01732 759725
AND FINALLY
Stephen Armistead,
Managing Director, Trade Copiers
60 seconds with…
What’s currently having the
greatest impact on your
business?
Trade Copiers is all about
change, for the moment. Being
exports led, we’ve seen strong
growth which has driven us to
relocate to a new, bigger site
a half mile up the road. As we
open up new markets, we’ve
been busy recruiting too.
Where do you see the next
big opportunity?
Exports for sure. We’ve always
made international sales our
priority, particularly China and
Asia, but the weaker pound is
making UK-sourced product
more competitive and demand
is growing.
What would make your day
job easier?
Worldwide application of
GMT … I spend too much
time changing my watch and
working out where I am and
what time it is!
What’s the best bit of
business advice you’ve
been given?
God gave you two eyes, two
ears and just one mouth …
use them in proportion! We try
hard to listen to our suppliers
and customers and that way
understand their needs better.
If you had had a crystal
ball, would you have done
anything differently?
Learnt languages! At school,
all I wanted to do was get out
to work … I never dreamt then
that I would be spending so
much time working in other
countries, with other cultures.
Describe your most
embarrassing moment.
As a keen, young photocopier
salesman, I called on a funeral
directors with a shiny new
model to demo … tripped as I
entered the office and dropped
the lot. Fortunately the funeral
director had a sense of humour
– suggested I was a bit young
to be one of his customers!
50
What was your first job?
Butcher … loved the customer contact, though it ruled out
vegetarian girlfriends!
What would be your dream job?
Reggae bar in the Caribbean.
Money’s not an issue, what’s your perfect car … and
where would you like to drive it?
I love my cars … but I’d probably go for a top Scania and an
HGV Class 1 so I could deliver some of my own consignments.
Would have to be the USA or Australia though; not too keen on
taking corners in one of those units!
Fine dining and good wine, or curry and a pint?
With so much international travel, I would enjoy either and a
whole range of cuisines in between. I drew the line in China,
though, when offered sparrow and asked if I preferred it with or
without the beak!
Favourite holiday destination.
Maldives. Absolute paradise AND good Wi-Fi!.
How do you like to spend your spare time?
Will let you know when I get some! Hopefully, I’ll be sat
on my lawn mower, enjoying our Lake District location;
the grass always grows here!!
