Drinking to their success
by Catherine Woods - Tuesday, 16th October 2007
Waley-Cohen started Firefly with his school friend Harry Briggs and they leaned heavily on their friends in deciding which of their healthy, natural drinks were top-shelf – and those that weren't.
“It helped us refine our ideas,” he says. “When we started, we consulted about 50 people; now it’s more like 250 people.”
Those same friends are still involved in the company’s taste panels and have also brought new ideas to the table, although some (such as a cheer-up drink) are more practical than others (a mind-reading drink).
Firefly currently sells six drinks products, primarily in the UK and Northern Europe, but the company also has customers in countries such as Dubai, Japan, South Africa and Australia.
Firefly employs ten people and has a turnover of nearly £1.6m. It’s growing at 150 per cent year on year.
Tags:
harry briggs,
marcus waley-cohen,
firefly tonics,
Online future is bright for Cornish auction house
By Catherine Woods - August 21, 2008 4:31pm GMT
Auction houses mustn’t ignore the internet business revolution, argues art entrepreneur Barnes Thomas whose Cornwall-based company is alone in offering online bidding in the county.
Doing business in Russia? Get your arsenal ready
By Kate Pritchard - August 21, 2008 11:57am GMT
Despite its deteriorating relations with the West, Russia offers lucrative opportunities for entrepreneurs. But be warned: the world’s tenth biggest economy and second largest oil producing country has some of the toughest negotiators on the planet.
Local knowledge is key to success in the Middle East
By Catherine Woods - August 20, 2008 5:34pm GMT
The key to succeeding in the Middle East is having an understanding of local business practices and customs as soon as you’re on the ground, says BIW Technologies chief Colin Smith.
Celebrity endorsement for food entrepreneur
By Kate Pritchard - August 20, 2008 5:28pm GMT
Jennifer Irvine set up home-delivery meals firm The Pure Package in 2004 from her kitchen. Today she turns over £1.2m and has over 3,000 clients on her books, including Ruby Wax, Patsy Kensit and handbag designer Anya Hindmarch. “I’ve never marketed the brand to celebrities,” she says. “They’ve come to me.” So, what’s her secret?
Green award attracts clients to Fresh
By Catherine Woods - August 20, 2008 5:05pm GMT
Cheadle-based creative media group Fresh is upfront about its environmental credentials. Co-founder and director Julie Besbrode says the firm has become one of only a few in the UK to be granted a globally recognised environmental award.
Dragons’ Den: Where are they now?
By Rebecca Burn-Callander - August 21, 2008 5:02pm GMT
If you (like us) were wondering whatever happened to all those businesses that faced the Dragons’ wrath in the Den over the past six series, look no further.
How do you fund your growth?
By Zarrin Lilani - August 20, 2008 4:09pm GMT
As the economic situation worsens in the UK, we’re hearing reports that smaller businesses aren't managing their finances in the best way.
Is Bob Dylan the entrepreneur's soundtrack?
By Matthew Rock - August 20, 2008 10:07am GMT
The chief executive of property developer Brixton yesterday quoted Bob Dylan's "All along the watchtower" lyrics to sum up the state of the property market. So which songs best sum up the life of the entrepreneur? Here are our suggestions.
Apprentice star gets nobbled by wall
By Rebecca Burn-Callander - August 19, 2008 4:57pm GMT
Nicholas De Lacy-Brown thought being fired by Alan Sugar was bad. Little did he know that a few months later, he’d receive a far more crushing blow.