Former Dragons’ Den ‘dragon’ Theo Paphitis will be bringing his #SBS (Small Business Sunday) campaign to Autumn Fair this September, giving 12 members of the #SBS community a free exhibition spot. Meanwhile fellow dragon, Peter Jones hosted a Facebook Live session yesterday (13 June) for Sage business software, which featured md of Blue Eyed Sun, Jeremy Corner discussing issues and opportunities facing British businesses in the current climate.
#SBS was launched eight years ago in 2010. Each week, hundreds of small businesses tweet Theo to secure his endorsement. Every Monday, six of these businesses are then invited to become part of the now 2,300 strong #SBS community, benefiting from boosted publicity and attendance at a yearly conference with access to motivational speakers and workshops.
“I’m thrilled to be bringing #SBS to Autumn Fair, giving 12 small businesses a free platform to showcase their wares and access a brand new marketplace,” enthuses Theo, founder of #SBS. “#SBS was born due to the sheer number of business owners on Twitter who wanted to tell me about their new products and services. It exists so that these passionate entrepreneurs have a dedicated space to share their ideas and ‘pitch’ for endorsement. It’s therefore a natural match to bring our initiative to Autumn Fair, an event similarly dedicated to championing retailers, their energy and entrepreneurial spirit.”
The #SBS winners Pavilion will take centre stage at the show, hosting the 12 winners in a showcase dedicated to highlighting new and unique products from ambitious start-ups and small businesses.
Peter Jones is an Ambition Ambassador for Sage business software and led a Facebook Live discussion on June 13 about the best of British business. The panel included Blue Eyed Sun’s md Jeremy Corner, business advisor Janice B Gordon and employment lawyer Kevin Poulter. The panel discussed issues and opportunities facing British businesses in the current climate.
“It was good fun being on the panel,” says Jeremy. “We talked about greeting cards, business ambition and brexit opportunities. Peter was interested to hear about the fundraising I’m doing for children in Mongolia with the Christina Noble Foundation and asked for my business card afterwards.”
Watch the video on Blue Eyed Sun’s website
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Andrea Pinder kindly helped man the Blue Eyed Sun stand when Jeremy had to go to A&E during the first day of PG Live. Jeremy Corner has ‘first hand’ knowledge about challenges. The plucky publisher is traveling 1,500km across the Gobi Desert in Mongolia for charity. Riding KTM 450 Enduro off-road motorbikes with friends on a self-funded trip, he is aiming to raise £3,000 for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation, which helps street children in Mongolia. Jeremy’s training for the ride suffered a slight setback when he fell off his bike during training last weekend. Thinking he had sprained his arm, but with the pain not easing, on the first day of PG Live last Tuesday (June 5) he could not ignore it any longer and went to A&E where he was for four hours and they discovered he had fractured it and put it in a cast! Andrea Pinder, owner of Unit 7 – and customer of Blue Eyed Sun, helped out by manning the stand for some of the time Jeremy was in hospital and took some orders. Jeremy will be fit to ride when it comes to the challenge.
