The Stephen Taylor interview

Justin Allitt chats with Stephen Taylor from Kingston Park and Leisure Homes, to discuss the park industry, his role in it, and what he likes to do when not working.

Hi Steve, you’ve been busy like everyone in the industry, but how did you end up working for Kingston?

When Kingston approached me, they were looking for someone experienced in the industry to push their Park Homes and Leisure Lodge side forward. I had a meeting with the company Owners and was impressed with their ideas and vision for the company. Once I had visited the factory and saw the quality of the homes and lodges they were building, it sealed it for me. I thought their quality was in a different league.

What is your favourite thing you like to do at Kingston?

To be honest, my job covers so many areas of the business, from input with design and manufacture, trade sales, retail sales, marketing, exhibitions and trade shows. It is difficult to pick out any one thing that I enjoy the most. I think it is the combination of them all that makes each day interesting and different!

We’ve just had a turbulent 24 months – What’s going to happen in the next 24 months?

It has been a turbulent 24 months both in a good way and in some cases not in such a good way. As a company, we have had a very busy 2 years and the company has grown hugely with order books full and lead times longer than I have ever known. This is great for us but for those who are looking to place orders, there is a long wait.

If you weren’t in the park industry what would you do?

Sales have always been my working life but if I was to change tack it would have to be renovating old cars. I started my working life as a precision engineer manufacturing aircraft engines and the joy of building things has never left me so a little workshop full of tools is my idea of heaven.

What do you like to do when not working? Any past times?

I have always been sports-mad but am nearly 60(!) so the types of sport I do have become less hectic; I do enjoy golf, swimming and tennis but my number one pastime is to be on holiday with my family somewhere very warm and relaxing.

Which clients would you love to help?

Nothing is better than helping a client realise their dream home or lodge; a home that they can be proud of.

You’ve been in the industry now a long time, any words of advice to those starting out?

The industry is like no other I have ever known, in some ways, it is a bit old school with business relationships built on trust and understanding. If I had one bit of advice to anyone starting out it would be to really get to know the industry and your product, the people you are selling to know their onions!

Who in our series would you like to be see interviewed?

There are some great characters in our industry and some great achievers but also some who have started with not much more than a dream and lots of enthusiasm and made their dream come true, it would be great to hear what drove them on.

Read our interview with Jim Gandon from Annesley Gandon by clicking here.