Theo Paphitis Quotes

People who run a ready-to-wear company are businessmen rather than production or design people.

I wanted control over the merchandising, the actual packaging of the product. That was a big factor. The only way for me to exercise control on all those levels was to start my own label.

The music and airlines businesses are tough, but I've been successful in them.

All business is basically about customers and marketing and making money and capitalism and winning and promoting it and having something someone really wants.

If you're selling t-shirts as a heel - you're selling them - then you've failed miserably.

I always loved retail. I love the ideas behind it. I think small-business retail is one of the areas where capitalism works so wonderfully well.

Most people assume that a record shop's success lies in selling records. In fact, Virgin's success both in mail order and the record shops lay in skill at buying records.

Having some retail experience is key. It really is where the battle is won or lost.

I may be the only shark who hasn't been on QVC, but I have learned a lot from those folks about what it takes to get a product on store shelves.

I believe in this industry as a business, and I want to continue to grow my own business.

I knew that if I could create a quality product and find the proper retail outlets, it would be a great company.

When I was in the restaurant and bar business, I followed a rule, which was that the places that I opened were places that I wanted to go to.

I have learned a ton about inventory, co-packing, wholesaling, end caps. All these concepts are easy to breeze by in what I do for a living or assume that there is a marketing manager or specialist in one of our companies that handles that.

Honestly, being a store manager was the best job I ever had.

To see how much goes into making a fashion business is quite exciting.

We care about margins.

Customer-centricity is unbelievably important.

What's crucial in a High Street store is a compelling reason for people to shop there. Shops must offer excellent customer service - and 'theatre' is a must.

I know this business better than most people, and I'm extremely passionate about it.

I want to put H&M and Zara out of business.

I went to college for fashion and, after graduating, got a job in Operations at Zara, learning the ins and outs so I could one day start my own clothing brand.

When our folks focus on exactly what is needed to succeed in the restaurants, they should be able to lead themselves to restaurateur level.

When you focus solely on valuation and market share, you win some and you lose some. When you focus on the needs of your customers and help them achieve their dreams, you win every time.

If you don't listen to your customers, someone else will.

Business, like life, is about how you make people feel. It's that simple, and it's that hard.