Mary Spillane: Accidental Entrepreneur
Subject
Entrepreneurship
Publication Year
1995
Abstract
In 1980 Mary Spillane gave up a highly successful public service career in the U.S. to move to London with her British husband. She found that her skills were not easily transferable, and she spent a few years working on short term assignments, looking for a new career. In 1983 she agreed to handle the U.K. publication of the U.S. best-seller Color Me Beautiful. The book, which promised to help women to look their best, had developed from the experiences of its author who ran a successful colour consulting business. Spillane obtained the right to use the name and to distribute Color Me Beautiful products in the U.K., Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Ten years later, CMB Image Consultants was the centre of a network of over 1,000 consultants in 28 countries advising individuals and corporations on the strategic use of personal image. This case describes how Spillane discovered and exploited the opportunity to build a 'virtual organisation' which had a turnover approaching £20 million in 1994.
Topic List
Entrepreneurship, The Entrepreneur
Industry
Image Consulting
Publication Event Date
1983-1994
LBS Case Number
CS-94-021
Location
UK
Project Funder
ESRC
Publication Research Centre
Institute of Finance and Accounting, Entrepreneurship
Supervisor
JOHNSON, R M
Available on ECCH
No
