Scottish entrepreneur extraordinaire George founded his own bed retail business eight years ago, at the age of 15. Already managing two stores and manufacturing his own product, the director of Nimbus Beds is definitely one to watch …
How might a child describe what you do?
Lie on beds all day!
What’s the biggest long-term challenge you face?
Wanting to accomplish everything yesterday. I am hard on myself if I don’t get things done quicker than expected, and I expect everything to be done overnight.
If you had 10 x your working budget, what would you spend it on?
I would open so much stores – there would be one in every town.
What would be the title of your autobiography?
Making Money While You Sleep …
What does ‘work/life balance’ mean to you?
Work/life balance is not something I have focused on so far in my career. However, as I am starting to value family time and enjoying my life outside work more, I do believe it’s important to have a good balance.
Who’s been your most influential professional mentor?
I would say a guy called James Sinclair. Although he shares the same name as my dad and brother, we’re not related. YouTube him.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Be patient. It will all come. Everything will happen at the right time. Manifest your thoughts, because it will happen if you believe it will.
What’s been your best day in business to date?
Opening our retail park store [in Fife]! We did more business in that first week than I’d done in the past three months.
What’s the biggest myth about our industry?
That there’s a mattress that suits everyone.
What should everyone in our industry either stop or start doing?
Stop complaining and start doing.
Where do you see the industry going in the next 5-10 years?
I feel there is going to be a lot more online sales space to be had, with excellent videos describing mattresses, rather than just descriptions.
This interview featured in the 2022 issue of Furniture News' Bed Buyer supplement.