BUSINESS INSIDER
ONE TO WATCH
ASHTON HARGREAVES Showroom manager, Amos Lighting in Topsham What was your first ever paid job? I was 14 and got a job as an assistant to a wedding photographer. I carried bags, took photos, created preview and final wedding albums – it was all print, not digital. My boss was brilliant; he gave me the chance to actually take photos and gain experience, and he picked me up from the train station in his TVR – very cool! How did you find your way to Amos Lighting, and what is your role there? I worked for another lighting company and knew about Amos Lighting – I simply visited their website and there was a job opening, so I applied. My role was as a sales consultant, helping customers both with project design and retail purchases – but just a year later I was offered the chance to be showroom manager for the new Topsham branch and, of course, I jumped at it. Tell us a bit about the new showroom in Topsham... It’s in a great location, just opposite Darts Farm and near Sapphire Spaces. Visually it has an ‘urban’ contemporary look, with lots of texture and interest – and the product range will reflect this. We’re stocking an eclectic range of design-led lighting within a broad price range. I believe good design should not automatically mean expensive! We are also showcasing an exciting range of soft furnishings from Cattelan Italia and Content by Conran – very bold colours and design with some great price points. Who have been your biggest influences and role models throughout your career? To be honest, David Amos is my main inspiration. He started in the lighting business when he was very young, and I’m very young to be taking on such an important role in the company. My parents have also been great role models – they started their own specialist recruitment agency 17 years ago and made a success of it. What’s the best bit of career advice you’ve ever been given? Don’t stay in a job because you’re comfortable; push forward out of your comfort zone and see what happens. What do you enjoy most about your work? I really love interacting with customers, giving them ideas for lighting and seeing them leave the showroom with a smile on their faces. I enjoy designing lighting for homes, too. One big motivation for me is the fabulous team I work with at Amos. 80 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Ash Hargreaves: jive talkin’
What has been your greatest professional achievement to date? Before I moved to Amos Lighting I had been made redundant three times. So, this is my greatest professional achievement to date – I feel like I finally have a career! What are Exeter’s strengths as a place to work? It’s rapidly becoming ‘the place to be’, a mini-London if you like – there’s a real buzz in the business community. It’s a sought-after place to live and work and what’s perfect is the ease of access to the countryside and sea. Topsham is so easy to get to and a great location to work.
PUSH FORWARD OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS
And its weaknesses, or things that could be better? Traffic in Exeter can be a problem – although this is not such an issue in Topsham. What are your favourite stress-busting strategies? My husband and I dance! We love modern jive and West Coast swing, and we compete at international level. In July, we were placed second in the Indie Jive Championships, advanced category. What’s the one item in your workplace you can’t live without (not including computer or phone)? My notebook. It contains all sorts of information from design meetings, customer contact, daily tasks – and I also use it to sketch ideas in. What’s the best bit of advice you could give a young person wondering what to do with their life? Don’t be pushed into something you don’t want to do. You’ll make mistakes but they are learning curves. If you jump back up and strive to do well it will all work out. What’s your motto for life? There’s always a reason to be positive. For more: amoslighting.co.uk