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 do you do in your personal life that helps your work?
Mark Gannon (Sofa Source): Time out on our boat, cruising the River Shannon, helps me to stop and reflect
John Northwood (agent): Nothing conciously, but I’m always looking for new opportunities when I’m out. It does irritate the wife at times!
Wendy Martin Green (Peter Green Furnishers): I exercise – swim, walk, yoga, paddle board, barre and weights. For me, exercise relaxes my mind, and enables me to think more clearly and to focus on what is really important. I am also an artist, a graphic designer and a writer, and all three help with the creative, marketing and design side of the business
George Sinclair (Nimbus Beds): I really enjoy taking my dogs out camping in the woods. I do this most weeks. It allows me to relax and switch off, but still be very close to work
Mike Whitman (Iconography): I help to run a charitable organisation that buys and sells stock – it helps to remind me of some of the challenges that face retailers
Huw Williams (Toons Furnishers): I work as a school’s director, charity treasurer and borough councillor. These all help with networking and personal skills for dealing with difficult people
Jade Farthing (Haskins Furniture): I love to run, but I get very little time owing to my five-year-old little girl
Keiran Hewkin (Swyft Home): Run. It is a great way to keep your head clear so when you are at work you can focus more. It is also hard to stress too much when you can’t breathe!
Martin Seeley (MattressNextDay): I’m a massive routine person and generally go swimming most days. It definitely makes my brain more clearly understand the best option, and not make a decision too quickly
Neil Barker (Barkers Furniture): My hobby is also my career (website and web systems development)
Steve Reid (Simba Sleep): Running and exercise – it provides perspective and thinking time
Shane Harding (Highgrove Beds): I try to exercise regularly, but fail miserably
David Kohn (The Multichannel Expert): I’m a keen reader of business books, in particular those on the psychology of decision-making and branding. Understanding how you can move the customer through the complex process of buying high-ticket products is really helpful in furniture
Deirdre Mc Gettrick (ufurnish.com): My work/life balance isn’t amazing at the moment. I am married to my co-founder so it can be hard to find a way to switch off, even out of hours and at the weekend. I find the thing that helps me most is listening to music – it always relaxes me if I’m listening to Ludovico Eniaudi, or gets me in positive mode if it’s a high-tempo artist like Shakira
This article appeared in the June 2023 edition of Furniture News magazine.
