Jason Barrett
Sales & marketing manager, LG Hausys Europe
Did you get into trouble at school?
Yes! I was amodel, straight-A pupil until about 14 and then discovered girls.Notable offences were selling duty free cigarettes from my locker at lunchtimes and ‘inappropriate interpretation of the female form’ in art…
Whatwas your first part-time job?
I took two as soonaswas able, againat 14; at the weekend by day I was a grill chef and week nights a personal & family security consultant. (I sold burglar alarms ‘on the knocker’.)
What did you spend your first pay cheque on?
Rent and the train to seemy girlfriend.
What was your first full-time job?
Warehouse manduring the school holidays.
What was the best piece of advice you have been given?
There have been many which stick in the memory and they include; ‘Might be time to consider a vastectomy’,
‘White jeans WON’T ever comeback into fashion…really, throw the mout.’ But the best two are ‘Know when to shutup.’And definitely ‘Always retain another option.’
What was your worst business mistake?
Choosing the wrong business partner.
What was your greatest business achievement?
Turning over a million plus AT A PROFIT in the first year from scratch with the first business I opened for myself.
Do you have any pets?
We’ve recently been adopted by a cat who seems to have done likewise with many of our neighbours. We call him ‘SixDinnerSid’.
Do you have any hobbies?
Studying languages is a bit of a passion. I also started flying lessons a while ago, I’m still at the stage where starting and stopping are the biggest problems!
How do you relax?
With the kids – I have four, at the ages they are now most of the hard work is over and the humour is excellent!
What is your favourite tipple?
Jack Daniels & UmBongo, TiaMaria & Gavisconor a cool Guiness & Lilt over ice (no lemon– that’s just plain
wrong).
How many times a year do you take a holiday and what is your favourite destination?
Nowadays, two or three time a year, usually one long haul, one European short break and a week in the West Country. Favourite place visited was Senegal. Even though my girlfriend received a very sincerely death threat from a nine year old girl who she wouldn’t give her lipstickto…
What is your idea of heaven?
Clouds, sky, harps, wings, pearly gates, former Popes, lots of Saints.
What is your idea of hell?
Large underground, burny place with big red fell a holding a fork.
What car do your drive today and what does it say about you?
The Fiat 500 says that I’m extremely well endowed. The Bugatti Veyron says that I’ma liar.
If you could have invented any product what would it have been?
The disposable nappy.
What do you most like about the flooring industry?
The constant evolution in products, systems and techniques – it’sboth challenging and progressive.
What do you least like about the industry?
Two immortal phrases 1) ‘Well, you’re the expert…’ and ‘I’ve been doing it this way for 25 years, are you saying I’ve been doing it wrong?’ (Phrases you only hear when ‘It’s all gone a bit pears.’)
Name one change you would make to the industry. Complete unification of standards measures and test results so that everyone involved, from the client to the contractor can compare products on a direct basis.
Which company in the flooring industry, other than your own, do you admire?
F.Ball and Co – they always say nice things aboutus!
Where should we have a flooring show?
Copacabana Beach in the summer of 2014. Sun, sand, football and bikinis. (Not necessarily in that order.)
Which possession would you rescue if your house caught fire?
The carpets.The firebrigade will only ruin the mif you don’t.
Which one record and book would you take to a desert island?
‘Only the Lonely’by Roy Orbison and ‘Becoming El Presidente For Dummies’.
Whowould you like to be stuck in a liftwith?
A fully qualified but slow and methodical 20-something, female, blonde lift engineer.
If you could be anyone (living or dead, fictional or real) who would it be?
The Swedish ladies soccer coach.
Choose five words that describe yourself.
Dad, son, brother,uncle – lucky.
Any regrets?
Smoking that first cigarette.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
Sneezing in prayers during assembly at school when I was 8. The whole school turned its head to look at me as a big stringy snot hit the floor, unbroken from my nose and just hung there like one of Spiderman’s prouder moments.
Any unfulfilled ambitions?
Yes, for the moment until Catherine Zeta Jones returns my calls…
If you had to choose another career what would it be?
Football agent or investigative journalist (‘…unfortunately I forgot to make my excuses and leave at that point. Though suffice to say a good time was had by all….’)
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