exciting time to be in Abu Dhabi than during the Grand Prix, and there is no better way to experience that weekend than with the team at Yas Marina.”

Starting with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November, Yas Marina is also the ideal winter base destination, with a warm

temperate winter climate, unparalleled amenities and proximity to key regional destinations. Surrounded by natural islands and 400 kilometres of coastline, Yas Marina is an accessible destination conveniently located just ten minutes from Abu Dhabi International airport and 45 minutes or 65 nautical miles from Dubai Marina. It’s also the perfect gateway to a winter tour of the region from the shores of the UAE to Oman, just 155 nautical miles away, or serves as a great launching point for a trip to the Maldives or the Seychelles.

For more information about Yas Marina’s Race Weekend or annual berths, please visit http://www.cnmarinas.com/en/ marinas/yas-marina.

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“it is our goal to save time and money for our members while at the same time granting them access to exclusive locations and events�

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ConCierge

Clockwork Concierge

MoneyMaker catches up with Christian Borel, the founder of Swiss Concierge Pocketlife, to find out just how this unique service is putting the P back into VIP How did Pocketlife all begin?

Everything started with Pocketlife seven years ago, when I was still at school. My friends were always asking me, “Christian, could you please book me a room, a restaurant, a table or a flight” because of contacts I had.

I was always happy to help them, or to recommend the best places I know.

Later, I worked at a bank and, although it wasn’t part of my job remit, I advised private banking clients in the same way. They were impressed and asked me where I had all this knowledge and these connections from, and at the same time many then mentioned how unhappy they were with their own concierge service.

Following all the positive feedback I decided to officially launch Pocketlife in 2010, starting off with just three clients.

How does Pocketlife operate on a daily basis?

We do almost anything, working behind the scenes to meet every one of our client’s requests. We do simple things such as booking tables in restaurants, hotel rooms, clubs, sending flowers, and making appointments etc.

At the same time though we address complex client requests, including organising an elephant for a birthday party, locating a rare Audemars-Piguet, planning a candlelit dinner on top of the Empire State Building for a client, and much more. It is our goal to save time and money for our members, while at the same time granting them access to exclusive locations and events.

“one of my favourite quotes is ‘Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon’. this is our motto”

Where are you based?

We run our business globally and can be reached 24 hours a day. Our headquarters are in Switzerland with a rep. office in Zurich. We have a little office in New York and we are opening offices in London and Dubai this year.

What is the difference between Pocketlife other concierge services?

Pocketlife runs its operations differently from our main competitors. Pocketlife takes a very personal, family-orientated approach to lifestyle and concierge management. We are a small outfit with very wide connections, with the “right” partners as opposed to just any partner. We don’t franchise and we don’t take commissions. We perform a quality service and don’t focus on quantity – and we are SWISS MADE. Our Lifestyle Consultants know you by name and we know

your story, including your family members. At Pocketlife, we take things personally.

The difference you’ll find with Pocketlife is what we like to call “service from the heart”. We are people who listen, understand customer service, who really care and will go out of our way to make you happy. That’s what we call putting the “P” back into VIP. “P” stands for people, and it also stands for personal. Because at the end of the day it’s not about fancy promises, but building a relationship based on trust and results.

There are so many concierge services in the market.

Why Pocketlife?

One of my favourite quotes is “Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon!” This is our guiding motto at Pocketlife. Just give us a try…we are simply different, and keen to prove it.

How do you meet your partners, and why do they fall in love with the Pocketlife service?

Just a couple of weeks ago I had a meeting in Dubai with Lionel Ladoire, the founder of LADOIRE GENEVE watches. When we were introduced to each other, Lionel told me that he needed to leave quickly because he had a problem and his watches were stuck at the customs office in Dubai. He mentioned that the following day he had an exhibition on, and nobody could currently help him solve the crisis, not even his local partners.

He was desperate as it was his chance to show his fantastic brand at a very important show. So I told him briefly who I was and what we do, and suggested that he leave the problem to me. I called my local partner who is based in Dubai and explained the situation.

Thanks to his wide network and connections, we were able to free the watches from customs. LADOIRE GENEVE is today one of our renowned partners and Lionel has become a good friend of mine.

Where can we subscribe for a membership?

Feel free to have a look at our website www.pocketlife. ch and don’t hesitate to contact us. You can also contact me directly at c.borel@pocketlife.ch, or call me at our office +41 44 201 22 21 or on my mobile at +41 78 808 46 05.

When you contact us, please use the code “MMPL” for a one-time 10% trial-discount on any of our membership cards.

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travel

Singapore Airlines A front-runner in the both the product and the service departments, Singapore Airlines presents an excellent business class experience to this Asian business capital and beyond

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At the Airport Business Class travellers can expect a swift check-in service and easy trip through customs and immigration using the Fast Track service. Once airside at Heathrow, make your way to the SilverKris Lounge where you can catch up on some work or enjoy some food and a cocktail pre-flight.

In the Cabin The contemporary colour scheme and upholstered leather seats ooze quality and sophistication. Each of the forward facing seats, which are laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration offers passengers direct aisle access from their personal space which can be used as a office, restaurant, entertainment zone or bedroom.

In the Seat A minimum of 30 inches wide, these fully recline-able flat bed seats are much appreciated on the twelve hour flight to Singapore. A light duvet, large pillows and built in vanity mirror all help to make the down time restful. Seatbacks have a 15.4 inch LCD TV which you can also connect your iPod or iPhone to.

The TVs offer 2 USB ports and have built-in Office software to help aid with any urgent business.

In-flight Service Meals are prepared by a team of internationally celebrated chefs and are presented restaurant style, complete with Givenchy flatware. Singapore Airlines also offers a gourmet Book-the-Cook service where you can specially select your preferred choice of meal from a wide range of diverse dishes before you fly.

Luggage and Refresher Packs Complimentary amenity kits include soft socks, eyeshades, and custom-designed toiletries. When travelling from London to Singapore in Business, 30kg of luggage is permitted.

Overall Rating Continually impressed by the consistent standard of service onboard, coupled with their comfortable seat and details such as the adjustable height table to make working much more comfortable, ensure that Singapore’s Business Class service remains one of the best in its field.

9/10

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Weekends

Baltic Bliss The Spa at Hotel Monte Mulini, Croatia

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The hotel and spa at Monte Mulini is one of the most hedonistic and tranquil spa spots in Eastern Europe

ou know the level of quality you’re going to get within seconds of arriving at one of the most luxurious hotels in Croatia.

Floor to ceiling windows greet you as you step into the mezzanine lobby, wowing you with breathtaking views of the crystal blue Adriatic Sea and offering a tantalising taste of what is in store for your break at the Monte Mulini.

Located in Ruvinj, just 30 minutes from Pula airport, this unspoilt spot of rugged coastline makes for an idyllic spot for a long weekend of rest and relaxation.

The hotel is situated among a protected nature reserve, and all 113 rooms and suites have balconies that boast views of the sparkling azure waters.

Only opened in 2008, everything about the Monte Mulini oozes class and sophistication. With boutique appeal and a modern, contemporary style, attention to detail is paramount, from the excellent levels of service to the beautiful Murano glass chandeliers. Rooms are spacious and well appointed, a favourite feature being the wardrobes that are accessible from both the bedroom and the bathroom.

Four free-form swimming pools ensure you are never far from a lounger or a dip, with comfortable sun-beds offering the maximum in ultra relaxation.

Beach lovers will struggle to find a sandy oasis in this region but a 50m walk will take you directly onto the rocky shores of the shimmering sea.

For those who enjoy a little more activity on their holiday, the hotel offers bike rentals giving you the opportunity to explore the surrounding areas, including the nearby picturesque fishing village of Rovinj Old Town and whilst dining at the hotel is excellent, there are a number of fine eateries in the town for those who want to get out and explore some of the local hotspots.

The Monte Mulini Art Wellness centre manages to create the feeling of an intimate space, despite being spread over three floors and being 2400sq metres in size. From the moment you step inside, you cannot help but feel a sense of inner peace and tranquillity wash over you. The concept is based on three elements; Beauty, Activity and Spa, with an aim to embody the art of wellbeing and healthy living.

An expert team will talk you through the treatments

and services on offer. As well as the more traditional treatments that you might expect to find, they also offer a number of signature therapies including the “Golden Treasure”, a skin treatment made with 24-carat gold (800KN for 75 minutes), the “Vinotherapy Tonification”, a treatment made with Muscat grapes (670KN for 75 minutes) and the “Caviar Lifting and Hydration” treatment (520KN for 60 minutes).

If you prefer something a little more conventional then you cannot go wrong with the Deep Tissue Massage, a great stress-buster which will really work those knots out (350KN for 30 minutes) or the Gentleman’s Choice; a skincare and massage specially formulated for men (460KN for 60 minutes). In addition to individual treatments, the spa also offers a range of packages such as their “5 Treatments for 2” (3600KN for 300 minutes).

The spa plays host to a Mediterranean inspired garden where guests can relax and enjoy fresh fruit plates or specially formulated juices from the Vitality Bar, perfect for the time you have in between appointments or for taking a break between the saunas and hydrotherapy pools.

As the day ends and the sun sets over the panoramic vista, relax on your balcony with a glass of champagne before heading to one of the onsite restaurants for some dinner.

There are two restaurants on site; Wine Vault and Mediterraneo. Wine Vault is their high-end offering with an extensive menu and a wine list to boot. They boast 1500 vintages with prices up to £2000 per bottle. Mediterraneo offers a slightly less complex menu for both food and wine but produce is still top class and the selection of seafood dishes are perfectly complemented by the Croatian wines on offer. Chef Tomislav Gretic who is somewhat a local celebrity oversees both restaurants, he is currently a judge on the Croatian version of Masterchef and prides himself on the fresh, seasonal and local produce on offer.

If you’re looking for an unspoilt hidden gem, then northern Croatia is an ideal destination for recharging the batteries with the Hotel Monte Mulini providing the perfect base to re-energise.

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london calling

summer sizzlers Every issue we bring you the best of the best London has to offer in spending it in style THE HOTEL: Hilton Park Lane Soaring high into London’s sky, the Hilton on Park Lane is prestigious both in its address and the luxury accommodation it offers.

Overlooking Hyde Park, and a stone’s throw from the famous landmarks and theatres that London has to offer, it is an ideal choice for business travellers and leisure guests who are looking for a weekend playing tourist in their own city.

Rooms are spacious and modern, offering views of the park or the city.

Executive Rooms offer exclusive access to the Executive Lounge where guests can enjoy complimentary food, drink and internet access.

The 28th floor of the hotel is home to

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the Michelin starred Galvin at Windows restaurant, offering exquisite fine dining with a superb view to match. For something a little more casual, Trader Vic’s serves up island style food and special signature cocktails.

Purity Spa is the perfect place to ease the stresses of the day or enhance your leisurely break whilst the on-site fitness centre is open to guests 24 hours a day, ensuring you can keep up with your workout regime.

The Hilton Park Lane is steeped in history, it was the first American hotel to open in the UK and is celebrating its 40th birthday this year. l www.parklanehilton.com

The Exhibition: Visions of the Universe: 7th June – 15th September Visions of the universe is a unique new exhibition that uses telescopy and photography to help us understand our place in the universe. The centrepiece is the 13m long “Mars Window” that will show images of Mars beamed from NASA’s Curiosity Rover from the red planet. l Adults £8, Concessions £7. l www.rmg.co.uk

Coins and Kings: The Royal Mint at the Tower – Opens 24th May This new permanent display will take a look at six key moments in the Royal Mint’s history.

Opening on 24th May, tickets will be £19 per adult, £16 for concessions, £9.50 for under 16’s and under 5’s go for free. l www.hrp.org.uk

The Restaurant: The Mango Tree A casual and slightly chaotic, yet fun atmosphere, complements the large open dining space at Thai eatery The Mango Tree, which is clean and contemporary in style. The restaurant is often full on a midweek evening and reservations are recommended. Service is swift although you can expect to be looked after by more than one member of the team.

Food is created by the creative culinary team, headed up by Ood Aka Soonthorn Apaipat and Ian Pengelley and demonstrates traditional classics such as the delicious Satay, Thai Green Curry and Chicken Pad Thai alongside Pengelley’s selection of specials. l www.mangotree.org.uk

The Event: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 21st – 25th May Although the Great British Summer is still looking a distant event on the horizon, one thing that is a sure fire way to know the rays are on their way (or should be) is the annual Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show.

The specially constructed gardens

are quite a marvel, and the work that goes into putting such extravagant floral displays together is a sight to behold.

This year marks the 100 year anniversary of the show and tickets will sel out quickly because of this. l www.rhs.org.uk

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The Event: The West End Men 25th May – 22nd June Hot off the back of the 2012 sell-out shows, The West End Men will be opening at the Vaudeville Theatre on the Strand for a four week residency.

Starring Lee Mead, Matt Willis, Glenn Carter, David Thaxton and Stephen Rahman-Hughes and joined by musical sensation Kerry Ellis, this Mitch Sebastian directed masterpiece will take you on a journey of celebration into the hearts of these leading men. l Book now at www.nimaxtheatres.com

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Sail,Gastro-files Fly The

The Gastro-files Our resident food connoisseur Eve Hartridge’s guide to the top bars and restaurants we’ve visited this month Wabi Set below street level, Wabi offers a cool and relaxed atmosphere with a distinct funky and chilled out vibe.

Managing Director and Executive Chef Scott Hallsworth worked at Nobu in London for six years before being hand-picked to head up Nobu Melbourne. He returned to the UK to embark on his Wabi concept.

The menu offers an extensive selection of sushi, salad and warm dishes, but for an all-encompassing experience, the Kaiseki set menu offers delicate decadence and gives the opportunity to sample the signature dishes of the house.

Start your gastronomic journey with fire roasted edamame and smokey scratchings before enjoying the exquisite tamaki cones, sashimi, sushi and Wabi’s twist on lobster and chips served with an exceptional yuzu-truffle-egg dip.

Finish with the Wabi style tiramisu, creamy spoonfuls of chocolatey goodness and coffee bean ice cream. Wine pairing is highly recommended but the sparkling sake is a must. l www.wabirestaurants.com

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Alyn Williams at The Westbury London’s Westbury Hotel in the heart of Mayfair plays host to Alyn William’s first, and highly successful, solo venture.

The stylishly neutral and understated restaurant was designed by Alex Kravetz, with 60 covers. In addition there is The Aspen Room, a private dining facility for 18 guests and The Wine Room for a more intimate group of eight. Dining choices can be designed to individual group requirements or tailored for celebrations.

Start your evening of fine dining with a glass or two or Ruinart brut, we found the

rose brut was a perfect accompaniment to the amuse bouche of pea veloute and lobster tempura tasters.

The menus are extensive and varied, both the A La Carte and Tasting Menus offer fantastic vegetarian choices with brilliantly paired wines. Although Alyn is known for French influenced dishes, meat and fish is sourced locally where possible and menu choices change with the seasons.

We dined at the restaurant in early March and enjoyed the traditional tasting menu with matching wines. The Cod with coco

beans and winter truffle was a divine light fish course, and the Devon ruby red sirloin was perfectly complemented by a 2007 Chateau Montus. Alyn’s Acorn creme Catalan pear, pine and winter truffle tuile was a pudding to end all puddings, and well worth waiting for.

Alyn Williams at The Westbury is located on Conduit Street and open for lunch and dinner Monday to Friday and dinner only on a Saturday. Dress code is smart casual.

Photography by Chris Orange l www.westburymayfair.com

and tataki, followed by a true Japanese mix of nigiri, sashimi and temaki.

Sushinho plates and broiler dishes again offer a varied range of explosive flavours for the palate, from blackened butterfish with wasabi guacamole or sushinho fried chicken with kimchee and pineapple to some of the best prime picanha and striploin in London.

If you’re expecting to see the traditional sushi staple tuna on the menu, you won’t find it. Sushinho wholeheartedly

believes in sustainable sourcing of their ingredients, and as tuna is not deemed so, they don’t include it. But don’t be disappointed, the seasonal menu and other familiar flavours more than make up for this.

The cocktail menu is exhaustively large, but each is chosen for its individuality.

The wine list is diverse and interesting, with wines available from some of the best wine regions in the world. l www.sushinho.com

Sushinho Sushinho is an independently owned restaurant by a young team that really takes culture and innovation to heart, and uses them to create stunning food.

Sushinho’s second restaurant has opened in the trendy warehouse locale opposite Liverpool Street station, three years after Sushinho’s first restaurant was opened in Chelsea.

With a heady mix of Brazilian traditional fare and the utilisation of influences of the Japanese community that dates back to the early 1900s – Sushinho’s head chef Joni Viscardi has created a menu that will enthral your senses, with an array of flavours, textures and vibrant colours.

The Cutler Bar downstairs is sexy and enticing with that flair you would expect to find in Sao Paolo or Rio, yet upstairs the restaurant is warm and inviting on a summer’s night.

Here is where the culinary journey really starts – the handmade house rolls are exquisite, from the colourful Rio with prawn, wasabi and strawberry that is punchy and sweet, to the work of art that is the Dragon with avocado, prawn tempura and tobiko. The meal continues with an eclectic mixture of ceviche, tartare

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Travel

Beauty in Small Packages We sit down with Paul Kerr, CEO of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, to discover some of the hidden gems and secrets of the world of luxury boutique hotels and travel What is your background?

My career began in accounting working at DH&S (Deloitte Haskins & Sells) - known today as PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) -but I always felt drawn to the luxury market, and I wanted to do something I enjoyed; so, although I was overqualified, I took my first position with Forte Hotels as a financial controller in the eighties. The rest, as they say, is history.

Eventually I was scouted by Cunard Hotels & Resorts and took the role of Financial Director, where I was able to merge the accountancy skills I had developed throughout my professional career with my passion for the luxury hotel business. It was the experience garnered at these roles that enabled me to found, along with my partner Brian Mills, Hill Goodridge & Associated (HGA) the outsourced management company that oversees Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH).

What are the criteria for a hotel to be added to the SLH portfolio?

SLH is all about small hotels and BIG experiences; the average size of our hotels is 50 rooms to guarantee the highest levels of personalised service.

Firstly, the hotel must be the best of the best in the area, and independent. In addition, it must offer the highest standards of excellence across all areas of operation and reflect the local culture and surroundings, as well as offer authentic experiences. We have a team of mystery inspectors who visit our hotels every 18 months to ensure that these standards are being maintained in order to ensure that the quality of the experience that guests receive is consistent across all SLH properties.

What is the importance of the SLH brand to high-end consumers?

Our typical consumers are independent thinkers who do not want to be required to conform. Since our SLH hotels are independently owned guests know that their requests will never be questioned. Repeat SLH guests also enjoy benefits from belonging to The Club our guest loyalty programme, which is free to join and offers three tiers: Special, Loved and Honoured. We now have over 200,000 members and this number will only continue to grow. Data from a Club member’s profile is accessible by hotels so they are able to anticipate any special requirements or preferences before guests arrive.

What does luxury mean to you?

That is a very difficult question, but after 20 years of

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“it’s all about small hotels and big experiences the average size of our hotels is 50 rooms to guarantee the highest levels of personalised service”

grappling with this question I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s all about choice. Or rather freedom of choice.

The ability to choose where to go, when to go, how to go, where to stay and what to do. The freedom of choice should begin with the booking process, and SLH offers a myriad of options from online, voice agents, our travel agent GDS system and recently launched iPhone and iPad apps. It’s also about flexibility, a hotel that can cater for a guest’s needs and be flexible to allow them to do what they wish when they wish. A little luxury that I find essential when travelling and something I can’t get at home is unpacking and packing services.

For you, what is the greatest hotel in the world, past or present?

It is impossible to choose one favourite. I travel frequently averaging about 150 days per year. Being an avid sailor I enjoy several itineraries including one in Thailand, where you can sail between two SLH hotels - The Racha in Phuket and Zeavola in Koh Phi Phi. Or in the Caribbean you can stay at The Inn at English Harbour in Antigua and then set off for Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada.

Also, I am passionate about exercise and I don’t believe travelling is an excuse to skip a workout so any hotel that offers an amazing view from the gym jumps to the top of my personal list.

When you work with luxe hotels all the time, what do you look for when holidaying?

As mentioned above, I love sailing and so I am always attracted to destinations on the water. The Mediterranean and Thailand both offer fantastic sailing experiences, but when it comes to actually staying at a hotel in a particular destination I look for flexibility first and foremost. Also, certain features as simple as electrical outlets near the bed, shower taps in convenient places so you don’t get a soaking when you are adjusting the temperature and a mini bar stocked with Erdinger beer and Rose’s lime cordial (my favourite) make for an enjoyable holiday.

How do you see the future for luxury hotels?

I think the future for Small Luxury Hotel is bright. Our customers will continue to look for hotels that give them special experiences and small hotels will continue to offer personalised service, which has become so important these days. I think we will continue to do well and the future is bright for a company like Small Luxury Hotels of the World™.

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Restaurants

The Alyn Williams Way Eve Hartridge sat down with National Chef of the year 2012 and chef/ proprietor of the Michelin-starred Alyn Williams at The Westbury

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rom snowboard pro to Chef of the Year…it’s been an at times unconventional, but undoubtedly well deserved rise to the top for Alyn Williams, which is why we were keen to catch up and discover the secret of his success, his passions and the key influences that have shaped Alyn Williams at The Westbury into one of the most loved restaurants in the UK. No stranger to highly acclaimed establishments including The Greenhouse to Zafferano, Chez Bruce, Petrus and Claridges, or working with creative culinary giants such as Marcus Wareing, Gordon Ramsey and Michel Peraud, Williams has used this treasure trove of experience and his passion for wonderful food to make his restaurant at The Westbury one of the hottest tables in town.

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Alyn, you’ve certainly kept company with some of the most driven, talented and perfection-demanding chefs around, how do you cope with the pressure of working in such environments?

I worked for David Everitt-Matthias early on in my career, he was the catalyst behind my understanding of fine dining and using ingredients properly. Marcus and Gordon both ran very strict kitchens, but the discipline suited me and helped me to focus on improving the standard of my cooking.

but it was one of the most satisfying things that I have ever done when we had finally achieved our goals.

What was the toughest, most challenging time in your professional career?

The toughest kitchen was Petrus when we opened in St James’s. It was full on, driven, aggressive and very long hours. I was 30 then and it was hard, but I loved it!

The biggest challenge was opening my current restaurant at The Westbury, we met plenty of stumbling blocks along the way

What would you say are your key culinary influences now?

I get inspired one way or another every day. Whether it be talking to the farmers we work with about what they are growing, or simply cycling through London, seeing what is growing right under our noses.

There are so many great chefs out there that inspire me too, and I’m very interested

Who would you say your main mentors have been, and what do you feel you’ve learnt from them?

Of course Marcus Wareing, he showed me how to run a tight, professional kitchen. I also observed how to run and organise a restaurant well. Angela Hartnett and Mark Askew were also great mentors.

character of the restaurant. Other than that I will be visiting suppliers around the country. We also have a spot at Taste of London this year, so we’re looking forward to that.

What are your long term aims?

My business and personal aims are inseparable. I want to build the restaurant into a successful business that can sustain itself comfortably.

Once we have achieved a continuous success here we can start looking at what else can be done. I’d love to spend a bit more time with my family too.

in what is going on in the kitchens of Germany at the moment in particular.

Tell us about your signature dishes and signature style My style is evolving, but in essence it would be described by most as being modern French.

I think as a signature dish, the foie gras semi fredo has been the one technique that has been on more of our menus than any other since we started - although it has been presented alongside several different garnishes depending on the season. At present we serve the dish with Amalfi lemons, liquorice and a salted hazelnut crisp.

What factors do you attribute your success to?

First of all a passion for food and cooking.

Then simply hard work, a drive to succeed and the will to improve every day.

Have you any advice for those thinking of investing in the industry?

Choose your investment carefully. Do your homework on the type of outlet and the people you are investing in, and be realistic about the speed and rates of your expected returns.

Any trends you foresee?

I think we will see more restaurants combining fine dining in more casual surroundings in future, and I also think we will see more chef interaction with customers at the same time.

How do you balance the creative and business sides of what you do?

I have had to improve my time management, or else it’s easy to neglect one side of the operation. The creative side is more natural, I’m constantly thinking about new dishes and talking to suppliers about ingredients. I have also surrounded myself with a very good team who help with the business side of things.

What are your plans for the next 12 months or so?

Being here in the kitchen, and pushing to maintain standards and develop the

What are currently your favourite places to dine? And which dishes do you love the most?

Different places for different occasions.

I love what James and Sandia are doing at Bubbledogs, with a relaxed, fun atmosphere, but with seriously good food.

I really enjoy high end fine dining as well though, and Claire at restaurant Gordon Ramsay is still one of London’s finest.

But to take me home it has to be a good plate of pie and mash (East End style) with stewed eels and liquor!

Finally, top chefs are often described as being slaves to perfection, but it’s impossible to be bang on all of the time.

Any funny culinary incidents you can divulge?

When I was cooking at school, I failed my exam because I mixed up the salt for sugar which resulted in me cooking sweet sausage rolls and salty custard tart!

Needless to say I taste everything first now.

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food and drink

G&T Tales

Gin is enjoying a major revival and is now being taken seriously as a perfect companion with fine food. We caught up with Martin Miller’s Gin founder David Bromige, to find out more

I

am a lover of classic gins. Gins that taste like gin. What I mean by that is that a lot of gins on the market today are really no more than flavoured vodkas in all but name.

However, by the same token it’s still my belief that paying anything more than £25 for a gin is a mug’s game. Beyond that you are drinking the packaging and hype. True gin is a handcrafted spirit, but believe me if we can make Martin Miller’s Gin for around £25 after the lengths we go to, including using Icelandic water for perfect blending, then it beggars belief that you see gins out there priced at the thick end of £40.

So, price aside here are my favourite ten gins, and some suggestions as to what foods work well with them.

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For me, of course, the number one gin is my own Martin Miller’s, but more of that later!

In its absence, the first gin I would go for is the standard Beefeater, which is still hard to beat if what you are looking for is a good strong belt of juniper. In my opinion this is the benchmark gin against which others can be judged. The heavy juniper notes of Beefeater work well with strong

flavours. For me it’s perfect with salmon gravlax, combining well with the smokiness of the salmon, alongside the dill and pepper in the marinade.

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Another favourite would be Tanqueray, that’s the standard distillation, not some of their fancier offerings, which was said to be Frank Sinatra’s favourite gin. I personally prefer the higher export strength version at 43.1% abv, though at that strength I guess “ol Blues Eyes” could have been better named “ol Red Eyes”.

Its added punch gives it a good bite, with a rich juniper flavour and strong notes of angelica and coriander coming through in the finish. This gin is distilled in Scotland, works well in a dirty martini and is a perfect complement to crab and firm white fish. Appetisers such as crab cakes work well, as do salads dressed with crab, or try the Codfish Terramar served in Lisbon’s Taberna Moderna. Luis, the owner, has created an amazing gin and food pairing menu and an impressive Martin Miller’s gin bar with over 200 different varieties of gin on offer.

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My fourth gin would be another Scottish gin, also made by Diageo, Gordon’s. I tend to go

“The standard beefeater is still the benchmark gin against which all others should be judged”

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“hendrick’s breaks my price rules, but then, as they say themselves, this isn’t an everyday gin. and not for everyone” for the higher strength “yellow label” version, sold mainly on the continent, as this is so much better than the weaker version sold in the UK. This gin makes a great Vesper, another fantastic aperitif style cocktail, that is great paired with oysters.

Its mixture of dryness from the vodka and subtle sweetness from the vermouth is perfect with the salty sweetness of the oysters.

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The Codfish Terramar served at the Tabernva Moderna in Lisbon is a joy with classic Tanqueray gin

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My next selection would be Plymouth Gin. This is a very sophisticated gin with a light fresh flavour but with a delightful, slightly bitter aftertaste which I love. However, as far as gins go Plymouth is considered a bit of a “Marmite” among gin fans, I find people either love it or hate it. Its complex flavour profile makes it perfect for the complex, muscular flavours found in Spanish food. I have enjoyed it with tonic as an accompaniment to a dish of scallops and chorizo.

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Speaking of Spain, the true gin of the Mediterranean can only be Mahon, my number six choice. Mahon is said to have been distilled on the island of Minorca for over two hundred years mainly to serve the hundreds of British sailors stationed there in the Napoleonic wars. It’s bright and fresh with prominent floral, violet notes. This gin is a beautiful partner to strong, hard cheeses like Manchego, or even Cheddar.

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And whilst we’re on the subject of gins that work well with cheese dishes, let me introduce you to my seventh gin, Hayman’s Old Tom. This gin is is an accurate reproduction of how gin was made “back in the day”. Gins then had a much sweeter flavour profile, true it’s light on juniper but is a clever blend of refreshing and sweet. Again, its fruity sweetness works well with salty foods, I love it when served with hot goat’s cheeses such a smoked Chevre.

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food and drink

“Sitting here in london, waiting for the summer, all I’m waiting for is some sun to go with a refreshing gin and tonic”

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Now that reminds me, my eighth choice would be another great gin from Hayman’s, their sloe gin. The rich, brambly sweetness of sloe gin shares many of the characteristics of port, but is somehow lighter despite being stronger. This, of course, makes it an unusual and welcome alternative to port with the Christmas Stilton.

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For mussel dishes, a favourite gin pairing of mine is the overtly “blue collar” gin is Seagram’s Extra Dry. This gin is a real bargain in the US, though a little pricier in Europe, where it seems to have more “up market” pretensions. But put that aside. This is a fine gin. I get great slabs of fennel and liquorice behind the juniper, making it work beautifully with dishes like steamed mussels served with cream and ouzo.

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Last but not least would be another Scottish gin, Hendrick’s, which at the very “un-Scottish” price of £30 rather breaks my £25 rule. But then, as

they themselves say, this is not an everyday gin, and not for everyone. Being a bit of a maverick in the pack, with its powerful cucumber profile, it tends to be paired a lot with sushi dishes including cucumber as an ingredient. Boring. The eccentric nature of this gin cries out for an eccentric pairing. I wouldn’t have believed it, but friends of mine actually persuaded me to try jellied eels as a takeaway washed down with a number of Hendrick’s martinis. Believe me, it worked, and very much in the spirit of the brand, but not for everyone.

And then there’s Martin Miller’s Gin, my number one of course. Sitting here in freezing London looking forward to summer, I’m dreaming of a gorgeous, refreshing gin and tonic. I have been experimenting lately by using orange instead of lime as a garnish in a G&T, and what would I pair it with?

Try it alongside a sharp refreshing orange sorbet, out of this world. l www.martinmillersgin.com

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Luxury

Simply The Best Dubai based concierge service Bespoke Lifestyle may be new to the industry, but it is already making huge waves in the Middle East. At home catering for the ultimate in high net worth clientele, Bespoke take us through some of the world’s most expensive items to have crossed their path The world’s most expensive car

A 1962 Ferrari GTO was reportedly sold recently for $35 million, making it the most expensive car in the world. The record price eclipses the $32 million paid for a 1964 Ferrari 250 GTO back in February 2012, and the $30-34 million dished out for a 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic back in 2010.

The 250 GTO in question is chassis number 3505GT, and was built specifically for the legendary English racing driver Stirling Moss, often called “the greatest driver never to win the World Championship”. While Moss never actually ended up racing the car (a career-ending crash in April of 1962 prevented him from getting behind the

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wheel), it still has a fairly significant history, including several race wins.

The most expensive yacht

Probably the world’s most expensive yacht, History Supreme (Baia 100 supreme), was created by Stuart Hughes, a British purveyor of luxury gadgets.

The British genius designer made this luxury yacht especially for Malaysian business tycoon Robert Kuok, who had to pay an amazing $4.8 billion for it. 100,000kg of gold and platinum is embedded in the project throughout the boat, from the base to the anchor. The master bedroom comes adorned with platinum accents and has wall art made of meteoric stone that houses the bones of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

The world’s most expensive watch This watch by Chopard is adorned with three stunning heart-shaped diamonds a 15-carat pink diamond, a 12-carat blue diamond and an 11-carat white diamond.

It also has 163 carats of white and yellow diamonds to bring the total to 201 carats of diamonds.

The watch retails at $25,000,000.

Bespoke Lifestyle are purveyors of Bespoke Real Estate, Yachts, Automobiles, Luxuries, Thoroughbreds & Middle East Experiences. l www.bespoke-lifestyle.com

Behind Bespoke Lifestyle

Bespoke Lifestyle was founded at the start of 2012 in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Bespoke Lifestyle was born out of the desire by the founding members to bring emerging markets the best luxury lifestyle products the world has to offer in their own languages whilst also creating a platform to promote Dubai as a luxury destination. Dubai has changed dramatically over the last three decades, becoming a major business centre and luxury travel destination. l For more details on our products and services, contact us at info@ bespoke-lifestyle.com

“The world’s most expensive watch has a total of 201 carats and retails at $25,000,000”

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in style

WHAT WE LOVE IN FASHION New Spring Season Luxe Collection from Bentley In recent months Bentley has revealed a selection of gorgeous new fashion, fragrance and sporting items for men and women, each created with luxury and performance in mind. We decided to give the collection a once-over.

the specification of the set to match the hides within their own car. The design of this range is inspired directly from the key styling elements within the inner door panelling of the Mulsanne. The full set consists of two large cases, two foldable garment bags and two small cases.

Mulsanne fitted luggage set

l Mulsanne fitted luggage set: l Garment bags €2,552 l Large cases €2,327 l Small cases €2,168 l Full set (x6 pieces) €11,056

Bentley has created a stylish range of luggage to fit effortlessly into its flagship Mulsanne model. The luggage, handmade

by Schedoni, allows the customer to tailor

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“Lalique for Bentley” and “Bentley for Men” The collaboration between Bentley and Art & Fragrance, owner of Lalique, has created the bespoke “Lalique for Bentley Crystal Edition”, an impressive crystal flacon marked with the legendary “Flying B” Bentley mascot.

The “Bentley for Men” and the highimpact “Bentley for Men Intense” fragrances are created by top French perfumer Nathalie Lorson, from the perfume house Firmenich. The fragrance accurately mirrors the quintessence of the luxury automotive brand, with all its style and sophistication into a superb and unmistakeable fragrance experience.

The captivating Bentley fragrances are available at selected perfumeries and department stores from April 2013. l Lalique for Bentley Crystal Edition: Eau de Parfum £3,000/40 ml l Bentley for Men: Intense Eau de Parfum £69.50/100 ml

The very latest in VIP, Luxe Menswear Shopping Experiences : OTTO in Mayfair

“zai for Bentley”

The ski season in Europe is over, but with year-round skiing available across the globe Bentley’s new limited edition kit of skis, poles and bag is still a luxury must-have right now.

Working with Bentley’s own styling team, top Swiss ski manufacturer zai AG has created the new skis by incorporating innovative, unique combinations of materials which results in unmatched levels of performance and durability.

The new skis comprise a natural rubber surface, offering uncompromised comfort, integrated with a spring steel to mirror the Bentley matrix grille.

The skis are limited to 100 pairs in both white and green and are available through zai and Bentley dealers. Prices start at 9800 CHF. l www.zaiforbentley.com

OTTO, a luxury menswear brand with a VIP concept store on Mayfair’s exclusive Grosvenor Street, is offering the uber style conscious the most refined buying experience London can offer.

Bringing together the finest Italian artisans from across the menswear sector for the benefit of sophisticated clients, OTTO says it offers an immersive fashion and lifestyle experience unlike any other.

The company has set out to transform the retail experience for men, and offers a collection of made-to-measure tailoring and ready to wear menswear using the most unique and luxurious fabrics. Brand founder Tony Giallonardo has spent over 30 years in the industry, and acts as a personal stylist to many celebrities, friends and longstanding clients around the world.

The boutique also boasts an exclusive VIP space as well as a garden terrace where OTTO clients can relax and enjoy a cigar or drink while visiting the boutique.

Customers are also given complimentary use of the store’s private bar and access to the store’s private gym, complete with a steam room and spa area. As an added touch, clients are able to train in the store’s gym with personal trainer Linn Hansen. l www.ottouomo.com

“Breitling for Bentley” Light Body Midnight Carbon Watch Bentley and Breitling have once again combined British chic and Swiss horological excellence to create a limited edition, ultrasporty Bentley Light Body Midnight Carbon chronograph. First displayed in the Bentley Boutique at the Geneva Motor Show, the limited edition watch conceals a light and sturdy titanium chassis featuring a highly resistant carbon-based coating beneath an allblack exterior.

The dashboard-style dial displays exclusive Breitling technical features, highlighted by red-rimmed indications.

The watch is limited to only 1,000 pieces worldwide, making this timepiece even more exclusive and desirable.

Prices start from 11320 CHF l www.breitlingforbentley.com

Pavoni Travel Collection For superbly crafted, stylish luggage, take a look at items from Pavoni.

All of its Pavoni travel pieces are handmade in Italy, to the most exacting standards, by generations of artisan craftsmen.

The brand’s philosophy stems from the original, elegant, jet-set days when preparing and packing your very best holiday items in the most wonderful of travel pieces was a key part of the whole travel experience.

From the company’s ready-to-use bags and cases, to personalised bespoke trunks and travel wardrobes, Pavoni uses only the finest, robust and durable Tuscan tanned leathers and accessories to ensure that their luxurious pieces stand the test of time. l www.pavoni.com

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SPORTS

Club Wembley We catch up with Club Wembley Director Heath Harvey to find out more about one of the premier sports hospitality packages in the UK How do you become a member of Club Wembley?

The first step to becoming a member of the ultimate stadium members’ club is to get in touch and our Club Wembley team will take it from there. Why not come for a private tour and see for yourself what Club Wembley has to offer? Rest assured that you will be guided through each step of the membership process in order to find the seat that’s right for you.

The Bobby Moore Club is at the heart of Club Wembley, and is the ultimate VIP experience for football fans

Describe the “Club Wembley Experience” Wembley Stadium is a place where memories are made.

The mere mention of its name causes a ripple of excitement, not just in London or the UK, but across the entire globe. Wembley Stadium is an icon for sporting excellence, achievement and world-class entertainment, and a symbol for the passion elicited from the thousands of fans nestled under that famous arch in North-West London watching their club, their country or a world-famous rock band.

Club Wembley stands at the heart of this, providing the finest in hospitality and luxury entertainment.

Whether you’re a corporate customer wishing to use your membership as a business tool or you simply wish to enjoy all the National Stadium has to offer with your family and friends in an informal but comfortable manner, Club Wembley has a membership option to suit.

From the intimacy of a Private Box or the all-inclusive luxury of the Bobby Moore Club to the flexibility of a Club Wembley seat with a range of dining options to choose from, each step of the way you’ll be met with

top class service to ensure each and every visit to Wembley is a memorable one.

What does being a member give you access to?

What facilities are open to Club Wembley members on match days?

With a host of options available, Club Wembley members are guaranteed their own premium padded seat for major sporting events held at the Stadium including all senior England home games, The Capital One Cup Final, The FA Community Shield, The Rugby League Challenge Cup Final, both FA Cup Semi Finals and, of course, The FA Cup Final. With a complimentary train service to the Stadium and back on event days, the journey to Wembley couldn’t be easier.

Club Wembley seat holders have access to a private tier with a 1km stretch of cafés, bars, lounges and restaurants, with music, entertainment and something to suit every taste and pocket.

Are there any special events coming up?

The Football Association is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2013 and to celebrate we have an incredible event calendar at Wembley Stadium. The England team has already hosted five-time FIFA World Cup winners Brazil at the beginning of the year and is set to play near-neighbours Republic of Ireland and Scotland in the coming months.

The UEFA Champions League Final returns to Wembley for the second time in three years while the NFL International Series will see two games played outside of the United States for the first time ever in one season, with five-time Super Bowl champions San Francisco 49ers set to feature.

Not only that, but after a hiatus last summer for the London 2012 Olympic Football Tournament, Wembley Stadium will once again rock in 2013 with a world class music line-up which includes Bruce Springsteen, The Killers, Roger Waters and an unbelievable four nights of Robbie Williams.

How does being a Club Wembley member compare to similar hospitality packages at other stadiums/ sports?

We pride ourselves on hosting some of the best events in world sport. While London certainly has an impressive array of sporting venues, our unparalleled calendar has been designed to attract even the most

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unlikely sporting fans and to offer something for everyone from CEO to wife and child. Combine this with exceptional views, unrivalled hospitality and the thrill of a day out at Wembley, and there really is no finer place to be. Where else can you enjoy breakfast with the England Manager or the chance play on the hallowed turf?

What is the Bobby Moore club?

The Bobby Moore Club provides the most exhilarating and stylish way to see the greatest events at Wembley.

It offers the Stadium’s highest level of VIP hospitality, providing the ultimate way to enjoy world class sport, including England Internationals, as well as opportunities to attend other events such as the NFL International Series and music concerts.

Members enjoy champagne receptions, exquisite cuisine and live entertainment. With seats positioned directly on the halfway line behind the players’ dugouts, you are close enough to hear the manager’s instructions and shake hands with the players as the teams make their way up to the Royal Box for the cup presentations.

Bobby Moore Club members also receive social membership at the luxurious Stoke Park Club with its AA 5 star hotel, award-winning spa and 27 hole Championship golf course.

Is there an option to purchase corporate boxes at Wembley? What benefits do box owners receive?

“We pride ourselves on hosting some of the best events in world sport, our calendar is unparalleled” A Private Box at Wembley is the ideal space to entertain clients, friends and family. With the option to decorate the box with corporate branding or to personal taste, and a range of menus to suit any group, from pizzas to elegant fine dining; flexibility is key. Even the event calendar can be tailored.

It is not just about event days, however, as included is the option to use your Private Box as an impressive backdrop to client meetings, even team building or even family gatherings.

Private Boxes come in 8, 12, 18 or 20 seater varieties and there are still a limited number available for purchase. There is no doubt that a Private Box is the ultimate way to enjoy Wembley Stadium in both privacy and luxury.

Wembley has hosted some of the biggest football matches on the world stage, including England Internationals and the Champions League Final

For more information on membership and how to become a Club Wembley member, please call Chris Jeffreys on +44 (0)208 795 9549 or email chris. jeffreys@wembleystadium.com

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Jura 39 French Chateau For Sale - Ref 120200 53,000,000 EUR

45,050,000 GBP

67,840,000 USD

www.prestigeproperty.co.uk sales@prestigeproperty.co.uk Tel: UK +44 (0) 1935 817188 Fax: UK +44 (0) 1935 817199

Narbonne Manor House For Sale – REF 156238 4,950,000 EUR

4,207,500 GBP

6,336,000 USD

www.prestigeproperty.co.uk sales@prestigeproperty.co.uk Tel: UK +44 (0) 1935 817188 Fax: UK +44 (0) 1935 817199

Superyacht berths from 30m to 150m MEDITERRANEAN | CARIBBEAN | MIDDLE EAST | ASIA

To discuss any aspect of superyacht berthing, including berth ownership, please contact: Kurt Fraser | +44 (0)20 3405 3219 | kurt . fraser@cnmarinas.com | www.cnmarinas.com

Monaco Penthouse is an Offmarket property.

Ref - 146472 Call for details

www.prestigeproperty.co.uk sales@prestigeproperty.co.uk Tel: UK +44 (0) 1935 817188 Fax: UK +44 (0) 1935 817199

Tossa De Mar, Costa Brava 17320 Spain

SPECTACULAR DESIGNER HOUSE WITH INFINITE VIEWS $28,612,303 USD 22.000.000 € EUR • Costa Brava Sotheby’s International Realty • Oficina Playa de Aro • Av. Castell de Aro, 24 | E-17250 Playa de Aro | Spain • Tel. +34 972 818 300 | Fax +34 972 825 868 | mob. +34 678 550 191 • www.costabrava-sothebysrealty.com This awe-inspiring property is nestled amongst the cliffs of one of the most beautiful parts of the Costa Brava, Spain´s “Wild Coast”. Located in a small and private residential area, this magnificent property offers endless and spectacular views over the sea and the picturesque bays of golden sand. A panoramic elevator ascends from the large garage to the various levels of the property. The main house consists of a stunning lounge, a modern kitchen, two bedrooms and a fabulous master suite with its own dressing room. The outbuildings offer a guest apartment with large terraces, an additional en-suite bedroom and a gorgeous chill-out area that opens out onto the beautiful garden with its spectacular heated infinity pool, all within the beautiful setting of the Mediterranean. The property meets the highest standards and offers many exclusive and original features, amongst these the following must be mentioned: two private coves, one of these currently being used as mooring and the other cove is used as a relaxation area / apartment; a beautiful wine cellar; a stunning office suspended over the sea; an additional separate guest house with 5 bedrooms and its own swimming pool; an outdoor cinema and much more to discover...

Gated Community • Guest House • Security System • Dock • Hardwood Flooring • Media Room / Home Theatre • Staff Quarters • Terrace / Outdoor Space • Wine Cellar / Grotto • Outdoor Pool

Platja D Aro, Costa Brava 17250 Spain STUNNING VILLA IN FRONT OF THE BEACH $16,874,756 USD 12.975.000 € EUR • Brava Sotheby’s International Realty • Oficina Playa de Aro • Av. Castell de Aro, 24 | E-17250 Playa de Aro Spain • Tel. +34 972 818 300 | Fax +34 972 825 868 | mob. +34 678 550 191 • www.costabrava-sothebysrealty.com Stunning villa located in one of the most exclusive areas on Costa Brava, with impressive land from which there are magnificent views of the Mediterranean, with its own access to a beautiful beach. The property has a unique position with lots of privacy and just minutes from the centre of Playa de Aro, where all the shops, restaurants and entertainment areas are located. The property is situated on a plot of approximately 6000m2, with a magnificent garden with pool and green areas which is accessed through a private security point. The Mediterranean-style villa was completely renovated in 2006. The main floor has a large hall by which we access a magnificent lounge and living room with access to a terrace with sea views. On the same level there is also a dining room, luxury kitchen, cellar, meeting room, laundry and an Andalusian courtyard. On the second floor there are seven bedrooms en suite, of which 3 are used as an office, gym and massage room. Extras: alarm, private access to the beach, beach house, gas central heating, automatic watering system, marble floors, reinforced windows, night lighting, several terraces, high ceilings, built in wardrobes, shutters, staff access, private security.

2 Fireplaces • Granite Countertops • Security System • Casita • Gardens • Wine Cellar / Grotto • Outdoor Pool • Costa

Magnificent modern sea front villa for sale in Aiguablava Price: P.O.A • Real estate agency Begur • Ventura Sabater St. 7 E-17255 Begur • Tel.: +34 972 624 070 • Fax: +34 972 623 155 • Email: Begur@costabrava-sir.com • Kurfürstendamm 52, 10707 Berlin, Germany • www.costabrava-sothebysrealty.com This magnificent property was built in 2008 and is situated in a private community in Aiguablava with access to the beach and wonderful views from each room. It has fantastic sea views and access to a small private beach. The property has 2 floors and beautiful garden and sea views from every room. There are 5 en-suite bathrooms, each with access to the garden or terrace, a room for personnel and changing rooms for guests. The spacious living room has access to a large porch with sea views, perfect to enjoy the garden, the sun and the tranquility. This property is part of a private urbanization of only 5 modern villas of high quality.

Observations: garage for several cars, infinity pool, central heating, fire place, office, fully equipped kitchen, access to the beach.

Computer generated images for illustrative purposes only

The Isis Penthouse Introducing the Isis Penthouse, London’s finest new riverside residence. This spectacular home sets a new standard of living with exceptional river views, living and entertaining spaces, expansive terraces, wine cellar, gymnasium, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, and a private garage.

The Isis Penthouse goes above and beyond offering the highest level of style and design all set within this stunning new riverside destination. The results are mesmerising.

£8,950,000 Fulham Reach Riverside Show Apartments & Marketing Suite Opening times Mon–Fri 10am–8pm, Sat–Sun 10am–6pm Distillery Road London W6 9RU +44 (0)20 7870 9500 enquiries@fulhamreach.co.uk www.fulhamreach.co.uk

Prices correct at time of going to press.

Berlin, BE 10789 Germany MAISON OUEST

$4,563,709 USD 3.563.800 € EUR • Pantera Sotheby´s International Realty, • Kurfürstendamm 52, 10707 Berlin, Germany • www.panterasothebysrealty.com The two Maison Ouest buildings form the basis of this new residential complex. These houses at Ansbacher Strasse and Passauer Strasse were built in 1892 and have been completely renovated for Maison Ouest. The interior of Maison Ouest spaciously unfolds across five floors and the double-storey rooftop penthouses. The residences range in size from 75 sqm. to 290 sqm. and are tailored to the needs of discerning singles and couples of all ages.

Sylt Island, Germany

Island paradise lying a stone’s throw from the north German coast Price: 12,9 Million Euros.

• Pantera Sotheby´s International Realty • Kurfürstendamm 52, 10707 Berlin, Germany • www.panterasothebysrealty.com SYLT: the most scenic island of Germany. In an area of outstanding natural beauty on Sylt´s east coast, this spectacular villa is located within an exceptional area of exquisite private residences. Arranged over 3 levels, this imposing villa of 466 sqm with style and charm joins traditional and modern living close to the sea. Each room is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered: two of four bedrooms feature ensuite bathrooms, the spacious living room and the study offer antique fireplaces. In addition the “bespoke kitchen” and the tailor-made interiors show the attention to detail. The villa is fully equipped with high-tech amenities and also offers a luxury spa area with pool, jacuzzi, sauna and entertainment which leaves nothing to be desired. This unique residence is surrounded by a beautiful well-kept garden with extensive plantings, terraces, boardwalks, a pavilion and a stunning sea view.

Upper Spreegold, Germany

Super luxe apartment in central Berlin Price: 1,862,000 Euro • Pantera Sotheby´s International Realty • Kurfürstendamm 52, 10707 Berlin, Germany • www.panterasothebysrealty.com The scenic Stralau peninsular is already one of Berlin’s most popular residential areas. On the three top floors of the impressive 11 floor residential building SPREEGOLD the most exclusive apartments are now for sale. Terraces and spacious glass framed balconies offer a sublime view that outdoes all expectations. The glamourous atmosphere is complemented by the conveniences of modern apartment housing: lobby, concierge, service on demand … – a well conceived palate of choices.

Chepstow Crescent, London W11

A beautiful and unique Georgian townhouse situated in one of London’s premier addresses.

Master suite • Guest bedroom suite • Dressing room • Gym/bedroom 3 • Front garden Hall • Boffi kitchen • Dining room with French windows opening on to a terrace • Reception room with balcony • Laundry room • Cloakroom • Direct access to landscaped rear garden Air conditioning • Approximately 2,574 sq ft/ 239 sq m • Energy Rating: D

020 7293 0879

philippa.cockburn@sothebysrealty.co.uk

Guide Price: £5,500,000 Freehold

Over 650 Offices in 47 Countries

sothebysrealty.co.uk

Upper Belgrave Street, Belgravia SW1

A three bedroom penthouse with south facing roof terrace.

Three bedrooms • Three bathrooms • Two reception rooms • Kitchen • South facing roof terrace • Lift • Study • Caretaker • Approximately 2,000 sq ft / 186 sq m Energy Rating: C

020 7293 0874

casper.tham@sothebysrealty.co.uk

Guide Price: £7,250,000 Leasehold with approximately 115 years remaining

Over 650 Offices in 47 Countries

sothebysrealty.co.uk

Apartment For Sale on The Grand Canal in Venice Ref - 152486 POA

www.prestigeproperty.co.uk sales@prestigeproperty.co.uk Tel: UK +44 (0) 1935 817188 Fax: UK +44 (0) 1935 817199

17th century villa on the river Brenta POA

www.prestigeproperty.co.uk sales@prestigeproperty.co.uk Tel: UK +44 (0) 1935 817188 Fax: UK +44 (0) 1935 817199

CONTEMPORARY LIVING IN THE HEART OF HISTORIC VENICE Choose from a collection of 18 immaculately restored contemporary apartments, in an important palace where Mozart once stayed – a stone’s throw from Piazza San Marco and La Fenice opera house. Arrive in style at one of two private water gates, with exclusive access to the extensive central courtyard and grand lobby. Design by Culti Milan.

Tel: +39 041 5220093 Contact: sonia@venicesothebysrealty.com www.venicesothebysrealty.com/palazzomolin www.palazzomolin.com Each office is independently owned and operated

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sp e n d i t

How I Spend It

Judd Trump

Each month a celebrity gives us an insight on how they would spend an imaginary fortune. This month is the turn of snooker sensation Judd Trump

Judd Trump is one of the best snooker players on the planet, having reached the top of the world rankings in 2012

Perfect Holiday?

I’d have to say Las Vegas would be the perfect holiday for me. I’m booked in to get away over there with the boys in May after the World Championships and can’t wait for that.

Do you have a spending weakness?

I think spending too much is my only weakness on that front, nothing too specific! I do love getting out and about and buying new things, so the money never tends to stay in my pocket too long.

Dream Car? I do love my cars, and like to keep an eye on all the new models coming out. At this point in time I’d definitely say that the Ferrari 458 is up there amongst my favourites and would be my dream car right now.

What extravagant purchase would you love to have?

A big house with four garages for the cars I think. That’d be to be fairly extravagant, wouldn’t it?

Private Jet or Super Yacht?

I wouldn’t mind either to be honest! It would certainly be a good choice to have to make. I like travelling in style, especially with snooker now being a global sport, so if you had to push me I’d say a luxury private jet would just about get my vote on this one. It would certainly make the commute to work a bit better.

Favourite Luxury Accessory/purchase?

They’ve caused a bit of a stir amongst the more traditional members of the snooker fraternity, but I do love my Christian Louboutin shoes that I’ve been playing in lately. They make a bit of a statement but I love them and would have to say they are up there as my favourite luxury purchase at the moment.

Favourite piece of technology?

I’m very keen on my technology, and try to keep up with the latest gadgets. The iPhone is a definite favourite of mine. It’s never too far away and not too sure what I’d do with my time without it. I do like Twitter as well, so the iPhone helps with that.

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MONEYMAKER MAGAZINE

If you were to put your money into a new business venture what would it be?

I’ve always held an interest in property and I think I will probably go down that route eventually. I can see myself investing in some properties, building a bit of a portfolio and maybe becoming a landlord.

If money were no object, how would your life change?

I don’t think my day-to-day life would change particularly as I’m lucky to have a job I love. I’d still be playing snooker and having fun somewhere regardless of money.

“I do love my cars, and like to keep an eye on all the new models coming out. at this point in time i’d definitely say the ferrari 458 would be my dream car”

LUXURY TRAVEL AWARDS 2013

The MoneyMaker Magazine Luxury Travel Awards 2013 nominees have been announced and voting is now open.

Register online at

www.moneymakermagazine.co.uk to place your votes, and see our next issue for the winners.

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