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Grant Miller is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in Telecoms, Media, Travel, eCommerce, Hospitality, and Brand Development. Currently, he serves as the Chairman & CEO of the Daily Sport, a leading publication focused on sports news and entertainment, plus Chairman & CEO of Preston Holidays, UK Reader Promotions, 3X Group, The Bet, Showman Times, Metrika Science and Covent Garden Nutraceuticals to name but a few.
Prior to buying the Daily Sport which coincidentally was the first business I ever bought having previously built companies from scratch, Grant created a number of businesses under the 3X brand these included 3X Telecom, 3X Travel, 3X Bet, 3X Media, and 3X Inns. He also founded UK Reader Promotions, a company that provides reader offers to major media brands and portals, where he grew the business from scratch and establish partnerships with some of the industry’s biggest players. Before that, he set up and ran businesses across multiple industries, always having his eye on the ball to spot the next opportunity or business venture.
In addition to his professional achievements, Grant is also an avid boxing fan and has a passion for cooking and eating out.
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Can you tell us about your professional background and how it has led you to your current role as CEO of Preston Holidays?
Well, I’ve always been an entrepreneur from a young age and holidayed in Jersey as a child which gave me the idea to establish a direct-sell tour operator business in 2003 3X Travel ironically at the time I was trying to set up a branded financial services company but tour operating presented a better opportunity at the time.
I grew this to be one of the leading independent tour operators in the Channel Islands and in 2014 when the market leader Preston Holidays who had been established since 1960 went bust I snapped them up and re-branded.
Preston Holidays offers something unique in the travel business as the prices advertised are the prices the customer pays with no hidden extras.
How did you identify this need in the market, and what inspired you to do it?
I looked at the entire world tour operating model and thought I can turn this on its head with Jack Cohen founder of Tesco model of ‘Pile it high and sell it cheap’ and the rest is history so to speak.
As a CEO, how do you approach leadership and building a strong company culture & what I mean by that is what are your key values that you prioritize across your businesses?
I believe that everybody should be treated the same no matter who they are or where they’re from and both loyalty plus ideas should be rewarded.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced while building and growing 3X Travel now Preston Holidays, and how have you overcome them?
When I started out a lot of the main partners in the industry didn’t want to work with me, but I’ve always been determined with the attitude ‘It doesn’t matter if they want to work with me, If I want to work with them they will do whether they like it or not.”
Looking ahead, what are some of the biggest trends or shifts that you see in the travel market, and how is Preston Holidays positioned to capitalize on them?
Ironically it’s the advert of the internet and people now booking direct, which ironically I did as far back as 1989. We’ll adapt and get new exclusive deals and add or re-launch more destinations under the stable of brands we own.
What is the latest venture or business you have acquired?
I’ve recently completed the purchase of a pub in Jersey ‘The Gloster Vaults’ which is attached to the Opera House there and having grown up in the licensed trade it was an opportunity too good to miss.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or startup founders who are just starting out?
Firstly never take NO for an answer in business and if something fails look for the next opportunity don’t get disheartened.
“The Daily Sport has a unique position in the media landscape, with a focus on sports news and entertainment”
Can you tell us about the history of the publication and how it has evolved over time to meet the changing needs of readers?
Yes, Daily Sport was established in 1991 and I acquired it out of administration in 2011, which allowed me the opportunity to rebuild and gain momentum around the 20th anniversary of the brand. My first decision was to take the brand digital plus make it FREE to the reader and also unlike other media outlets at the time place full-scale advertising online.
As Chairman & CEO, what is your vision for the future of the Daily Sport? How do you see the publication evolving in the coming years?
To carry on doing what we do best and look for new and evolving revenue streams. I also plan to launch some Daily Sport branded Sports Bars.
The media industry has undergone significant disruption in recent years, with the rise of digital platforms and changing consumer behaviors.
How does the Daily Sport adapt to these changes, and what strategies do you employ to stay ahead of the curve?
I always keep my finger on the pulse as Daily Sport is owned outright by me so if things are going wrong I’ll lose my investment. My main strategy has always been to watch different industries as there is always something to learn and can be adapted to work in other fields.
One of the key challenges facing media organizations today is monetizing content in a sustainable way.
How does the Daily Sport balance the need for revenue with the desire to provide high-quality, engaging content to readers?
We are FREE to the reader and we’re a purely advertising-based commercial model.
The Daily Sport has a loyal following of readers who are passionate about sports and entertainment.
How does the publication engage with its audience, and what role does social media play in building and maintaining that connection?
We engage through both social media posts for our content plus various events over the year and sporting event sponsorship we’ve been actively involved in the fight scene both boxing and MMA including having Daily Sport promo/ring girls at events too.
In recent years, there has been increased scrutiny of media organizations to ensure that their reporting is accurate, fair, and balanced.
How does the Daily Sport approach journalism ethics, and what steps do you take to ensure that your reporting is credible and trustworthy?
We always stay away from awkward stories and our sports coverage is second to none with our team of veteran journalists. With regards to our stories, they have always been FUN and are there to cheer up the Great British Public as we did throughout the Pandemic where we gain a massive increase in readership and social media followers.
I like to conclude our interview with a final and resounding question.
What advice would you give aspiring journalists or media professionals just starting out?
Always follow your dreams and send stories to publications the best way to get on is to get published and even if you do in part-time or as a hobby for free to start with once you get a following you’ve got a career.
