Big Boss Interview is where the most high-profile chief executives and entrepreneurs come to give you their insights and experiences of running the UK's biggest and well-known businesses. The series is presented by Sean Farrington, Felicity Hannah and Will Bain, who you'd normally hear presenting the business news on BBC Radio 4's Today programme as well as BBC 5live's Wake Up To Money. Each week they'll be finding out just what it takes to run a huge organisation and what the day to day challenges and opportunities are. A new episode will be dropping every Friday morning, and you can get in contact with the team that makes it by emailing bigboss@bbc.co.uk
Big Boss Interview is where the most high-profile chief executives and entrepreneurs come to give you their insights and experiences of running the UK's biggest and well-known businesses. The series is presented by Sean Farrington, Felicity Hannah and Will Bain, who you'd normally hear presenting the business news on BBC Radio 4's Today programme as well as BBC 5live's Wake Up To Money. Each week they'll be finding out just what it takes to run a huge organisation and what the day to day challenges and opportunities are. A new episode will be dropping every Friday morning, and you can get in contact with the team that makes it by emailing bigboss@bbc.co.uk
Julian Dunkerton co-founded Superdry and took it to a £2billion market cap at its height in 2010 - within years the company was fighting for survival, and in 2018 he walked away. A decision he says he regrets. But with Superdry now valued at just £8million and looking like it might fail, he returned just one year later and wrestled back control of the company he set up, and began turning it around. After a restructuring, renegotiating rent, and now a rebrand, Superdry has just turned a profit once again.
This is the story of that turn around.
In it he calls for town centre regeneration and a High Street Renaissance, warning that current policies and Brexit have left British retailers at a disadvantage. He highlights the economic impact of leaving the EU, citing lost free trade and increased costs, and argues that the UK has “gone backwards” since Brexit. In fact he believes a free trade relationship with the EU is possible, and also imperative.
Dunkerton also challenges the narrative that young people only shop online, stating that teenagers value physical retail and social experiences, and credits this demographic with driving Superdry’s renewed success on the high street.
00:00 Sean Farrington and Will Bain introduce the podcast 02:30 Julian Dunkerton joins the podcast, discusses the rise of Superdry 05:25 Stepping aside as Chief Executive & company changes 06:35 Return to profitability 08:44 The turnaround and rebrand of Superdry 10:56 What makes a good shopping experience 13:20 Branding & product quality 14:42 Policy, Brexit & business challenges 20:35 High street policy ideas & town centres 27:24 Tax, globalisation & retail trends 32:13 The future of Superdry & personal projects
Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Olie D'Albertanson Editor: Henry Jones