Each month we ask a flooring industry professional 10 Questions. This month, we chatted to Marcus Bentley, Managing Director, Solus Ceramics.
Q1
paper round, I was a ‘bar-back’ in a very busy bar/restaurant called Jeffersons. I also worked in a sports shop and for a credit card company whilst I was studying. My first full- time role was at a stockbrokers in Birmingham.
Q2 Q3
How did you get into the flooring industry?
My father started Solus Ceramics in 1995, and I left stockbroking in 2003 to join the business.
What do you think are the positives and
negatives of the flooring trade? The positives are supplying tiles to very lucrative projects around the UK, and the rest of the world, and being able to see the tiles in situ when out and about and thinking, ‘we supplied those!’
The negatives are the attempts to change or value engineer specifications when a lot of hard work has been put into obtaining them.
Q4
If you could hire any one person to be part of your
team, who would it be and why? Richard Branson as he is probably one of the most successful British businessman ever, and it would be fascinating to get an opinion from him on our business.
Q5
What’s the best advice you could
give to someone new coming
into the industry? To learn your industry and product, work hard, be enthusiastic and have fun!
Q6
If you could invent any product what would it
be and why? A time machine. I would love to go back and see what things were like 50 years ago and get a glimpse of what is to come in 100 years time!
50 | 10 QUESTIONS
10 QUESTIONS WITH… Q7
What was your first job? Other than the customary
If you could have a dinner party with any
three people, dead or alive,
who would they be and why? My Nan. I would love her to see how far we have come; I’m sure she’s looking down.
President Obama. It would be fascinating to get an insight to the leader of the world’s most powerful nation.
Cristiano Ronaldo. I would love to find out what drove him to be the best, other than raw talent.
Q8
What do you think the future holds for
the flooring industry? I think the ceramic tile sector is growing and is forecast to grow in the coming years, so the future is bright. Tiles play a big part in construction projects, as well as being more accepted in people’s homes than they were, say, 30 years ago.
Q9
What would you like to see in a future issue of
Tomorrow’s Contract Floors? It would be great to see more trend-led pieces focusing on futuristic designs.
Q10
Leigh Price, MD, Real Stone and
Tile, asked: What is the most rewarding aspect of your job and why?
The most rewarding aspect is being part of a successful business; delivering high levels of growth, creating jobs and investing in the future.
It’s also great to visit the
iconic projects we supply tiles to around the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.
www.solusceramics.com
Check out next month’s issue to see what Marcus asked our next industry professional…
www.tomorrowscontractfloors.com
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