The Rise and Fall...and Rise Again - Tapa blanda

Acerca del autor

Gerald Ratner joined the family business in 1966, and built up an extremely successful chain of jewellers during the '80s, of which he was chief exec.  In 1991 he made an infamous speech to a private audience at the IoD which was instantly seized upon by the media.  He was sacked 18 months later, and in 1994 the Ratner name was expunged from the company, renamed The Signet Group.
He went home, cycled to get his head together, then for four years he worked as a general business consultant, before setting up a health club in Henley. He sold it for £3.9m in 2001, when one of the club's members, Goldsmiths the Jewellers head, Jurek Piasecki, encouraged him to go back into the jewellery trade. Subsequently Ratner set up a new, much smaller on-line jewellery business called GeraldOnline.  In August 2006, press speculation has noted that Ratner is interested in acquiring the UK business of Signet Group plc ― the re-named Ratner's group. He is a married father of four and a fitness fanatic, cycling around 20 miles per day.

De la contraportada

After over 25 years in the jewellery trade, Gerald Ratner was one of the most well-known and successful retailers of his generation. Being asked to give the keynote address at the Institute of Director's annual conference at The Royal Albert Hall should have been the crowning glory of two decades of empire building.

But his speech was seized upon the media after he joked about the quality of his products, including a remark that a Ratner's sherry decanter was so cheap because it was "crap". No one could have predicted the far-reaching impact these jokes would have.

Set against the high-rolling excesses of business in '80s Britain, The Rise and Fall...and Rise Again is a barnstorming tale of personal redemption through sheer grit, as told by one of Britain's sharpest and most successful business men: Gerald Ratner.

"His Jewellery might have been 'crap' but his book isn't "
—The Independent

"...[a] rollicking read."
—Financial Times

"...contains lessons for us all"
—Management Today

"Like Alan Sugar and Laurie Barratt, Ratner is one of that band of businessmen who made their names by providing ordinary people with items they thought only the rich could afford."
—Richard Northedge, City A.M.

De la solapa interior

After over 25 years in the jewellery trade, Gerald Ratner was one of the most well-known and successful retailers of his generation. Being asked to give the keynote address at the Institute of Director's annual conference at The Royal Albert Hall should have been the crowning glory of two decades of empire building.

But his speech was seized upon the media after he joked about the quality of his products, including a remark that a Ratner's sherry decanter was so cheap because it was crap. No one could have predicted the far-reaching impact these jokes would have.

Set against the high-rolling excesses of business in '80s Britain, The Rise and Fall...and Rise Again is a barnstorming tale of personal redemption through sheer grit, as told by one of Britain's sharpest and most successful business men: Gerald Ratner.

His Jewellery might have been 'crap' but his book isn't
--The Independent

...[a] rollicking read.
--Financial Times

...contains lessons for us all
--Management Today

Like Alan Sugar and Laurie Barratt, Ratner is one of that band of businessmen who made their names by providing ordinary people with items they thought only the rich could afford.
--Richard Northedge, City A.M.