News - Sahar Hashemi writes for Director Magazine

There may be trouble ahead... but innovate wisely during a recession and you can emerge ahead of the pack. What looks like a crisis now could become a rich opportunity

One characteristic that marks out entrepreneurs from other business leaders is their optimism, often expressed as a belief that any challenge is also an opportunity. As a recession looms, this ability will be in greater demand than ever. But can this attitude be transmitted to the rest of the economy? Last October, BusinessWeek suggested that the way out of the slowdown was innovation: "During economic downturns, innovation is the single most important condition for turning the crisis into an opportunity."

To read the full article, please click on the below link:

http://www.director.co.uk/MAGAZINE/2009/1%20Jan/hashemi_62_6.html

A little about Sahar.........
In 1995 Sahar Hashemi, a City Lawyer who was passionate about great coffee and her brother Bobby Hashemi, a former investment banker turned his back on a six-figure banking, and together they co-founded and lead Coffee Republic from its inception through to its position as largest independent espresso bar brand in the UK.

With no retail entrepreneurial experience the brother and sister team overcame a number of obstacles along the way. Coffee Republic is now a London Stock Exchange quoted company with annual sales of circa £30 million and circa 100 stores across most major cities throughout the UK. Bobby & Sahar Hashemi's story of the creation of Coffee Republic is fascinating and inspiring.

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