The Leith Agency

At this time of year we at The Leith like to pause for a moment to reflect on the events of the year, remember the important things in life and really stop to think about the true spirit of Christmas. As part of this we’ve developed a characteristically wholesome and heart warming Christmas Card for IRN-BRU.

Devised by 2 of our young creative upstarts Jim Swan and Sam Muir and lovingly crafted by the good people at Ink Digital, the finished piece has become something of an agency favourite. Steal a peek while you can as this is not available in shops.

“Don’t be British” was just one of Lara Morgan‘s pieces of wisdom for selling and growing a business, at a no-nonsense talk on the Leith barge last night. Be less polite about it, just close the deal.

It was a straight-talking account of how Lara built Pacific Direct, starting with selling pre-threaded sewing kits in her front room, to growing it to 400 staff and eventually selling the business for £20 million 17 years later. What came through loud and clear was a dogged determination and competitiveness to make sales. When asked how she landed one of her biggest accounts, the answer was simple: “I rang them up every day for three years, sometimes three times a day”.

But there was also real creativity in how she made sales. One client baulked at a quote saying it was “painful”, so was told to expect something the next day that would relieve his pain. The following morning he received a tube of Savlon. He’s still got it in desk drawer. And needless to say he accepted the quote.

Even Rocco Forte couldn’t escape, and was threatened with actually being sent a kitchen sink, unless he returned her calls. He picked up the phone after that.

Another piece of advice was to be open and transparent in management. Tell staff how the company is doing. Create a culture where everyone is involved in the highs and lows and is invested in making it work.

And be creative with your management. She paid for staff to go and stay in hotels to see what competitors were doing with their products, and present back on what they were doing better. Staff training, staff entertainment and product development rolled into one. She convinced The Times to run her recruitment ad horizontally, to show how this was a different kind of company. She even put a rose on everyone’s desk on February 13th, to make sure everyone felt a little bit loved regardless of what they got on the 14th. It doesn’t cost a lot to be different, just good ideas and the drive to do them.

So Lara’s set the bar incredibly high for the first in the series of Leithal Thinking Presents. There’ll be more, and if you’re interested in coming to the next one, you can add your name to the list here.

This event was hosted in partnership with Lister McDonald, who enable leaders and businesses to clarify what they want to cause, and empower them to make it a reality.

Lara Morgan has also just brought out a book, More Balls Than Most, available to buy here. And to find out more about what Lara is up to now, check out Company Shortcuts, a collection of frameworks for budding entrepreneurs to do business right.  As it says on the back of her business card, if you’re thinking of setting up or improving a business, “stop fannying about” and do it.

Yesterday our first TV ad for Baxters since Leith won the business broke during Downton Abbey.

With no TV presence since 2006 Baxters soups have fallen down priority lists for some people despite the top quality ingredients and unique recipes that they offer.

So the brief to us was to warm the brand up by injecting a real sense of emotion into the advertising, making it relevant and meaningful to consumers once again.

Shot in the stunning Kyle of Lochalsh and featuring none other than Terry “Really Wild Show” Nutkins’ house and the most charming dog you’re ever likely to meet, “Lochside” is brought to you by Mr Farrell and Phil Evans, directed by the lovely Alex Telfer and produced by MTP.

Leithal Thinking is proud to present Lara Morgan; a highly successful and straight-talking entrepreneur, inspirational business mentor, author, public speaker, and passionate advocate for businesses and entrepreneurial culture.

Tuesday 25th October, 6.30pm for 7pm until 9pm.

The Leith Barge
The Shore
Leith EH6 6QN.
View map

Register your place now

Having founded Pacific Direct in 1991, a business that revolutionised the hotel amenities market (everything from toliteries to sewing kits), Lara sold a 99% holding in the company for £20m in 2008. This experience and her passion for business took Lara to where she is today: driving an ambitious plan to support entrepreneurs who want to maximize success.

Her book ‘More Balls Than Most’ tells the story of her business life. In it she shares insights, wisdom and experiences to inspire young entrepreneurs, established business-people and chief executives alike.

For details of Company Shortcuts, her new business that helps companies in the accelerated growth stage, and ‘More Balls Than Most,’ visit: www.companyshortcuts.com

Leithal Thinking Presents is an initiative  to showcase people who are in the forefront of entrepreneurship and creative thinking.

This event is being hosted in partnership with Lister McDonald, who enable leaders and businesses to clarify what they want to cause, and empower them to make it a reality.

Please RSVP to avoid disappointment, spaces guaranteed to the first 50 responses only.