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In Business With… Maria Magro How did you get into the kitchen design business?By accident really, I always wanted to go into Interior Design and my first job was in a kitchen showroom. I only intended to stay for a year but it wasn’t long into the job that I realised I’d found my forte. My parents have always run their own businesses. My Dad gave me the idea of having my own showroom. ‘Crazy man’ was my first thought! My partner Lee has got a very good business head on his shoulders and he is also an accountant, which helps a lot. I had his support from the moment I mentioned it to him. Describe a typical working day. There is no such thing. Today I measured up a kitchen first thing, checked off a delivery with my assistant Julie, had lunch (made in our working kitchen within the showroom), showed a customer the proposals I’d prepared for their kitchen. I saw a supplier to discuss new products, then met my fitters for a pre-fit survey. At 5pm I shut the shop and went to a BNI networking committee meeting in Bromsgrove. BNI has done wonders for me and my business; I’d highly recommend it to anyone. What do you like best about being in your own business? Kitchens of course, I love them! I bore my friends and family half to death talking about them but here I can talk about them all day. Being my own boss and being in control of every project is a dream for me, and that keeps my customers happy, and me. When my day is done and I pull away from the showroom I feel a great sense of achievement and pride, there aren’t many things in life that can beat that! What don’t you like about your business? There’s not much I don’t like really, but paperwork is a bit of a bore and paying bills! That is never nice. How do you manage the work-life balance? Not very well sometimes. The showroom is closed Sunday and Monday*, so this gives me time to spend with my other half and my family. Most Mondays I end up doing a bit of work from home, but I don’t mind, being relaxed in your pyjamas is much better! Which business people do you most admire? My parents – they have always worked very hard and have built a number of businesses up from scratch. No matter what was thrown at them they have always persevered. People think that if you have your own business that you must be loaded but it takes along time to get to that. My parents have gone without for many years to make sure my brother and I have had the best education. They have enabled us to follow our dreams and for that we are always thankful. I will do the same for my children….one day. Do you think it is easier for women to succeed in business nowadays? Yes. Although I do still get a shocked response when I say I’m the Managing Director, but then that might just be because of my age. Sometimes I do find it hard for men to take me seriously. I’ve had people ask me trick questions to test me. I try not to let it faze me. When I started there were very few women in the same job, but my customers often prefer dealing with a woman. Even though times are changing, generally women are still the main cooks in the house so when it comes to designing a kitchen I understand the workings a lot better than some. What is your advice for other people going into business? If you really believe in yourself then others will too. You just need to be 110 per cent sure that you are doing the right thing because it is a big risk. As long as you have the support of others and a contingency plan, just in case. |
