About the author
Bill Grimsey began his retail career at the age of just 15 years old when he became a butcher’s boy. His first managerial job was at Bishops Food Stores, where he rose to become a director, before joining Tesco in 1986 in the new role of customer services director.
In a varied and full retail career, Bill Grimsey went on to be chief executive of store groups both in the UK and abroad in South Africa and Hong Kong and has earned a reputation as a turnaround specialist. He gained particular attention for masterminding the recovery of DIY group Wickes, which had been at the centre of an accounting scandal that resulted in the suspension of its share price and the banks foreclosing.
Another of these recovery roles was during Bill Grimsey’s five years at the helm of Iceland, which was renamed the Big Food Group, and was later bought out by Icelandic investors Baugur Group. Most recently, he worked with private equity backers heading the Focus DIY chain. Bill Grimsey is an experienced public speaker.
“Sold Out will make uncomfortable reading, but if you are at all serious about making your High Street a better place, the solution starts here.”
“Bill Grimsey offers a practical and realistic vision for the future of the High Street, which can cater for the needs we really have today.”
“If retailing needs a “Big Bang” moment, then this is a hand grenade of a book” – Joe Cushnan
If you are at all serious about making your High Street a better place, the solution starts here.
In recent years, campaigns have been galvanised to ‘save the High Street’. It seems everyone has a view about how we can revamp our down-at-heel towns and cities. But are they all missing the point?
Veteran retailer Bill Grimsey argues that it is already too late. The High Street as we have grown to know it, is good as dead already. So what happens next?