Speciality Bites from Paul Hargreaves of Cotswold Fayre

“If you want to be the best, if you want to beat the rest, delegation is what you need.” Actually it was dedication that the late Roy Castle used to sing about on Record Breakers - a memory from my childhood. Yes I really am that old. I have adapted the line because I actually believe that both dedication and delegation are both required. Most of those running their own businesses, whether retail or producers in my opinion have the dedication. Let’s face it we wouldn’t do the hours we do unless we were dedicated. But fewer of us are good at delegation!

Delegation is, however, essential if we are to grow our businesses. If every decision has to be either made or ratified by the business owners or directors it has two main effects 1) It stops the middle managers fulfilling their potential and taking ownership and 2) it makes the business owner/director go into burn-out. Both 1) and 2) stunt growth and increase frustration for all concerned. (more…)

I have been thinking this week about Company Culture. I am pleased with the atmosphere and commitment we have at Cotswold Fayre and it has always been my aim to create a culture that is fun to work in rather than simply to make money (and just as well as the latter hasn’t always happened!).

I started to read Richard Branson’s new book over Christmas “Screw Business as Usual” - normal gentle title from him. The main thrust is that those companies that do good and have fun will be the ones that make money. I have always believed in this. Cotswold Fayre was borne out of supporting my own charitable work in South-East London, employed ex-druggies and alkies in its early days and more recently has thoroughly engaged in supporting and working with the Bala Orphanage in Kenya. Whilst we work hard we also have a good laugh whilst we are doing it most of the time with the result that people like working here and our churn is very low. It works and as time goes on and we make more profit we will be more and more engaged in giving it away. I look forward to it! (more…)

I am just back from Ireland and still recovering from the splendid Irish hospitality in Dublin. Just as two years ago the Marketplace event in Dublin this week has to go down as one of the best events in the annual food and drink calendar. Around 400 buyers from many countries and 250 + Irish producers makes for a massive number of speed-dating style meetings in one day.

As I said two years ago after the last event, this style of event in my opinion is far more useful than a trade show, and better for business on both sides. This is due to the meetings from the buyer’s perspective being more targeted and from the seller’s perspective they are better able to prepare because they know who is coming to see them. We will do a lot of business out of the meetings we had this week, whereas I am questioning how useful trade shows are any more. Sure we will still attend them, but there are so many these days they are beginning dilute each other, and certainly in the last couple of years, potential customers have seemed more reluctant to travel longer distances to attend. (more…)