Britain's Top 100 Entrepreneurs 2014: No. 80 - Sir Paul Smith, Paul Smith
The fashion magnate is worth £315m.
In 1961 the then-15 year old Paul Smith started working in a Nottingham warehouse. Nine years later he opened his first stop in Nottingham. His fashion empire now extends worldwide with 200 stores in Japan and plans to open outlets in China. In 2006 a Japanese company bought a 40% stake from Lady Smith and a business partner. Significant investment in a new London store clipped profits at Paul Smith Group Holdings by 25% to £23.8m in 2012-13.
Age: 68
Activity: Fashion
Wealth: £315m
Latest turnover: £202m
Five-year rise in turnover: 20%
No. of employees: 1,017
Five-year rise in employment: 17%
Score: 206
