Jan Cavelle

In One Room at a time

In One Room at a time:

Am just busy practicing a speech on the economy (a cheerful little number you understand!) for the finale of the Bury St Edmunds Business Festival.  I refer to myself in that as feeling like Alice (as in Through the Looking Glass) with the rapidity of changes that have gone on in the world in some many ways -economically, technologically and so on.   This month, I have actually been feeling like Alice for many reasons.

As always, when we come back after a summer break, we are all buzzing with new ideas as to how to do things better at Jan Cavelle Furniture which is a constant mantra with us.  As a result, staff and I have been completely frantic, training programmes going on, last of next year’s designs being photographed, systems overhauls and so on.  We have loads of different systems to constantly monitor everything we do and we want every aspect to be better each month.  As a result, various members of my staff (especially the ones who work closest with me!) are at times looking completely lost as to where to start with their never ending list of bright new ideas and things to tackle.

I have been reminded of a favourite saying of one of my old business coaches which is “when you are in the room, be in the room”.   What this means in real terms, is whatever task you are attempting (having of course organized your priorities into a brief but brilliant plan), give that one task 100% without interruption or letting your mind wander for one minute.  It is truly a piece of invaluable advice.

I have a more challenging month in September than I have probably ever had.  Determined as always to in no way neglect my main business but I have added -generously would be putting it mildly! - to my diary with my work encouraging enterprise.  We launched a local project "Enterprising Acorns" to encourage our own local community last week.  I have also been teaching the new generation at the Eastern Enterprise Hub, whisking round talking to other entrepreneurs publically and privately about what we can do to fight back in this economy.  More than ever before, I am learning to stay in the room I am in.

Summer that Was

Ah well - all over and back to a very busy grindstone.  Another batch of new designs being photographed this week.  So excited - but sorry, 1^st January will be soonest you all will see them !  Some great pieces though. 

Feeling much more rested after a wild August heading to our shut down.  We were lucky enough to be flat out busy and had a truly incredible last week with most of the staff on ridiculous hours in order to meet everyone’s deadlines.  We did it though !  And now, a good week’s recuperation has been had not to mention all sorts of vital maintenance work.  

The Autumn looks like being a busy one too - sales office busier than ever quoting.  Fair number coming in but inevitably with the economic climes (or possibly just people being away in the summer?) a lot of work on hold waiting for a decision.  If it all comes in, that it going to be challenging to say the least, but then that’s the sort of challenges we like. 

Still juggling in plenty of promoting enterprise work in my free time.  Hugely exciting local project getting off the ground this month, not to mention all sorts of doings for both the UK Female Entrepreneurial Ambassador work and EE Hub Enterprise Campaign.  Doing some teaching at the latter with potential entrepreneurs of the future as they are running a new course for 16-18 year olds.   

I really believe that all of us have to get our heads round the fact that there is going to be no shining white knight in the form of any government nor an ease in the economic times in the immediate future and that the way forward for recovery is through business.  We need to promote new enterprise, to create needs from other businesses and above all to help people get the confidence back to believe in the future.

 

Just a little bit flat out..

In my previous blog, I mentioned the StartUp Britain Campaign, the momentum of which is growing by the day.  They are currently in the throes of organizing a bus tour round the major cities of the UK and I am really thrilled to find they are kicking off in East Anglia and have chosen Cambridge as the city.

I am working with them to promote the event on 22^nd. August which is a huge undertaking but one I know to be so worthwhile and am really excited about it

Haven’t forgotten of course that I have a furniture business to run and it has been all go on that front too.  We have been making and photographing the first wave of designs for next year’s lines and are all pretty thrilled about the way that is looking.  Just hard to keep under wraps for another six months!

We have spent the whole of 2011 improving every area we do and we have some incredible staff working with us.  We do surveys with you all the time to check how each area is performing and I am not surprised to see each and every area of the business receiving much higher scores and some absolutely wonderful customers - but it doesn’t mean I, and the great staff -don’t appreciate it.  Why is it, that we as a nation are quick to complain but rarely say nice things?  It truly lights up the day to hear it.

The sales office is incredibly busy with enquiries so we are definitely doing something right between us all.  At long last there seems to be a bit of give out there; even the commercial markets are busy again which is really good to see.  A lot of you from the commercial side are old customers back from when I very first started in business and it is always especially pleasing for me to hear of you placing orders and keeping with us over the years.  Love you all! 

Jan Cavelle

Jan is best known for the furniture company she started nearly 20 years ago, defying the odds to build a business that makes and sells furniture to a worldwide market from an inauspicious start on a shelf under the stairs at home.

However, in the last few years, Jan has become more and more involved in championing enterprise.

Starting around six years ago, she became one of the original Girls! Make Your Mark! Ambassadors for Enterprise, She believes passionately in spreading the word on enterprise so that more people believe they have the potential to become entrepreneurs.  She also works as a business mentor, encouraging start up and small businesses. 

The UK government is calling this the ‘Decade of the Entrepreneur’.   Like many, Jan believes that Entrepreneurs are one of the most major components in leading the country out of recession and towards economic recovery.

Jan is currently one of the 50 dynamic enterprising women from all parts of the UK to make up the UK Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors (UKFEA).   UKFEA was established by the EU and is part of the European Network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors, comprising of 22 European countries which provide a high level network of 250 role models to share the message of female entrepreneurship across Europe. 

Jan is also part of the Start Up Britain Campaign, a new British campaign by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, launched on 28th March 2011.  

Designed to celebrate, inspire and accelerate enterprise in the UK, it has the full backing of the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and HM Government.  This is a response from the private sector to the Government’s call for an ‘enterprise-led’ recovery.

David Cameron says  "We need to see a country where new businesses are starting up on every street, in every town; where entrepreneurs are everywhere. We put out a call to business to rise up and help us drive the recovery and Start Up Britain is part of the answer to that call”.

On a local level, Jan is also involved with Enterprising Acorns. 

      

Future is Enterprising.......

Find myself writing Just back as intro yet again, but this time is back from rarity of delicious holiday on French island of Noirmoutier – absolutely gorgeous and a perfect away from it all break. 

As with all of us busy people though, seems I have hardly been away as pick up work where left off just over a week (and another lifetime!!) ago.  In the day job, it has been a month packed with training my relatively new sales team who are coming on a great pace and settling in my new PA and Marketing guy who is already making me wonder how on earth I ever managed without him.

A large focus to June though has been on enterprise activity.  Many of you will know that I have been doing lots of bits and pieces to encourage enterprise for many years now but highly excited when in June I was selected on a the new EU initiative to link women throughout Europe so I have been dashing around to radio stations various talking about this favourite topic of mine!

Was also kindly invited to the catch up meeting at Start Up Britain’s headquarters in June.  This fantastic scheme is really taking hold and it was great to hear from some people who had already benefited from it during the evening.  Start Up is the brain child of some of the most incredible and dynamic entrepreneurs in Britain today so it is hardly surprising that it is already a rolling stone – one incidentally that has gathered me in as well along the way as I am now very proud to be part of the Start Up Britain Campaign.

More news of these and a couple of other schemes to follow over coming months but listening to these amazing people giving their time and devotion and innovativeness towards Britain, I couldn’t help but be excited about the future – and pretty proud to be British too.

 

The Future is... brighter

Just back from amazing Entrepreneur Summit in London.  Had lovely dinner with old friend on the first evening ;  never quite work out the charm of eating outside in a pub garden in London, but given a sunny evening, it ranks high on my favourite pastimes.   Stayed at my first eco hotel which I was very impressed with on the whole – tho definitely a bit challenging to put make up on in dimmer lighting! not to mention nice evening catching up with old friends and reminiscing about very old times.  Another glorious experience is walking along the Thames as I did the next morning, on a clear, sunny day.  Went for miles along the River Walk, just mesmerized by the sunshine and the water and arrived at the venue slightly overheated and with feet already sore which was a slight error.

 

However, all quickly forgotten listening to the incredible stories and brilliant advice from many of Britain’s top entrepreneurs.  Also watched Luke Jobson (ex chairman of Channel 4 and still Chairman of Risk Capital Partners, to name but 2 of a mind blowing CV) savage Vince Cable over his rash claim that some 90% of Angel Investment comes from Scotland.  Got a quick laugh from the audience but ouch – what were Mr. Cable’s researchers thinking of?

 

John Cridland of the CBI was exploring levels of confidence within SME’s and on a poll taken, it was a near run thing that the audience felt we were on a road to better things this year – just.  Yet, he records that about 6 out of 7 firms of this size that he visits say that they are doing extremely well and are amazed by it.  Other delegates told me the same thing.

 

Over the last few months, I have sensed and recorded a definite upswing in the markets, a vast increase of activity in the sales office in general and most interestingly an upswing in the commercial parts of the markets we service.  I am definitely in the optimistic category.  I may not be counting on a new boom, but I think those of us who have survived so far through this recession are adaptable beasts with a brighter future to come.

Seeds of change

Only a month ago, I was writing about a video idea and pink fluffy blossom, now video is up on web site and whole country has been basking in what feels suspiciously like summer.    At home,  I am getting sadly excited by the incredible quantity of my vegetables and flowers that are actually growing from seed this year, while at work too,  the seeds of change that have been carefully nurtured during this last winter are now also starting to germinate.

April is our staff appraisal month and it has been great to hear so much positive feedback from so many of the staff here.    We are really starting to get back to the way we used to be, working as a whole team, everyone of whom cares about their job, the customers, the product and each other.  That is a proper family company in my book.

In the feedback comments, a huge number of staff are now keen to learn, keen to progress their skills and knowledge.  This is something we have long worked on inspiring and with that now happening there will be no stopping us. 

Getting busier as all our hard work on sales and marketing – not to mention constant improvements to quality and service – pay off, we have been able to open up some new positions and it is one of the greatest pleasures always to have a new intake of staff to our training programmes, who are really excited to be here and each and every one brings some special skill but above all has that enthusiasm.

Everyone is thrilled with the results of the video courtesy of incredible hard work and patience by the Virtual Studio TV team, and the effect of our new branding campaign as a whole is already taking hold in just one short week.  I was incredibly thrilled to have an applicant for a job say to me on the phone this week  say to me that they had looked on our web site and had never known we did “individual” furniture.  The strap line is working – everyone is getting the idea.  It is indeed individual furniture made by individual people for very individual customers.

Pink and fluffy blossom but Crystal Clear Thinking

As always, the first appearance of fluffy pink and white blossom everywhere fills me with optimism.  The winter is passing, the light is changing, and visions of honey for tea in the Grantchester Orchard, punting down the Cam, pub gardens and other simple joys of British life will soon be possible again...but I am also very excited by some of what we have been up to recently as well.

At Jan Cavelle, thinking has been very spring like – plenty of sweeping out the old and in with the new.  There is a big branding exercise going on which will hopefully benefit not just us but our customers as well.  We have always been a customer led company and we really want to get back to showing that to the world.

When we talked to customers and other stakeholders, the same concept kept on coming up again and again, and that applied to us as a company, our staff, our furniture – and that was that each are one-offs, unique, individual.   When we thought about it more, we realised that this is how we think of our customers.  Everyone of you is different and so it follows that each one likes different mixes of the things we offer, be it different in the type of furniture, or different in how or where they want it delivered and just how quickly, help with design, help with budgets – whatever it is, we work on tailoring not just our furniture but our service.   It is this that makes us stand out from the crowd.

This branding clarification (truly cannot call it a re-brand as principles haven’t changed!)  is going to be launched by a new video we are in the process of making courtesy of Virtual Studio TV- a group of very clever people in Cambridge who are busy revolutionizing the corporate video..  In the next few weeks both we are going to be revealing a guided tour of this place is action, showing some of our very special staff at work all contributing to make the Jan Cavelle Furniture Experience for our every one of our individual customers.

Colin Firth reminds us all of what is good about Britain..

This morning, the news headlines are awash with the excitement of The Kings Speech having swept to victory at the Oscars after success at the BAFTA’s earlier in the year.

Everyone has been charmed by this success story – much as they were by the film.  Firstly, it was a low budget movie and success on a shoe string always goes down well, much as the crowds go wild for the lesser ranked players at Wimbledon.  Secondly there is the story line- not a huge glamour picture, not a block buster, but an unmistakably British story of low key, unheralded success over adversity with the added twist of the players being eccentric and unexpected winners (that’s still the content of the film, not its overall public success).   Once again, we British still have a soft spot for the eccentric underdog and applaud the heroes who avoid publicizing their successes.

Above all, however, there is Colin Firth himself.  Now granted for all us females, the visions of Colin emerging from the lake as Mr Darcy may well have had a great deal to do with attracting our attention in the first place.  However, he proved the irrelevance of that when donning the infamous reindeer jumper in Bridget Jones.  In front of our eyes, he has grown up, from a charming young actor, into a statesman both on and off the screen.  His high levels of charm and low key diffidence have both enchanted us and made us proud.

Colin Firth is terribly, terribly British through and through.  And one of the things he has that makes us all want to rush to his support may be old fashioned but it is simply a dose of charm mixed with extremely good manners.  In this day and age, aggression and rudeness seems to fly off everyone in the street and certainly half one’s customers.   We were holding a brain storming last week on our definition of a VIP customer and volume of turnover was not the sole primary factor – the ones who are a regular pleasure and joy to work with are all our favourites instead and indeed the ones we will break our backs for.  Not so very strange yet why do so many people forget it these days?

We will battle on the shop floor, we will battle in the offices..

Further to last month’s blog, remain singularly unimpressed by what devastation a combination of the coalition, the banks and more scaremongering, headline seeking press are reaping all over British Industry.  

I fully understand how scary it is for everyone and do best to support staff where possible with everyone’s future financially a bit precarious.  None of that is helped by the endless doom and gloom articles.  Somehow, business owners and managers have to keep a balanced message (considerably more balanced than the government press offices are putting out!).  We have to get staff on side, to understand that realistically cuts can be necessary, economies have to be made and these are not the days of plenty.  On the other hand, we have to keep morale and output high, the two inevitably running side by side.

We are tackling this here at Jan Cavelle by continually concentrating on long term investment of the company.   Way back, in the Autumn of 2008, I went to a brilliant seminar of entrepreneurs down in London who were taking an overall view that there were positives to be had from the recession.   I could see it was true in our case.  We had expanded so fast during this decade that anything much other than getting furniture out the door had gone out the window.

So, we have been having a constructive couple of years and never more so that now.  Currently, and following on from a total system overhaul, Steve and Mark and I are finishing putting together skills assessments and training programmes and expanding everyone’s proficiency, finding hidden skilfulness in different people outside their normal comfort zones.  A few years ago, it would have been unthinkable to get people to help in different departments.  While I wouldn’t say it was a Blitz spirit, now it is a regular occurrence for all departments to help each other out and a hugely improved team spirit prevails throughout.

With staff with the right attitude, encouraged by the right skill sets and further training, and all of us fighting on the same side, we can create a great future for the company.