Justin Allitt sits down with Charlie Carrutherse, Marketing Assistant for Victory Leisure Homes, to discuss his role in the industry, what he likes to do when nott working, and impressions on starting out in the industry.
Hi Charlie, nice to meet you at the Lifestyle Show, was it your first show and did you enjoy meeting Linda Barker?
Hi Justin, great to meet you also! Yes, it was my first show – it certainly made me appreciate the logistics involved with shows, and it was a great learning opportunity for the future. It was an absolute privilege to meet Linda Barker and welcome her onto our stand to view our Faraday Lodge, which she particularly liked! A truly uplifting moment…
What is your role at Victory Leisure Homes and what is your favourite things to do there?
I’m a Marketing Assistant at Victory and have been involved with a plethora of short-term and long-term projects. For me, I’d say my favourite things to do so far is market research, events, and business-to-business marketing, and I’m also designated charity champion for our charity of the year, Downright Special. This has given me the opportunity to plan, communicate and deliver some great fundraising events within the company. So far, we have raised over £4,000 and it is something I’m immensely proud of.
You are relatively new to the leisure home industry, which is good as you can bring in fresh ideas; what has the experience been like for you?
So far, the leisure home industry has been an incredible experience, and I don’t see this wavering. I believe this is due to being around such a friendly, dynamic, and proactive team who have supported me with getting on my feet and have also trusted me with some big projects, such as the planning and execution of the Lifestyle Show. I’m also encouraged to think outside of the box and constantly challenge the status quo, which sometimes tests my resolve; however, seeing the end results is always worth it!
I also particularly enjoy the leisure home industry as it is immensely competitive. You never know what is around the corner, which means we as marketers need to keep on our toes and constantly develop new ideas. This fast-paced environment has meant that I’ve already learnt so much and I know for sure I’m only just getting started!
We’ve just had a turbulent 24 months – What will happen in the next 24 months?
It’s always difficult to predict the future, particularly in this interconnected world, but I’m an optimist and always stay positive no matter what turbulence we all go through. I’d like to see supplies become more readily available, the staycation holiday market carries on thriving, and the cost of living goes down! Wouldn’t it be fantastic to see petrol prices go down to less than a pound again?
If you weren’t in the park industry, what would you do?
In between finishing my Masters’s degree and job hunting, I’d actually applied to the RAF as a pilot and was invited to the first testing stage but made the decision to build my marketing career over my interest in flying and aeronautics. I suppose there’s always the possibility of obtaining a private pilot’s licence in the future, so hopefully, I’ll have the best of both worlds at one stage in life!
What do you like to do when not working?
Oh gosh, we might be here a while… Firstly, I’m a massive social bee and love catching up with old university friends, going on trips away and general socialising with different groups every night. I’m also a keen cyclist so spend a lot of time on two wheels and enjoy the beautiful countryside East Yorkshire offers. I’m also a massive petrol head, so I want fuel to be cheaper! I regularly attend a car meetup which occurs every Sunday just outside of Leeds – it’s always incredible to see the eclectic array of cars that turn up there. From Mk2 Ford Escorts and Metro 6R4’s to McLarens, Lamborghini’s, and Ferraris – it’s a mecca for petrol heads! I’m also very excited to be attending a few air shows in summer; it’s great to have these events back on after two years…
Who in our series would you like to be see interviewed?
I think it would be great to hear from Linda Barker and what she says about the leisure home/park industry. She has been an inspiration to many from an interior design perspective, and it would be amazing to read more about her incredible life and career.
To read our interview with Alex Melvin from Park Home and Living Magazine, click here