What do you currently do?
As managing director of The Furniture Recycling Group, my role is to lead the direction of the company as it grows and leads the way in a new industry. Most of my time is spent looking after our customers and developing the company to ensure we keep improving our efficiencies and processes, which allow us to grow sustainably. I do still strip the odd mattress, much to the amusement of the staff!
What is your inspiration in business?
My family inspires me first and foremost. As the business has grown, I’m blessed to be able to say that our staff inspire me also.
Who do you admire?
My first ever boss. He taught me most of what I know in business today.
Looking back, would you have done things differently?
Always. Hindsight is 20/20 vision and most of the time assumptions have to be made to make a decision. Having experience behind you of what you could have done better makes for better and more informed decisions in the future.
What defines your way of doing business?
I can say one of the rules I learnt early on is that everyone you do business with has to make money from dealing with you. If they don’t, you won’t be able to rely on them and having that honesty and trust in business relationships makes work easier for everybody concerned.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
I think the rules of being successful are the same in whatever you do. Work hard; look after people on the way and most importantly take the opportunities that are worth the risk. I’m a firm believer in there is no opportunity without risk.
