Mike Clare is probably best known as the founder of bed
retailer Dreams, which he launched in 1987 and grew to some 250
stores. In 2008 he sold the firm in a private equity deal for an
undisclosed sum, but estimated to be over £200m
"Dreams is still my baby," says Mike, who almost
bought the company back last year. "I still have a strong
affinity with the company and know lots of people there. I still
hope to buy it back and make it even more profitable one day, and
there's also the sense of real responsibility and looking after
the business I founded."
Having grown up watching both his parents running their own
businesses, Mike realised he had an entrepreneurial spirit from a
young age. After leaving school Mike got a job in the furniture
industry and spent his evenings running his own businesses from
home.
