May 31, 2019

A Coffee With Paul...

Tell us about your role at Larsson & Jennings. What do you enjoy most about your job?

So I lead the marketing and e-comm function at Larsson & Jennings. In reality, what this means is that every day I try and think of ways to make our experiences better with our customers. This keeps the day job really varied and exciting, but also hands on. I really enjoy making it worth while for our customers. Sometimes we get it wrong - on these occasions i play down the corporate BS. One evening over Christmas I was talking to a customer and had the kids running around in front of me. I actually told the customer that rather than spending the evening playing with my children I was focused to helping them resolve their issue.

What does your typical week look like?

Well most days I’m tied to a nursery run so everything starts off hectics. Time keeps me focused, I run my clock precisely, or try to. ;) Mondays kick start the week, performance, data analytics. Marketing is much more of a science these days. I like to check up on customer feedback but importantly I check in with the team, weekend antics and all that, largely over a cup of coffee. The rest of the week is an enigma. We are a small team so we have the pleasure of really shaping what we do in the week and largely my job is to support the team. Tuesdays start with ‘How can I help?’ and so on for the rest of the week, but usually they never ask for it. :( So I’m left to my devices; much of which focuses on projects, site updates, product development type stuff. Usually my week is so varied, each day I forget to eat, which is such a shame when you work in the heart of covent garden. But hey, it keeps me trim.

What does travelling mean to you?

Wow, ok traveling means a lot to me. In as much as I’ve not been that fortunate to do a lot of it. Asides from a couple of long trips to the USA and Australia there are so many parts of the world I haven’t seen. Consequently, I can be a bit of a nightmare, because when I do get the chance to visit somewhere, I want to be sure I’ve seen everything. I’m not the beach and a book type, but I love to explore. I will always try to learn the language and love the local food. To my detriment I’ll spend more time trying to find hidden local gems rather than the tourist hotspots. Although these days, with one 2 and one 4 year old, they don’t like to walk far. Ultimately travel allows us to absorb and escape the everyday and it’s a pleasure to share it with the family.

Three words that best describe your personality?

Upbeat, visionary, obsessive.

Where would you go if you could time travel?

Weirdly, back to school. I’d love to do school all over again knowing what I do now. It’s not just an excuse to ace the grades but I think I was undersold the potential. I think life is tough when you grow up in such a modern and fast-paced society. Let’s slow it down and make well informed choices. School has the potential to not sell subjects but dreams and I think I missed that.

Best song(s) of all time?

Everlong - Foo Fighters

When doves cry - Prince

I’ve Got A Woman - Ray Charles

Teardrops - Massive Attack

Careless Whisper - George Michael

Life on Mars - Bowie

What would be the title of your biography?

And he did it my way…

The most inspiring place you’ve ever been to?

There is a small underground network of the most beautifully formed sandstone caves north west of the Grand Canyon called Antelope Canyon. I love the paternation and colour that has been formed over hundreds of centuries.