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E221 That Great Business Show - Nigel O'Reilly, making $100,000 rings - Building a 'no brand name' optician chain, Clodagh McGovern
Season 1, Ep. 221
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Episode 221
Nigel O'Reilly is without a doubt one of the finest jewellery makers in the world. A one time precision tool maker making mouldings his future wife told him to follow his dreams and become a master craftsman. Luckily for the world, he listened. His works of art (we'll never refer to them as mere 'products') are now selling worldwide for sky high prices. You can see his rings, necklaces and bracelets on nigeloreilly.com but you can see them PLUS prices on Sothebys.com
His jewellery is collected by the very rich and worn by the very famous. And the twist? They're not made in London, New York or Paris...but in Castlebar, County Mayo. And sold worldwide from there to end users, with the exception of Bergdorf Goodman. He tells the secret of how he made contact with the world's most prestigious jewellery store.
He has a book. It's called 'Evolution of a Goldsmith'. Check it out.
His 'hire in a heartbeat'...Iris van Herpen that he says is the most exciting fashion designers in the world.
Clodagh McGovern of eyeworld.ie is building an empire, one optician shop at a time. But curiously, she's not building a brand. Her business model is that she buys existing opticians where the owner may be retiring or the unit is underperforming. Some or all of the existing staff may stay on, but Clodagh's team goes in, changes the processes, gleaned from her many years in the trade. Specsavers have 2,300 units. Clodagh has 8, and growing. But she's not interested in ever taking on the behemoths. She's on her own path to business success.
She wants to grow women led Mastermind Groups. She explains.
Her hire in a heartbeat? Barbara Corcoran of the US's Dragon's Den or Shark Tank as it's known over there.
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