The Entrepreneurs Issue 5 is available now on loremnotipsum.com.
The ups and downs of the past 18 months have delivered to our doorsteps all sorts of unwanted challenges and put many careers on hold. It has often been exhausting navigating regulations, moods (both personal and national) and just getting stuff done. But it has also brought a few pleasant revelations. And now, as we finally seem to be breaking free from coronavirus’s grasp – lifting our eyes to the horizon once again – an odd thing is happening. People are asking themselves, “Am I really going to go back to my old life or is this the chance, a unique chance, to do something new?” For many people, that new thing seems to be having a go at finally starting their own business or switching up the company that they already helm.
The impetus for some is a desire to leave the city for a rural idyll; for others it’s the fact that opportunity is staring them in the face – there’s a boarded-up shop on the high street, for instance, that would look much nicer with their name painted on the shingle. For many it’s a recognition that a business can do good: could they make a fashion brand that treads more lightly on the planet than its rivals? Could they build a company that helps to generate employment and change a town that’s close to their hearts? And yes, for others it’s simply that their old career has vanished and they need to make a living. But whatever the reason, it feels as though this is a moment when numerous employees will become entrepreneurs. And, as always, the MONOCLE team is here with some encouraging words.
For this outing of The Entrepreneurs we have spun around the globe to find 25 business owners whose tales we hope will offer inspiration, insights and even things to be wary of if you are contemplating joining their entrepreneurial gang. Some of those in our line-up have inherited family businesses that need fixing, while others are still earning their spurs. But in all of their stories comes a sense of the determination that’s needed to be your own boss.
Elsewhere in the issue we have our Big Interview series, where we sit down with four business owners who are going against the grain, including Yuichiro Hori, the Japanese owner of furniture brand Stellar Works, who is determined to prove that “Made in China” can be the mark of luxury; and Beks Ndlovu, CEO of African Bush Camps, who wants to shake up his sector’s offering and change the way in which safari businesses are run. For our Expo, we head to the Gulf of Bothnia between Sweden and Finland to meet the business owners who, despite the chilly climes, are making the region a hotbed of clean industry. We also check in on the players who are reinventing the nightclub, investigate the new stripped-back fashion brands and meet the graduates with the next big ideas.
So read on, take notes, ask yourself some big questions and wonder: do I have what it takes? Can I become an entrepreneur? Now is your time.
— Editor in chief, Andrew Tuck
The Entrepreneurs is a publication by Monocle is a business handbook for people with bright ideas. Smell a gap in the market? Look no further. The Entrepreneurs is your guide to the people who have taken the leap and struck out on their own, from the club kids reinventing nightlife to the fashion brands with a simple recipe for success. Ready to join their ranks? This is where you should start.
Content
AT THE FRONT
EDITOR’S LETTER
Our editor in chief, Andrew Tuck, on why now is the time to launch that new endeavour.
BRIGHT IDEAS
Businesses require bold ideas to survive and thrive. Here we survey some of the smarter strategies and innovations that have helped entrepreneurs around the world to get ahead.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING BUSINESS BETTER
TOP 25 ENTREPRENEURS: PART ONE
Want to take the leap and strike out on your own with a new business? Then take inspiration from 25 of the brightest entrepreneurs in industries ranging from publishing to interior design – leaders who know the way, go the way and show the way for others who want to enrich the world.
TOP 25 ENTREPRENEURS: PART TWO
Hailing the business founders who are not only making their mark in their own industries but on the world as a whole. Meet the 25 brightest and best.
INSIDER KNOWLEDGE
There’s no single formula for running a successful business but entrepreneurship serves up moments of insight and true discovery. Here, those at the top of their fields share what they have learnt, from the importance of harvesting opinions to the need to build brand loyalty.
FROM THE GROUND UP
Your business need not be the result of a sudden brainwave. Sometimes slow and steady wins the race. We speak to four company leaders about how on-the-ground experience is often invaluable to future ventures, whether it’s tracking cheetahs or learning to love old buildings.
CULTURE & DESIGN
CLUB RULESAfter surviving the financial blow of the pandemic, the night-time economy is finally swinging back to life. We visit three venues that are leading the charge and meet the entrepreneurs behind them.
KING OF THE MILD FRONTIERKozo Futagi thought he’d spotted a gap in the Japanese market: log cabins as affordable second homes. But he’s had to roll in a different direction – when people move in, they stay put.
PORT OF CALLOnce regarded with a wary eye, France’s second city is turning its shady reputation on its head by luring investment and enterprise to its lively start-up scene, low rents and incomparable energy. As Marseille most definitely opens for business, we drop by to find out what all the noise is about.
BETTER BY DEGREESThe latest cohort of design graduates have had some of the usual routes to the marketplace closed to them by the pandemic. Yet many have remained impressively innovative in both strategy and product. We call in on seven former students who are kicking on after college.
BASE LINES
In a crowded fashion market, with new seasonal collections clamouring for attention, it can be hard to find simple classics done well, with wardrobe staples often reduced to afterthoughts. That’s where these four brands come in. Meet the pioneers of plain who are cleaning up.
EXPO
GULF OF EXPECTATION
The Gulf of Bothnia, a region comprising northeastern Sweden and western Finland, is one of the most vibrant business areas in the Nordics. From green energy to yacht-building, here’s why it’s a region to watch
PLUS
SOFT-POWER DRESSING
Whether your business requires travel between different climates or the ability to move smoothly from manufacturing sites to board meetings, the need to look smart, approachable and design-savvy remains. So refresh your working wardrobe with these picks from our selection of well-crafted staples, elevated with subtle details. We guarantee the return on investment.
Details: The Entrepreneurs – Issue 5
English, 18 x 24 cm
