Richard Branson Biography - Profile |
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::: Virgin Founder
& Entrepreneur :::
Richard Branson Biography (Sir Richard
Charles Nicholas Branson) :
British Entrepreneur
Famous for :
Founding the famous Virgin brand, attracting
media attention with his marketing tactics,
and for his balloon adventures.
Branson details
: Born - July 18, 1950 Britain
/ Lives - United Kingdom
Book Reviews
: Losing
my Virginity - Autobiography
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Biography - Information |
Richard
Branson
is a flamboyant British entrepreneur with
a seemingly insatiable appetite for starting
new businesses. His internationally recognized
brand "Virgin" is splashed across
everything from credit cards, to airlines
and music "megastores". Branson
is continuously seeking new business opportunities
and loves a good challenge, especially when
he enters a market that is dominated by
a few major players.
Richard Branson was born on July 18, 1950.
His entrepreneurial ways began early when
he was publishing a student magazine at
just 16 years. Branson did not go on to
graduate school but in 1970 the now famous
Virgin brand had its beginnings in the form
of a discount records mail order venture
that he and his friend Nik Powell worked
on.
Virgin Records
Soon after opening a record store on Oxford
Street, London, Branson began a recording
label in 1972, Virgin Records. This was
to be the first major success for the British
entrepreneur as he started the label with
a hit record. The instrumental artist Mike
Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" released
in 1973 was a cash cow for Branson's Virgin
Records and it stayed in the UK music charts
for 247 weeks. The record label went on
to sign top music artists like "Genesis",
"The Sex Pistols", "The Rolling
Stones" and "Simple Minds".
The Virgin Records Group was sold in 1992
to THORN EMI for $1 billion USD.
Richard Branson obviously wasn't finished
with the music recording business as he
went on to start V2 Records in 1996. The
V2 Music brand has a stable of artists that
include "Stereophonics", "Powder
Finger", "Mercury Rev" and
"Tom Jones".
The Virgin Brand
Richard Branson has created one of the most
recognizable brands in the world. In Britain
where he focuses much of his attention,
Branson has managed to "Virginize"
a very wide range of products and services.
The variety of businesses he controls is
as vast as the geographical coverage the
brand has, with business located throughout
The United Kingdom, the United States of
America, Australia, Canada, Asian, Europe
and South Africa.
Some of the businesses Branson has collected
include:
- Virgin
Atlantic - An international airline
flying to many major destinations.
- Virgin
Megastores
- Music Super-markets located in major
locations in the UK, USA and Australia.
- Virgin
Books
- Publisher and distributor of books.
- Virgin
Credit Card
- Branson's attempt to provide credit
card at a reasonable price.
- Virgin
Holidays
- Book a holiday and fly Virgin Atlantic?
- Virgin
Trains
- Virgin making trains sexy in the United
Kingdom.
- V2
Music
- Largest UK based independent recording
label.
- Virgin
Active
- Chain of fitness clubs throughout
the United Kingdom.
- Virgin
Galactic
- Branson's planned affordable flight
to space venture.
- Ulusaba
- Luxury game reserve located in South
Africa.
- Necker
Island - Branson's own private island
located in the British Virgin Islands.
There
are plenty more businesses that wear the
Virgin name throughout the world and there
will probably be more to come as Branson
is always looking for an interesting business
to start. On the Virgin.com website there
is even a section to submit your new and
exciting business venture that Branson
may consider pursuing.
Richard Branson
Adventures
Branson is passionate about life and living
every minute to its fullest. Since 1985
he has been getting his adrenaline rushes
through world record breaking attempts
by boat and hot air balloon. Several distance
and speed records have been attempted
and achieved, but his attempt to be the
first person to circumnavigate the world
in a hot air balloon was never achieved.
Branson makes each record attempt a media
event with his Virgin logo prominently
displayed during every launch, which has
been an excellent source of free advertising
and brand placement for the Virgin Group.
"Sometimes I do wake up in the mornings
and feel like I've just had the
most incredible dream. I've just dreamt
my life." Richard Branson
Branson was awarded a Knighthood in 1999
and became Sir Richard Branson for his
contribution to entrepreneurship. Branson
is married with two children and currently
lives in London.
Virgin
Atlantic's 747 Biofuel Flight - Richard
Branson's Virgin Atlantic airline flew
a Boeing 747 jumbo jet in February 08
using a percentage of biofuels.
This Richard Branson biography
may not be reproduced online.
Copyright © Woopidoo.com
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Richard Branson Quotes |
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Ridiculous
yachts and private planes and big limousines
won’t make people enjoy life more,
and it sends out terrible messages to
the people who work for them. It would
be so much better if that money was spent
in Africa – and it’s about getting
a balance.
Richard
Branson - Life
- Philanthropy
- Money
A business has to be involving, it has
to be fun, and it has to exercise your
creative instincts.
Richard
Branson - Business
I never get the accountants in before
I start up a business. It's done on gut
feeling, especially if I can see that
they are taking the mickey out of the
consumer.
Richard
Branson - Accounting
- Customers
- Business
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