Chris Li, who launched the site in 2009, is among top business leaders in the Midlands who are behind companies that are driving innovation and growth to have progressed to the regional finals in June.

All those shortlisted have demonstrated tremendous breadth and agility in the corporate and social fields and are showing the potential for growth and job creation.

Adrian Roberts, Ernst & Young Midlands Entrepreneur of The Year UK Leader, said: “In the face of a flat economy, the clear theme from the finalists is that the UK’s leading entrepreneurs are searching out opportunities for growth and using innovative thinking to get ahead of their competition wherever they can.”

The Awards, which have been running for 14 years, attracted a record number of applications and Chris will join businessmen and women from 30 Midlands companies at the next stage.

If successful at the regional finals, Chris will go on to battle it out in October in the UK Awards for the chance to win the prestigious UK title.

Founder and CEO Chris Li was asked to help select the winners after blowing Karren and her fellow judges away in last year’s Awards, scooping both the Small Business and Achiever of the Year titles.

Chris founded Luxury For Less, the multi-channel online bathroom retailer, in 2006 and three years later launched BathEmpire.com, which is now the fastest growing online bathroom retailer in the UK.

He will be among a panel of other respected industry figures on the judging panel which will be chaired by Karren and includes Nectar Marketing Director James Frost and David Hughes, Marketing Director of Brakes.

Chris said: “Having won two categories in last year’s Nectar Business Small Business Awards, it’s a great honour to be invited to be a judge alongside Karren Brady.

“The Awards are a fantastic opportunity for small businesses to be recognised and rewarded for their achievements and I’m looking forward to helping to choose this year’s winners.”

The Nectar Business Small Business Awards celebrate the achievements of successful small businesses and business people across the UK.

For information about the awards, visit www.nectar-business.com/SBA2013

Almost 200 rubber ducks were released on the River Soar in Aylestone, Leicestershire, on Easter Monday to help the air ambulance service keep flying and saving lives.

The yellow ducks were donated by online bathroom retailer BathEmpire.com, as part of its support for the charity.

The duck race was organised by Ivan and Rita Ball, who live in Aylestone and are volunteers for their local air ambulance service.

Ivan said: “It’s the first time we have ever organised a duck race but when we heard that BathEmpire.com had hundreds of their rubber ducks to donate, we thought they would be ideal for a fund-raising event.

“We had 183 ducks enter the race and they looked great as we launched them from the bridge in Aylestone and into the River Soar.

“People were running along the river bank as the ducks drifted down and we had a canoeist at the end of the 100-yard stretch to catch the first three past the finish line.

“Everybody really enjoyed it, especially the children, and it was such a success that we’d like it to become an annual event.”

The race raised £183 for the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance. Prizes donated by The Union Inn and The Black Horse in Aylestone and Aylestone Farm Shop were awarded to the first three.

Chris Li, founder of BathEmpire.com, which is based in Coventry, said: “Our BathEmpire.com rubber ducks are a huge hit with our customers so we thought they would be great for the air ambulance service to use to raise money.

“We’re delighted to help make a difference to the charity’s life-saving work in such a fun way.”

Jo Sharrock has been joined by a life-size bathtime favourite in her new role as exhibition and events project manager at Coventry-based BathEmpire.com

The bright yellow duck mascot will join Jo on the company’s stands at major exhibitions this year, starting with the Ideal Home Show being held at London’s Earls Court until April 1.

Jo’s position has been created as BathEmpire.com steps up its presence at home shows around the country following its successful debut at Grand Designs Live in Birmingham last October.

The award-winning company made a splash as a first-time exhibitor at Grand Designs Live where the BathEmpire.com rubber duck was launched with hundreds of the bathtime toys being snapped up by visitors.

The BathEmpire.com rubber duck was such a hit that one is now delivered with large customer orders and has been brought to life by the creation of the mascot costume to be worn at events.

Jo, aged 26, said: “One of the main reasons I was attracted to BathEmpire.com was because it is such a young and dynamic company and is keen to make a fun and lasting impression.

“The mascot is a fantastic way of bringing the BathEmpire.com rubber duck to life as it has been so popular with customers since first being launched at Grand Designs Live at the NEC last year.

“It was the first major exhibition that BathEmpire.com had attended and was such a success that the decision was made to attend eight exhibitions throughout the country this year.”

Jo studied a business administration course at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College before entering the events industry eight years ago.

She has held a variety of positions in event registration, exhibition and sponsorship co-ordination and event project management prior to joining BathEmpire.com, ranked the 37^th fastest growing private firm in Britain in the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100.

Jo, who lives in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be joining BathEmpire.com as the company looks to build on the rapid growth achieved in its first three years.

“I am looking forward to helping the company further expand. As an online retailer, exhibitions and events can play a huge part in increasing sales as it gives people the chance to see the quality of our product range.”

A new BathEmpire.com brochure has been produced to coincide with its first exhibition of the year at Earls Court.

The Ideal Home Show will be followed by stands at the National Homebuilding and Renovating Show at the NEC and Grand Designs Live at Excel.

BathEmpire.com will also be at the Southern Homebuilding and Renovating Show in Surrey, National Home Improvement Show at Olympia, Grand Designs Live at the NEC, Northern Homebuilding and Renovating Show in Harrogate and the SW Homebuilding and Renovating Show in Somerset.

Accounts
Trudy Cart

Customer Care Team
Trish Garry
Leanne Bailey
Alice Whordley
Stephanie Owen
Kimberley Ball
Vicky Jakeman
Megan Hennessy
Duncan Milne

Marketing
Chris Knight – Digital Marketing Manager
Jo Sharrock – Exhibition Project Manager
Tara Behan – Marketing Assistant

Logistics
Thomas O’ Kane – Transport Planner

Trade
Andrew Bullingham – Trade Commercial Director

11,474… items picked by the Warehouse Team in week 5, 2013.

10,902… visitors for BathEmpire.com on 20^th January, 2013. More than Coventry City get at the Ricoh on a Saturday, eh?!

8,668…  calls taken by Customer Care in January, 2013.

490…  new likes on Facebook for BathEmpire.com since the start of 2013

400… eggs laid by Jay O’Neill’s Chickens in January. Jay imaginatively named two of his Chickens “The Fat One” and “The Skinny One” but don’t mock him about this as Jay is also a Thai kick boxer.

50… eggs laid by Chris Knight’s Chickens in January. C’mon Chris, get in the game. Chris likes to brew his own beer and has three Chickens named Whisky (Looks like the Famous Grouse), Honey (because of its colour) and Doora (always exploring!).

23:56… The time of the last order for 2012.

00:18… The time of the first order for 2013.

Debbie was an amazing friend and colleague to so many of us and Debbie’s family have set up a Just Giving Page to help raise money for the Stroke Unit at the Good Hope Hospital. This is where we are calling for your help…

1. Register for the Fun Run here.
2. Ask for donations to the same Just Giving Page.
3. Debbie’s family have also set up a Facebook Group called “Team Deb” to remember Debbie and encourage people to raise money for the Good Hope Hospital, so please do like the page and help her family reach their £3,000 target.
4. Even if you don’t participate, please do donate whatever you can.

If you have any questions please contact David Bailey!

Thanks,

David @ Luxury For Less.

The young entrepreneur behind the fastest growing private firm in Coventry has been named Midlands Business Person of the Year.

Chris Li, founder and CEO of Luxury For Less, was awarded the top accolade at the 2013 Midlands Business Awards.

Luxury For Less employs more than 60 people at its headquarters on the Grovelands Industrial Estate in Longford Road, Exhall, and is on course to achieve a turnover of over £14 million this year.

Chris said: “I am thrilled to have won this award not just for myself but for all of our team who have put so much into making the business a success.”

It is the latest in a long line of awards to be presented to Chris in the past year.

He is the holder of Young Entrepreneur of the Year from the Growing Business Awards and Business Achiever of the Year from the Nectar Business Awards.

Luxury For Less won Small Online Business of the Year at the National Business Awards and the Small Business & Start Up category at the Coventry Telegraph Business Awards.

BathEmpire.com was also named Online Retail Independent Site of the Year at the Online Retail Awards and Small Business of the Year at the Nectar Business Awards.

David @ Luxury For Less

The Oracle – Donna Jones 

Over the years, Donna has played a massively important role in the development of Luxury for Less. I’m sure we can appreciate the title of “The Oracle” here, as Donna seems to know absolutely everything that’s going on both within and outside of the company walls, and is a true asset. As she is now officially “the Oracle”, feel free to go to her 24 hours a day for palm readings and tarot.

Above and Beyond – Marc Rendchen

I don’t think anyone could argue with this award. Marc commands great respect both from his team and everyone in the company, and is constantly putting his colleagues first in every aspect of the business. He was certainly Above and Beyond sobriety later on in the evening, and deservedly so after getting this honour!

International Performer – Lisa Sun

For those of us who are lucky enough to know Lisa, you will understand and appreciate the huge amount of time and effort she gives to the company. To do this whilst maintaining such a sunny disposition is worthy of an award in itself! For those of you who don’t know her personally, watch this space in 2013!

Triumph Over Adversity – Sophia Jeynes

Sophia jumped into her department feet first in a real time of turmoil. Quite simply the whole department has been turned around and there is a great atmosphere, with everyone reading from the same song sheet (not literally, that would make for quite odd returns calls), and the results are evident with some of our highest feedback ratings ever being consistently posted.

PR Rising Star – David Bailey

As Chris has been waxing lyrical about the company and personal awards this year, David has been a major driving force behind it all. Churning out draft after draft of award applications (it would be much easier to get it right first time to be honest), he has been instrumental in helping both Chris and the company gain much lauded offline status, and massively increased national presence.

Outstanding Achievement – Debbie Sansome

Debbie Sansome was quite simply one of the finest servants to LFL that the company is ever likely to see. Both in personal and professional terms, she had a huge and far reaching impact on anyone she worked with. Though she is sadly no longer with us, her legacy lives on both in the work, hearts and minds of anyone who knew her, and even impacts those who are continuing the fantastic work she started. She will forever live in our hearts and minds.

Longest Commuter – Jan Chovanec

As one of the four “founding fathers” of the business, Jan has shown huge commitment to Chris, Vicky and the company as a whole. The title of the award refers to Jan moving up from the far reaches of Brighton, but also goes to show how one person’s outstanding commitment can really help gel together a company and team over a number of years. Thoroughly deserved.

Irish Bingo Winner

All in all it was a fantastic evening, with fitting tributes paid for those both here and absent, coupled with a great atmosphere and even a competition winner. Long may the Golden Quackers continue!

Jack @ Luxury For Less.

First of all we would like to welcome you to the first ever Luxury For Less newsletter. We’re planning to roll this out once a month and hope you enjoy reading it to catch up on all our latest news!

Secondly, we would both like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your hard work during 2012. Without you, we wouldn’t have achieved the awards, the record sales, and the fantastic team spirit that we have throughout Luxury For Less. Quite simply, without you all, the company wouldn’t be where it is today. Every department has come on in leaps and bounds over the last 12 months, and we both feel extremely confident that working alongside you that we can climb to even greater heights.

2013 is set to be a year of huge expansion for all of us, both in terms of sales, warehouse picks, customer care calls, and the size of the company as a whole. Records will fall time after time, and Luxury for Less and BathEmpire will gain more and more recognition both on and offline. Hard work, good relationships and trust in each other has got us to the truly great position that we are in today. We will be moving to a new home halfway through the year which is hugely exciting. We’re looking forward to working with everyone who has helped us to get this far to make this year, and many more to come, even better!

Have a fantastic 2013 everyone – we’re both sure we all will!

Many thanks,

Chris and Vicky