The Kings Speech - Open Event with Will King, Founder of King of Shaves Brand

A bold entrepreneur with a razor sharp business sense, multi award-winning businessman Will King has a truly inspiring story to share about the incredible ascent from a simple idea, to creating a business, using social media to build a brand and taking a product worldwide. He even managed to secure the personal agreement of Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed to stock his first shaving product, so there is plenty to learn from him in sales technique alone.

Today his King of Shaves brand is second only to Gillette in the UK, and Will is now focusing his attention on inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. Working in partnership with Gateshead College, the Entrepreneurs’ Forum is privileged to welcome him and likeminded guests who believe passionately in sharing their knowledge to stimulate an entrepreneurial spirit among young people.

The college is a founding member of Gazelle Global Ltd, a company created by five college Principals who want to transform the further education sector through entrepreneurship. They are already working with some of Britain’s most inspirational, creative and successful entrepreneurs, including Will, to ensure that students are equipped with an ambitious, can-do attitude and prepared for success in today’s economic climate. This event will bring the college closer to the very best in North East entrepreneurship, and we would be delighted if you would join us.

A self-made success, Will’s first shaving oil product was inspired by the problems he suffered personally with razor burn. After securing the Harrods deal, he had to hand-fill 9,600 bottles of oil in his kitchen using a pump supplied to him by a friend in the yacht building industry.

Using a mix of bizarre advertising stunts, social media and Will’s unique brand of self-promotion, 17 years later the King of Shaves range has expanded to over 30 products and is stocked in many major outlets around the UK and overseas.

It entered Boots stores in May 1994 and by 2009 was stocked in approximately 30,000 stores worldwide including the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and South Africa. The company’s awards include the CBI/Real Business "Growing Business" Company of the Year, the T-Mobile/Growing Business Magazine "Overall fast growth company of the year" and Will was a winner in the London & South East Region finals of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

This is a not to be missed event and we urge you to book early to secure your place with us today.

Our hugely popular open evening events offer knowledge sharing and inspiration. As open events are a benefit of membership and corporate partnership, they are always well attended and a great opportunity to mix with like-minded peers. Attendance for Forum members and partners is included in your package.  Members’ guests can attend for £15 +VAT and non-members for £30 +VAT. All proceeds from the event will go directly to Gateshead College's charity, the Gateshead College Foundation,

The evening will commence at 6.30pm, a light supper will be served following the main event in the College’s Greenhouse Brassiere. Payment can be made on-line by clicking here.