Hi Justin, good to speak with you. I started in the industry in 2003, so 19 years this year. I’d been made redundant for the first time in my life and was applying for loads of sales jobs. I had a young family with kids at primary school, and it was a stressful time. I got offered three jobs in one week! One selling garden ornaments (gnomes etc.!), one selling educational furniture & lastly offered one with Cosalt Holiday Homes selling caravan & lodges in Scotland.
Peter Nevitt, the then MD of Cosalt, is an industry legend & I’ve great respect for him. He offered me the job & the opportunity to enter the industry I’ve been in ever since. *More importantly, Peter knew I’d been out of work for three months & although he wasn’t really looking to start me until January, he started me in December so I could earn a wage before Xmas!
I like to be able to bring new customers on board & getting them to buy into & experience what Atlas has to offer. It’s an exciting growth period for the company & doing new business still gives me a buzz.
There are still many challenges for manufacturers to work through with their supply chains going forward, but things are improving. The demand for holidaying & the staycation market is still strong. Plus the airline industry has a long way to go to get back to “normal”, with staff shortages, delays & cancellations for many. So why wouldn’t you want to holiday in the great resorts & locations we have in the UK? I see our order books remaining strong for a wee while yet!!
I would be selling something, I’m sure! I’ve been in sales for 38 years this year & I’ve worked in a variety of sectors. I’ve sold office stationery supplies, photocopiers, paper, paint, street furniture & golf driving range equipment. But I started work as a 17-year-old as a Trainee Sheriff Officer! Now that’s an eye-opener of a job and served me well in getting into Sales!
I like to escape in my VW Campervan “Vernon” on weekends when possible. I love watching sport & also still get on the squash court, I’ve played for over 40 years, although I play the easier game of racketball now. But a lot of time for my wife and I now is helping with my granddaughter Amelie! And we have another 2 grandkids on the way by the end of October, so we’re going to be busy!
I would say be yourself, get to know your customers & your competitors, you’ll learn loads from all of them! Peter Nevitt told me back in 2003, “you need to get settled in an industry, Ray, the first year will be tough, but if you survive it, you’ll be in it for a long time” – nearly 20 years on, I still am.
I’ve been lucky enough to work across both the leisure & residential markets within our sector & also worked for volume & bespoke manufacturers. There are crossovers and differences between the sectors, but I’ve always enjoyed working with clients new to the market who are keen to seek your advice and help in developing their business. Seeing them succeed is very rewarding.
It would be very difficult to narrow that down to one Justin as there are some brilliant people within the industry, as you know; why don’t we have a discreet conversation on that one & then I’ve no chance of embarrassing myself!
To read the Rhodri Taylor, chartered tax advisor from Zeal, interview click here.