'The Entrepreneur of the Industry' winner 2006
Danny Bamping, the entrepreneur and the driving force behind the Bedlam Cube puzzle has won the first ever BPMA Entrepreneur of the Industry Award for the UK's promotional marketing industry, which is worth £20 billion annually.
About the Award winner
Described as a serial entrepreneur Danny Bamping, Managing Director and founder of Bedlam Puzzles Ltd, is also a skilled cameraman, director and producer and is the creative mind behind a number of companies and initiatives, mostly in the Natural History & Environmental filmmaking sector. His primary business interest, however, is the Bedlam Cube dubbed the next Rubik's Cube of the toy world' which Danny and his team have made into a worldwide phenomenon in just two years, with annual sales now estimated at over £1 million.
Danny was selected as the winner by a panel of senior UK promotional marketing industry leaders as the Entrepreneur of the Industry from a strong, highly competitive list of entries. He was chosen on the strength of his innovative business concept, natural entrepreneurial flair and his vision for developing this and other products to drive the business forward. His rise to success began as a result of difficult circumstances. Six years ago, after his 2nd bout of heart surgery, Danny lost his job as a part time university lecturer, had to stop working as a freelance underwater cameraman and ended up on state benefits.
However Danny soon found himself involved with other Projects, through one he met puzzle-genius Bruce Bedlam who had developed a very unique puzzle, but not pursued the product commercially. Danny spent the next two and a half years developing The Bedlam Cube and planning its success. He started to a sell it and launched it exclusively at Hamleys of London. Soon after he landed himself a slot on the BBC's Dragon's Den & with two Dragons offering him £100,000 investment, which after considering it, he then decided to turn the offer and took the plunge to grow the Bedlam Cube on his own.
Danny Bamping has made The Bedlam Cube a success in the retail toy, corporate gift and promotional merchandise market. It is now sold through Argos, Debenhams, John Lewis, WHSmith and Tescos and has been a big hit this Christmas. The cube is now being distributed in Australia, New Zealand South Africa and 17 different European countries. Where the corporate and promotional gift market is concerned, the bespoke coloured & labeled cubes have been produced for major international names such as BP, O2, PwC and Siemens. It is also the official product of this Years Guinness World Records day on November 9th (Danny also holds the current World record at 11.03 seconds.)
WINNER: ENTREPRENEUR OF THE INDUSTRY 2006
Danny Bamping
Bedlam Puzzles
"We applaud your natural flair, vision, persistence and determination and look forward to watching you grow further on your exciting journey." (David Lebond. Chairman of the judges)
FINALIST: ENTREPRENEUR OF THE INDUSTRY 2006
Ed Douglas Miller
Remarkable Pencils
"You demonstrated great ingenuity, longstanding dedication to the industry and an impressive array of accolades for which you have worked hard." (David Lebond. Chairman of the judges)
FINALIST: ENTREPRENEUR OF THE INDUSTRY 2006
Evan Lewis
Everything Environmental
"We were so impressed by your business vision, astute planning, successful delivery and the future outlook of your business." (David Lebond. Chairman of the judges)
FINALIST: ENTREPRENEUR OF THE INDUSTRY 2006
Christopher Love
Product Expectations
"You showed us raw entrepreneurial talent, a very successful business operation, undying determination and a sky's-the-limit attitide." (David Lebond. Chairman of the judges)