What do you think? From emerging trends to the latest business principles, Furniture News is setting out to gauge the trade’s feelings on a variety of industry-specific topics. Today, we’re asking our panel: What’s the best part of your job?
Nick Williams (Sweet Dreams): Enjoying the relationships with our customers and helping develop a strong business partnership
Steve Pickering (Sussex Beds): Providing opportunities to people and watching them grasp them, own them, thrive and grow as individuals
Andrew Kerr (Siren Furniture): Being part of a collaborative senior team with a shared vision for developing the Siren brand and enthusiasm to directly influence growth, shape how we work, and actively explore and implement initiatives for positive change across all aspects of the business.
Brian Levitt (Brian Levitt Sales Agencies): The flexibility of working for myself
Sam Jackson (Bluebone Imports): Daily decision-making that progresses all aspects of the business, resulting in a happy workplace for all
Gavin Boden (Rhenus Home Delivery UK): Doing a great job for clients
James Dunne (Prestige Beds): Coming to work with the brilliant people we’re so lucky to have in our team. I also love reading the wonderful reviews we receive from our customers, especially those who’ve dealt with us for 40+ years. It fills me with a lot of pride
Steve Warren (Sleepeezee): Interacting with people towards a common set of goals
Jonathan Burrage (Hydeline Furniture): Whether it’s spending time with colleagues, retail partners or consumers, it’s all about the people
Jonathan Staker (Vanquish): Seeing great British brands move outside their comfort zone and succeed on a global scale, and the impact that has on their sales and profits (especially in the current climate)
Greg French (Westgarth Furniture): Freedom, and the ability to travel to places abroad that most tourists wouldn’t see, often with great people from lots of different cultures
Nichola Hornby Bell (Alpha Designs Upholstery): Well, I’ve been in sales my whole working life, so there’s no better buzz than being able to offer a good product that people want to keep buying from you. No matter how big or small the deal/negotiation is, I still get the same satisfaction. Good, old-fashioned human interaction!
Paul Little (Airsprung Group): It’s absolutely about the people. We have a fantastic team, and seeing them buzzing about what we’re doing is fantastic
Tim Hobbs (Prestige Furniture Logistics): Taking on more staff and watching them grow and develop with the company
Phil Spademan (BFM): The variety of the job is what gets me up in the morning – being the voice of the UK furniture industry, providing representation and a range of services that add value for our members, developing a range of market-leading benefits and co-ordinating trade events that help businesses grow and evolve, and representing our members at all levels with Government on issues like sustainability and training
Jerry Cheshire (bed and mattress expert): Seeing that ‘lightbulb’ moment when your customer ‘gets it’ after you’ve explained the importance of a good mattress and how it’s the foundation of their quest for better sleep
Carole Nolan (Maze Outdoor): Working with a wide range of lovely people, and travelling to meet customers and suppliers to build good relationships (plus I love the products!)
This Q&A was published in the January issue of Furniture News.
