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AND FINALLY
What’s having the greatest impact on
your business at the moment?
Uncertainty over exchange rates and the
European economy. Issues like the General
Election and the European Referendum affect
confidence and the exchange rate. Now the
economy is near to full recovery, we need
stability and steady growth.
Where do you see the next big
opportunity?
Software solutions for workflow and
document management are a terrific
opportunity for our dealers to add value to
sales through expertise and consultancy.
Fortunately, Develop has some excellent
solutions specifically designed for the SME
sector so they are simple to implement and
use, while also being very cost effective.
What would make your day job easier?
Being able to clone myself so I can be in two
places at once! Seriously, I have a very good
team that makes my working life as smooth
as possible. But if you are successful, there
are never enough hours in the day to do
everything and maintain a good work-life
balance.
What’s the best bit of business advice
you’ve been given?
Very early in my career someone confided
“It’s not sold until it’s paid for”. It’s a
statement I have always remembered.
If you had had a crystal ball, would you
have done anything differently?
No. If I had written a script I could not have
done it any better. The opportunity for the UK
distributorship of Develop MFDs came along
at exactly the right time in my life, when
I had sufficient business experience and
contacts to make a success of the venture.
Describe your most embarrassing
moment.
In the early days of laser fax devices I was
demonstrating a machine in a very expensive
new showroom and showing off how easy
the toners were to change. Cue explosion of
toner all over the showroom, myself and the
customer. Needless to say I found the toner
vac very quickly!
What was your first job?
Paperboy delivering the Pink Final on Saturday
evenings as a 12 year-old.
What would be your dream job?
It might sound cheesy but I already have it!
Money’s not an issue, what’s your perfect car
… and where would you like to drive it?
I don’t think there is a ‘perfect’ car but I would love to
drive a Lamborghini over the Stelvio Pass in the Alps.
Fine dining and good wine, or curry and a pint?
At home always curry and a pint, but I do enjoy dining
at a great restaurant with customers in London.
Favourite holiday destination.
There’s nowhere more relaxing than the Lake District.
How do you like to spend your spare time?
Life is busy, but my spare time is spent with my family.
Jonathan Whitworth, Managing Director, DSales UK
60 seconds with…
The pier near Keswick on Derwent Water in the Lake District, England.
Photo by David Iliff
