Joe Tyrrell – commercial director of Tyrrell Flooring
What was your first part-time job?
Sweeping up. My dad used to take me in during school holidays. I’d sweep, tidy up, bag all the rubbish. That was it, my first proper job.
What was your first full-time job?
I worked as an administrator with my aunt in the City, doing sales ledger work, raising invoices, reconciling, allocating payments. I did that for a short while before joining Tyrell full-time.
If you could be anyone, living, dead, real, or fictional, who would it be?
Carl Cox, the DJ. I admire his legendary status, his knowledge of music, and the lifestyle he lives. He’s a long-term respected DJ, someone I look up to massively.
If your house was on fire, which single possession would you rescue?
My record collection.
What’s your favourite drink?
It depends. I love a strong cup of tea. In the pub, I like a Guinness or Murphy’s. With dinner, a glass of Malbec. And out and about, a rum
and coke.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Measure twice, cut once. That’s a flooring one, but the best personal advice I’ve ever been given, and I pass it on to my kids as well, is always be kind to people. You never know what battles someone is fighting.
Who would you most like to be stuck in a lift with?
Quincy Jones. I’d be fascinated by his stories and experiences.
Do you have any pets?
No, not yet. I’d like a dog, but I’m torn between the love you get from a dog and the mess they make. Maybe in the future.
Five words to describe yourself?
Honest, reliable, vibrant, warm, tired.
Did you ever get into trouble at school and if so, why?
I did, but nothing major. I was quite disruptive, I think. I just struggled with the confinement of a classroom. I was never particularly naughty, I just couldn’t sit still. I was the kind of child always tapping, drumming on desks, shouting out silly stuff.
Any regrets?
Many. A life without regret is a life not lived. If you’ve never felt regret, maybe you haven’t taken enough risks or cared about your choices.
What are your hobbies?
I’m an avid record collector and I love to DJ. When I was younger, I DJed on pirate radio and at raves. Professional life took over for a while, but I’ve recently reignited that passion. I’m learning to write music, I’ve got a YouTube channel where I broadcast mixed shows, and I still do guest appearances on radio stations and small events in London.
What’s been your greatest achievement?
Obviously my two kids, but in business, it’s building a fantastic team organically to where we are today with Chris Knight and Clive Tyrrell, sustaining our reputation for quality, and winning two CFJ awards. That’s been incredible.
How often do you take holidays and what’s your favourite destination?
Once or twice a year. We’ve started camping in the Cotswolds with friends, which we love. We enjoy city breaks too, recently Barcelona, then Dubai for family reasons, and we love France. Florida’s great, but we’re not heading to America at the moment.
Which record and book would you take to a desert island?
For a record, Goldie’s Timeless LP: it’s the one I’ve listened to most. For a book, I’d pick All Cruise by Brian Belfortune, about the London underground and rave scene in the ‘90s. I find that era fascinating.
What car do you drive today and what does it say about you?
I’ve got a BMW X4. I love the excitement of driving it, it’s high performance, but I also enjoy its reliability, efficiency and build quality. It’s a good family car, and I feel very fortunate to have one.
What’s the worst mistake you’ve ever made?
Wearing bootcut jeans. No, seriously, I’d say not applying self-care earlier in life. I’ve been fortunate not to make any major professional mistakes.
If you could have invented any product in the world, what would it have been?
Definitely the record player or the vinyl record. I’ve got hundreds of records, and I’m fascinated by how it works. It baffles me that anyone came up with the idea.
How do you relax?
Listening to music, either lying on the sofa in the dark or walking through central London with headphones on. I also enjoy swimming, walking and sitting in front of a film with my two girls and a big bag of sweets, watching something like Toy Story or Shrek.
Any unfulfilled ambitions?
I’d love to write and release my own music and be recognised as an artist or DJ. Living the dream as a DJ is still an ambition, even if my career takes priority.
