Gerald Ratner: Business Acquisition is the ONLY Way to Grow

How do you rapidly grow a retail business from a single shop in Richmond to a High Street empire of more than 2,500 stores? By using a strategy of business acquisition over organic growth.

When Gerald Ratner was looking to expand his jewellery retail business he understood that acquiring and merging businesses, often competitors, was the fastest path to build a dominant brand.

Although the comeback story of one of Britain's most successful entrepreneurs has been well-told, the story of how he built a business empire with 2,500 stores and £1.2 billion in sales shows how acquisition can be a better strategy than organic growth.

Jonathan Jay recently invited Gerald to speak at one of his Mastermind events. The video published on YouTube explains how Gerald used acquisition and aggressive marketing to grow and dominate his sector. It is worth watching if you are still not convinced that acquisition is a better way to grow a business.

What You'll Discover

• How Gerald had a masterstroke and moved to buy his fiercest competitor to grow the business
• Why he believes that there is no competition between acquisition and organic growth
• Why the combination of acquisition and aggressive marketing proved a winner in the market
• The highly unusual and creative way Gerald bought his competitor's business when he couldn't get financing