The relationship between business co-founders can be the most emotionally demanding in a person’s life. It can also be the factor which determines the success or failure of a company: the double act. In 2009, the Blackberry was so popular it was being referred to as the Crackberry. It accounted for half of all smartphones being sold. It was even credited …
Profile: How Wetransfer founder Nalden made file sharing cool
The founder of Wetransfer first made his name with a cult nineties hip-hop blog. Now, his file transfer service has gained a global troupe of fans by turning what could be a boring service into a cultural cornerstone. For his 21st birthday, Ronald Hans threw a party. It was held in one of the clubs he often went to – …
Specialise or shut up shop: the newsagent’s dilemma
Independent newsagents have been squeezed by high street supermarkets and the declining circulations of mass-appeal magazines. We spoke to one which has thrived by getting closer to niche titles. Sandeep Shreeji is a rarity among newsagents. And not just because he’s still standing. Shreeji knows his magazines beyond merely cover prices and delivery dates. He gives customers advice and suggestions and …
Succession planning: What happens when a business founder dies
Businesses are told to prepare for unlikely events – a supplier going bust, a change in the economy or a new competitor emerging. But what to do following the passing of a charismatic founder? In the design industry it’s especially challenging, given that person’s unique creative leadership and their iconic influence on staff, clients and investors. Many design houses find …