“I could not have bought what I’ve got from him,” comments Riley, who floated his Lancashire-based telecoms business on AIM last month. “He has spent an inordinate amount of time with me over the past two years. I probably speak to him, on average, every other week. When we were floating Daisy Communications, I saw him nearly every day. I’m an extremely enthusiastic and energetic person and yet this guy just puts me to shame. He’s forgotten more about business than I know.” Riley says he’s learned two crucial lessons from the Topshop billionaire. First, keep a flat management structure. “As you grow, you tend to put more and more layers in between you and the people that are going to make all the difference. You must always have a finger on the pulse of your business, no matter what size it is.” Second, be a master of detail. “They always say the great retailers are all about detail. And Sir Philip is. He will know the price to the pence – and I do mean pence – of any item Topshop has bought. And he’ll also know what it should be retailing at.” Sir Philip also introduced Riley to the notoriously private Kate Moss, who is helping the retailer launch a second Topshop in New York. “She was having a fag and a coffee,” says Riley. “We chatted to her for an hour. I always thought, ‘She’s just a model’ but make no mistake, she’s a very clever businesswoman. You wouldn’t believe the drive and ambition that lady’s got.” Related articles:Matthew Riley on AIM float: “Philip Green was my adviser”Have Cowell and Sir Philip got enough talent?Profile on Sir Philip GreenWhen Richard Branson met Kate Moss
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.