• MONDAY

Always a busy day as we hold a sales meeting to discuss the week ahead in terms of targets, to review the week we’ve had and the number of sales enquiries we’ve taken over the weekend.

While the week ahead is key I’m also constantly looking towards the months ahead and pinpointing sales opportunities which I believe can help drive the business forward.

We have a network of exclusive stockists and of franchise-holders as well as our own sales team so it’s important to keep everyone informed about new product developments and trends. We’re constantly developing our range to ensure we’re at the forefront of the industry.

Our business is very much a family-run affair. My mother who founded it with my late father still takes a keen interest on progress and attends board meetings. My brother Scott is the finance director and my wife Alexa runs the manufacturing side which is adjacent to the offices.

The hardest thing about being in a family business is being able to switch off when we’re at home. It’s important to do so otherwise work dominates every aspect of your life.

We live about an hour’s drive away from the company’s HQ so that gives us all time to clear our heads and think about spending quality time with the family when we’re off-duty.

• TUESDAY

My car becomes the office as I head out from Livingston to visit some of the retailers we work with throughout the country.

Our franchise network is increasing – we’re opening new franchises in Glasgow, Ayr, Ballymena and Middlesbrough – and it’s so important to ensure the new teams are trained and up to speed on our ranges.

When a new retailer comes on board there’s a lot to learn – we’ve 13 product books alone – but by undergoing training the new member of our team will see the potential sales’ benefits very quickly.

Calls come in from Alexa who’s keen to let me know about new fabrics that have arrived. We source our products all over the world and that means some overseas travel for us to meet suppliers and negotiate deals.

I also take a call from our PR man who’s negotiating with some of the UK’s leading magazines for promotional activity which ensures our brand profile is kept as high as possible. He needs the green light on some text we’ve been discussing.

My retailer visits are all in Scotland – and within reasonable travelling distance so it means I’m able to complete the visits in a day.

• WEDNESDAY

We’ve invested in signing up TV designers Justin and Colin as our brand ambassadors and we’ve used their images heavily in marketing material and our advertisements.

We’ve got giant life size models of the design duo in our offices – a reminder of the focus we’ve placed on this marketing initiative.

We’re meeting today with the media buyers and our creative team to discuss new ads and how best to use the marketing budget in terms of hitting specific geographical areas.

The meeting is a long one. We’ve managed to determine a new strategy for advertising which we’re confident will help support all our retailers.

I also meet with one of our new, enthusiastic franchise holders who has decided to invest in more Justin and Colin marketing material for his business. He’s already got a liveried van and his shop windows are perfect for promoting the boys’ exclusive ranges and for some of the vibrant artwork we can offer. It’s a good meeting and everyone’s happy with the outcome.

Justin and Colin visit the company HQ to meet up with the staff as we felt it was very important for the team here to actually be face-to- face with our brand personalities. The boys tour the factory and ask lots of questions and keep Alexa on her toes the whole time. It’s a great day with lots of laughs and cameras are clicking right, left and centre.

• THURSDAY

Our brush with celebrity over, email duties kick off the morning.

There are so many buzzing around the system. It’s a great way to communicate but I’m also of the opinion that a phone call can work just as well.

Scott and I have a crunch meeting about a new retail unit we’re proposing for Livingston. Having the manufacturing plant here makes it easy to set up a shop nearby. We’re having discussions about the timescale of when we’re likely to be able to start the fit-out. As you’d expect we’re pushing for sooner – we’re worried they’re thinking later.

We see the completed shop as providing us with a showcase of what’s best practice for new retailers coming onboard.
The meeting eventually works in our favour and we’re confident the developers will come in on target. But then there’s always the weather!

• FRIDAY

I have a long phone call with our designer who’s responsible for all our range books and internal communications. We’re launching a newsletter for our retailers – again to keep them informed and to keep the communication flow going.

Justin and Colin have put together a message for the retailers – calling them to action in their own inimitable style.
We’re also launching a new sales incentive programme and I need to dot the I’s and cross the T’s on the wording before the newsletter can be completed.

Scott and I do our regular website review – what needs changing, updated, improved etc. Our website is often the first port of call for enquiries and we’ve invested heavily in e-commerce. Customers can download a catalogue which has been devised to underline the strength of the range, the quality and how easy it is to buy the products.

Close of business approaches and I sign off a batch of correspondence that’s due out at the start of the following week.

Then it’s hometime – and a weekend of relaxation with the family.