Page 18 - BOSS Today Issue 6

Boss Awards
interview

BOSS AWARDS:

Entrepreneur of the Year

Luke Chapman gave us his views on receiving this accolade

at how they run their business, their These people never wavered in their
structure, their marketing and their support, paid on time and were
salesmanship, and help them fill gaps, completely trustworthy. Without their
support and develop them. This can help and belief, I wouldn’t have had
be hands-off by providing them with the platform to move forward. I’d also
advice and techniques or tools and like to thank my long-suffering wife
processes to use or sometimes acting Annabelle, who provides finance and
like a ‘virtual sales director’; but in all other often unsung help behind the
cases we roll our sleeves up and get scenes.
fully involved.
n FOR MORE INFORMATION,
Obviously it’s proved PLEASE CONTACT MICHAEL
a great success. GARDNER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Definitely. We were able to help ON 01676 526 060 or EMAIL
increase new business sales fourfold michael@bossfederation.co.uk
at Penketh’s, for instance. And we’ve
just signed up a partnership deal with
VOW. Obviously you don’t sign up a
Luke Chapman (centre) wholesaler, let alone one of that scale,
receives his award unless they’re convinced we can
from Talk Paper make a difference.

What’s your career Why do you think you What were your thoughts
background? won the award? on hearing that you’d
I’ve been in the industry ever since I think it was not only for setting won the award? Luke Chapman
leaving University. My first role was up the BP Group, but for doing it To be honest, it was pretty nerve- at a glance
at Xerox, which gave me a good at the height of a recession! I left a wracking! It was a good feeling, of
grounding in lots of aspects of the very comfortable position at Integra, course, and I was very pleased. It Happily married with
business and also allowed me to be but I wanted to pursue my passion: rubber-stamps the success and all the two sons William and
mentored by some great people. of working with independents to hard work that helped achieve it. But Joseph (aged 8 and 7),
After that, I moved on to work for a help them grow in areas they’re not it also shows that there’s more work Luke and his family live in
variety of companies including Oyez successful in. As a result, we’ve grown to do: that we have to continue to Essex, near the BP Group’s
Straker, Orion and Corporate Express, our business by helping them grow. prove that we deserve the award. premises. When he’s
running account teams and new not engaged in helping
business teams. I’ve also been at The How does your Anyone you want companies become more
Dealer, and before setting up the service work? to thank? successful, he’s a fitness
Business Performance Group I was Basically, we look both at new My team, of course, because winning fanatic. He still plays
Sales Director at Integra. So I’ve been businesses and at helping growth this award has certainly been a team 11-a-side football in the
fortunate to work with all elements in existing accounts. Our focus is on effort. I’d also like to thank my early veterans’ league, does runs
of the industry – distribution, dealers, sales, whereas previously most of this adopters: Martin and Andrew of and cycle rides for charity,
buying groups and manufacturers work was in areas like purchasing, Harts, Adrian at Ace, Ian at Harpers, and is a big Tottenham
– as well as at many levels from catalogues and the like. So it’s really Pete and Gary at Office Essentials, and fan.
salesman to board director. focused on the bottom line. We look Mark and all the team at Penketh’s.

18 BOSS TODAY | December 2010

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