Do you think an entrepreneur is the product of nature or nurture?
“I think it definitely has to be in your blood, but you can always learn more skills to develop. Essentially it’s about taking risk and having to feel comfortable with that.”
What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken?
“Opening up for tendor. We literally tripled in size over night. I used to go to Coventry Polytechnic and would often go to Birmingham for a night out or shopping so I still feel really proud looking at the Rotunda and knowing that’s ours.”
What’s made Staying Cool so different?
“I think integrity underpins everything we do and we treat people in the way we’d like to be treated ourselves.
“Repeat business is so important and I can probably count on one hand the people who have said they wouldn’t come back again. We like to under- promise and over-deliver.”
Have you found the balance between work and your personal life?
“We’re now entering into year five of trading and in the early days, I’d be answering guest enquiries and taking calls late at night and at times my family including two daughters (now aged 10 and 7) found it frustrating.
“However, as we’ve grown as a company I’ve been able to put the right staff in place. If you asked my friends and family though they’d say I was a workaholic and never off duty!”
What’s next for Staying Cool?
“We’re first of all growing in Birmingham and then rolling the model out in other cities.”
Which city would you like to take the Staying Cool brand to?
“In the UK, it would definitely be London. I actually live in London now and I still think there is a niche in the serviced apartment market - no-one does quite what we do, and with the Olympics coming along I think it is a very exciting time to try something in London. And then abroad, it would have to be New York!”
After interviewing Tracey, I made my way into the trendy kitchen, found a fridge full of free oranges and set about using the juicer. I sat down on the stylish sofa, sipped my freshly made juice, looked out onto the city and felt truly calm and cool.
Staying Cool: 0121 643 0815
www.stayingcool.com
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