Simon Woodroffe
Simon Woodroffe: Author, Dragon's Den TV Panellist, Edinburgh Fringe Show performer, entrepreneur, visionary and founder of Yo! Sushi Restaurants.
Simon Woodroffe is a charismatic and engaging speaker with a very personal story on how he has built up YO! and the future for businesses in the next century. He has an energising presence and is a charismatic speaker. He talks common sense which is of practical use and has an entertaining style which leaves audiences feeling inspired.
Former London Entrepreneur of the Year and Group Restaurateur of the Year , Simon Woodroffe is the founder and creative driving force behind YO! Sushi, the internationally famous restaurants that use the very latest Japanese fast food technology to bring affordable sushi to London and You! Everything Else. The brand has been mooted as the new Virgin.
With his new venture - Yotel! - he is now also setting his sights on the hotel business.
Latest
Simon Woodroffe's much talked about hotel concept YOTEL opened at Gatwick South Terminal on 01 July 07 and Heathrow Terminal 4 opened in winter 07 with Schipol Airport to follow. Further sites both at travel hubs and in city centres worldwide will be announced later this year and the openings will generate substantial publicity in the UK and worldwide.
YO! Zone, YO! Home and RadiYO! continue to progress and YO! Sushi expands domestically and overseas with 36 operations operating to date and further UK and international openings planned.
Upcoming television for Simon Woodroffe includes regular slots on Sky and BBC.
Simon speaks around the world (and sings!) on numerous subjects all relating to his own experiences.
· Yo! Sushi has sixteen restaurants in the UK and two franchise deals signed overseas with more to follow.
· Yo! To Go is licensed to Sainsburys.
· Yo! Japan is a clothing range with 70 retail stores across the UK and soon to open a branch in Italy.
· Yotel! Simon's much talked about cross between BA First Class and Japanese capsule hotel looks set to open 2004.
· Finally a Spa concept for Yo! is in development.
Simon also appeared on the BBC2 series - the Dragon's Den - in which new venture founders presented their business ideas to potential funders.
After leaving school at sixteen, Simon spent almost thirty years in the entertainment business. Through the 1970s and 1980s his production companies, based in London and Los Angeles, designed rock 'n' roll stages for artistes like Rod Stewart, The Moody Blues and Stevie Wonder, and events like Live Aid.
A natural progression led Simon into television at the start of the 1990s. He spearheaded the development of television deals to show huge international rock concerts worldwide, organising the financing and distribution of the Nelson Mandela concerts, shows for Amnesty International and the Prince's Trust concerts. His television production deals included Japan's number one pop show, Hit Studio.
Simon believes that a divorce at the beginning of the 90s opened his eyes to the character defects that had held him back. This allowed him to develop personally and to lead a team using many of the tools he learnt in that development.
The YO! sushi concept was born out of Simon's feel for entertainment. YO! is intended to be a lifestyle brand and has grown naturally out of the initial restaurant concept. Simon's focus is now on the international market.
Simon won a 1999 Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Ernst & Young) and is a part of the CBI / BCC Ambassador of Entrepreneurism campaign.
He was a finalist in the Real Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year 1999. For YO! Sushi he has received awards from Design Week (Best Restaurant) Marketing Week 1998 ? Design Effectiveness Awards 1998 and Best Web Site for Hospitality Solutions 1999. The book of YO! has been a WH Smith business best seller. Simon hopes to follow the success of his first book with the publication of his second book and training videos.
An inspiring yet down to earth and common sense speaker Simon speaks from the heart from someone who has been there done it, failed and succeeded now in building a brand that has emerged fast and is tipped with a big international future.
Simon speaks around the world at corporate and promotional events and has become an in demand item on the speaking circuit at conferences, dinners and awards.
Testimonials:
'Simon was unquestionably the right solution to the closing session of this year's event. They adored him - not just because he's a great speaker, but because he is their sort of person, so they could relate to him better than most guest speakers.'
Elaine Dellar of CO Plus who organise the OTE Forum
Simon spoke at the OTE Forum in Athens - October 2004
"His inspired, passionate speech literally gave me chills down my back." - Branding America
"Wonderful motivational educational and radical." - Andersen Consulting
"We were impressed by the messages you were putting across" - Sun Systems
"You have inspired a lot of people to have the courage to think outside the box." - Glaxo Wellcome
"The thing that differentiates you is that people are able to identify with you as a real person with failings as well as strengths." - Sussex Enterprise
"Highly inspirational, exceptionally well received" - J Sainsbury
The most honest and human presentation from a person of great maturity. Brilliant, passionate and refreshing. Enterprise
.
Don't forget if you are thinking of booking a Speaker for your event we can also help with Awards Presenters, Comedians,after dinner Cabaret, fabulous Party Bands or Tributes, DJs, Close up Magicians, amazing Lookalikes for Meet and Greet, Circus Acts and many different types of Themed Entertainment plus much, much more.
