10 QUESTIONS WITH...


10 QUESTIONS WITH… VIVIEN EDEN


Each issue we ask an industry professional the Tomorrow’s Tile & Stone 10 Questions. This month, we chatted to Vivien Eden, Director from Haggleflör.


Q1


WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?


A branch of The Disney Store opened up in Croydon, my local town, so me and a few friends decided to get jobs there. I’ll never forget being a teenager and standing outside having to welcome customers into the store. It was so embarrassing, especially when people from school came in!


Q2 Q3 Q4


HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE TILE/


STONE INDUSTRY? I have a background in marketing which was my way into flooring, as one of my clients was a flooring retailer. In assisting them with their marketing for several years, I learned a lot about the tile, stone and other flooring products they sold.


WHO, IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY, DO YOU


MOST ADMIRE? Anyone who’s worked frontline with the public over the last few months: postmen, retail assistants, couriers, NHS workers... What we have asked of them over the pandemic has been enormous and they have proved to be the backbone of the country. Well done everyone.


IF MONEY WAS NO OBJECT, WHAT CAR


WOULD YOU BUY? I’m too practical to want anything very fancy, it might not fit on my drive! I used to have a Honda S2000 and I really loved that car. It warranted very high revving to get the power out of the engine, so I felt like a real boy racer when I was at traffic lights.


Q5


IF YOU COULD INVENT ONE PRODUCT TO


MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER,


WHAT WOULD IT BE? Well our business, Haggleflör, is a pretty cool invention itself but there are always ways to improve the experience for the people that use us by little technical enhancements to make their experience even slicker. Technology is always moving on after all.


— 34 — Q9


IF YOU COULD VISIT ANY PLACE IN THE


WORLD, WHERE WOULD YOU


GO AND WHY? Many years ago I did a bit of backpacking, but I never managed to go to South America. I saw Michael Palin visit Chile once on his Pacific Ring travel show and it looked breath-taking with its amazing coastline and mountains so I could quite fancy that.


Q6 Q7


WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU


WERE GROWING UP? I remember my teacher asking me that at school and me replying that I wanted to be a concert pianist. I have no idea why as my piano skills are definitely for my family’s ears only.


WHAT DO YOU DO TO UNWIND?


I’m a bit of a nerd and love reading and writing. I’m currently writing a story for a Christmas collection that my writing group are hoping to publish next year. I also love physical activities that really absorb my attention and make me forget about everything else that’s going on, like open water swimming.


Q8


IF YOU COULD HOST A DINNER PARTY WITH


ANY THREE GUESTS, DEAD OR ALIVE WHO WOULD THEY


BE AND WHY? Stephen Fry would be good for entertaining us with his all-round brilliance. Princess Margaret was quite a character and I’d like to hear some of her stories. My Grandad died when I was seven and I would have liked to have had more chats with him - so I think he could have a good time with Stephen, Margaret and me.


Q10


LEIGH PRICE, MD OF REAL STONE


& TILE IN CHESHIRE, ASKED: HAVE YOU GOT ANY TIPS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS COMING


OUT OF LOCKDOWN? There is a chance that we may need to shut ourselves down again in the future, so I think the key is to be prepared and take learnings from last time. Make hay while the sun shines but make sure that your processes and systems are ready should the worst happen again. If it’s appropriate, consider investing more in your online proposition as the online world has absolutely thrived during lockdown. Some of us, who never would have touched it before, are now completely converted to the convenience it offers. Online is here to stay.


www.haggleflor.com www.tomorrowstileandstone.co.uk


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