Gordon Black pens book about his 50 year career in business

WRITING a memoir is having unexpected consequences for veteran businessman Gordon Black.

The former chairman of the business founded by his late father Peter Black, which became Keighley's largest employer, says that he is in the " late winter" of his career.

But the publication of his book From Bags to Blenders has opened up new opportunities for the 73-year-old with invitations to speak at business schools, address the Institute of Directors and is also attracting interest from Canada and South Africa.

This pleases Gordon who, with his elder brother Thomas, took the Peter Black business which they both joined in the 1960s from a turnover of £2 million to more than £250m, operating in 30 countries and employing 3,000 people at its peak.

"The main motivation to write the book was to pass on the lessons I've learned over the past 50 years to anyone who may be interested. I also wanted to express my appreciation to my parents and our team in Keighley. Our employees were outstanding in terms of loyalty and support.

"I've been around the block during a business career which saw us build up the business started by my father in 1947 making shopping bags from surplus military webbing; floating it to provide the basis for expansion both through acquisitions and organically, taking it private again and finally selling it in 2007.

"I always say that we are not arrogant. Any success we had was because we made more good decisions than bad, but only just," said Gordon.

Rampant inflation which wiped out his parents' wealth when they lived in Germany between the wars bred an inherent insecurity in Gordon whose success career has been based on careful planning and not acting under duress whilst trying to be innovative.

The title of the book reflects his business interests down the years.

Peter Black - born Hans Schwarzschild - came to Britain in 1935 to escape the Nazis and initially worked in London before setting up an army webbing manufacturing plant in Keighley which led to him going his own way.

Shopping bags was followed by pioneering corduroy slippers for Marks & Spencer, which was the company's largest customer and through Peter Blacks expanded from just clothing and food into selling footwear, toiletries and accessories such as bags.

Peter Black also had the rights to make Adidas sports bags. Gordon's latest blockbuster product was the Nutribullet blender marketed by High Street TV of which he was non-executive chairman.

The Peter Black business also imported ideas from the United States by launching the Original Factory Shop business and opening the UK's first shopping outlet at Hornsea.

Peter Black was sold to the Hong Kong-based trading giant Li & Fung for £48m.

"We sold the business because non or our children were in the business and we wanted a good home for it. The Chinese are renowned for their patience. We discussing the sale in 1999 and finally did the deal in 2007. I like to think we achieved an elegant exit," said Gordon.

He waited to pen the book until he was no longer actively involved in any companies and could write without constraint. The book includes some forthright views on the state of modern business and retailing and Gordon is critical of some current business practices.

"There were some things I wanted to get off my chest and the process of writing it down was cathartic.

"My fundamental belief is that good behaviour in business is good business. I'm dismayed by some of the goings on in business today," he said.

Gordon takes issue with the ‘state of war’ that exists today in Britain’s retail culture.

He said: "Retailers impose unfair conditions upon suppliers who in turn are afraid to put their heads over the parapet for fear of losing business. Ultimately, it’s a lose-lose situation. We can’t be a nation of shopkeepers unless those shopkeepers have something decent to sell.

"M&S developed and maintained a long term relationship with their key suppliers, based on mutual loyalty and integrity.This environment gave their major suppliers the confidence to invest in state of the art production facilities which enabled them to manufacture the best products on the market. If more retailers today had this approach they might avoid the problems many of them are facing today.

"One of the main reasons many of the large UK retailers are struggling is that the balance of power between customer and supplier has changed dramatically for the worse. We preached to our management that it was enlightened self interest to treat our suppliers the way they would like our customers to treat us.

"I think today some retailers have forgotten that it takes two to tango and that loyalty is a two-way street. Today management changes so much and is less home grown so it's difficult to form trusting relationships which gave us the confidence to invest," said Gordon.

He also criticises the "race to the bottom" in prices, saying: "I was taught that price is only one component of value. That quality and design are equally important. The founder of Gucci once said 'price is forgotten long after quality is remembered'."

From Bags to Blenders is also littered with amusing anecdotes reflecting Gordon's belief that business should be fun as well as profitable.

One example from his own career is the story of how, unable to get an appointment with a key director at Marks and Spencer he bluffed his way in, dressed as a janitor, asking ‘may I empty your bin, sir?’ He got the meeting.

He is delighted that the book is being adopted as a textbook by schools and universities which is in tune with his commitment to the next generation.

Gordon was awarded a CBE for his services to business and charity, including helping to found the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust.

And life seems to have come full circle as Gordon's son Jono, a former advertising executive, is launching a revolutionary range of shoes featuring micro springs in the sole to increase comfort.

" Hopefully that will be the latest best seller from a member of the Black family," he said.

Gordon, who lives in Ilkley, now runs Black Family Investments with his brother.

They operate from a business unit in the Aire Valley which also houses the pick of the collection of veteran and vintage cars started by Peter Black. This includes the world's sixth oldest car and the vehicle which featured in the film Genevieve.

A keen golfer, Gordon also has nine grandchildren to keep him busy.

He said: "Children mean you can't get above yourself.

"My 13-year-old grandson said he likes history. When I told him I read history at university he said 'it's easy for you because you were there when it happened!'"