This week, we’re answering 13 big (and fun) questions – all asked by YOU! From memorable Gang Show moments to when to grow your business, the skills every employee will need in the next five years, and even how a CEO winds down for sleep – there’s something for everyone. Got a different question? Leave it in the review section and we will make sure we answer it!

00:00 Intro 

01:30 What can you see yourself doing if you hadn't of gone into the family business?

02:43 When is the right time to grow your business? And Is growing your business through openings more shops the most effective strategy?

06:08 You are a Brighton football fan - Do you prefer to be a coach on the sidelines or a captain on the pitch?

08:05 What skills will be most valuable for employees in the next five years?

09:10 What is Steves favourite ever Gang Show moment? 

If he could perform one sketch/musical number at Gang Show and then go and perform it in the West End what would it be?

12:25 What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a business today?

13:51 What advice would you give someone aiming for a leadership role?

15:15 How do you know when to take a risk versus play it safe?

17:52 What are things we can do instore at Sussex beds to get our name out there?

19:20 If Sussex Beds had a time machine, which year would you visit and why?

20:50 What is something you do to try and help you get to sleep when you can’t?

23:35 Outro

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From launching a print business to starting a football agency and raising a large family, Ben Barrett has built a life where passion fuels everything he does. In this episode, he chats with Steve about how he turned bold ideas into successful ventures, why values matter in business, and how he learned to balance ambition with family life.

00:00 Intro

01:38 A bit about Ben & how he got into print

06:30 Having similar values to your suppliers is key 

10:12 The importance of making customers super fans

12:19 Why Ben took the leap to start his own business

18:00 The factor agreement & how he turned it all around

22:45 Bens son playing football & Why he founded a Football Agency

26:48 Bens first scout & how the agency grew

32:05 Football is a cut throat industry 

33:10 Ben & his ‘home alone’ style family

35:35 How he splits his time between business & family

42:30 What Ben loves about business & his hardest moments

57:43 Quickfire Questions 

1:02:40 Outro

Leave a question for Steve here - https://forms.gle/PEcCM14CDe57tqCd8

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We are back for another episode, and this week we are joined again by Grace. Listen as she talks with Steve about why display is vital in retail and how consumer buyer behaviour affects where we place our beds! Plus, find out how printing in-house has been a game-changer for our display!

00:00 Intro

01:35 Why Steve love’s merchandise 

03:20 Graces favourite parts of display & the theory behind it

07:55 Store layouts - why they are all different 

10:57 How we educate customers through display

13:30 Why good display & the right product has a big impact on sales 

15:25 How Grace decides what to put on our windows

16:37 Merch is also all about the senses

18:10 In-house print, how we use it & the advantages

22:29 Quickfire Questions 

27:35 Tip of the week

28:49 Steve’s Bed Knob Award

31:05 Outro

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In this episode of An Unorthodox CEO, Steve and Lee chat about how their friendship began, why Lee started at Sussex Beds and the highs and lows of being a Regional Manager! Plus, find out what life being a chef is like and which one they’d ditch — whiskey or wine… (it was a tough choice)

00:00 Intro

02:27 A little bit about Lee, Chef, Pub Manager & Morrisons

08:42 Why Lee joined Sussex Beds

10:50 Taking his career change in his stride

13:45 How Steve & Lee became friends

16:10 Steve’s chat & working together

17:50 Lee working his way up the business

19:22 Balancing team & business

23:38 Why leading & nurturing people is so much more rewarding 

26:25 What Lee loves about this job

28:05 Best thing about being a friend in the business 

31:30 Quickfire Questions

38:00 Tip of the week

39:45 Outro

You can listen to Fun House here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nVTcVgLUQU

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In this episode, we sit down with Sarah, our People Manager! Listen as Steve & Sarah chat about how their HR, recruitment and processes have changed over the last 6 years! Plus, Sarah shares why she believes HR belongs directly under the CEO, what the real purpose of HR is in a growing business, and why everyone who applies gets an interview. 

00:00 Intro 

01:57 A little bit about Sarah

04:45 Why Sarah joined Sussex Beds

07:10 How she ended up in HR at Sussex Beds

09:30 How her apprenticeship helped shape the HR recruitment process

12:23 The purpose of HR 

14:35 Why HR fits under the CEO

15:55 The reason why everyone gets an interview

21:10 The main thing we look for in an interview

25:32 What’s next for our HR & onboarding days

27:10 Hardest part of recruitment 

28:18 Change the words in your job ads 

29:30 The biggest challenge as a HR/ People Manager 

31:10 Quickfire Questions

36:45 Tip of the week

38:00 Outro

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We are back with episode 15, and Josh Pickering has joined us again! Listen as Steve & Josh chat about all things engagement, how happiness surveys have helped the team to feel more heard and why the wheel of kudos is a simple way to boost morale and recognise everyday wins. Tune in for some tough, quickfire questions that get Steve & Josh thinking!

00:00 Intro

02:10 National Stats - % of engaged team members in a business

05:05 Focus on getting those 62% to join the engaged 23%

07:29 What can encourage engagement?

09:08 Monthly team happiness survey

11:30 Communication & feeling heard as an employee

12:46 Trying not to take the negative personally

15:39 Sharing business goals & team choosing department ones

17:58 The power of committees 

21:25 Why formal & informal 1-1s are so important 

27:18 Wheel of Kudos & the prize

30:18 Quickfire Questions

37:28 Tip of the week

38:09 Outro by Josh

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Our 14th episode is here! This week Steve chats to Victoria (the voice behind the camera) all about why they started the podcast, the highs and the challenges of working in a family business and how university helped to shape her approach to work & life!

00:00 Intro

02:37 A bit about Victoria, uni life & joining Sussex Beds

07:05 How did uni prepare her for work & why ROI is so important 

10:34 Is working for SB what Victoria expected

12:40 Why they started the podcast and how it was created

16:35 Do you want to be a guest? Let us know!

16:50 Highlights & Challenges of working with Sussex Beds

21:40 How Victoria de-stresses & personal challenges 

27:30 Quickfire Questions from Paula

33:30 Tip of the week

34:23 Outro

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Listen as Steve chats with Lynn & Julie in our 13th episode, get ready for lots of laughs. Find out about their funniest moments working together, how they support each other and the challenges of working on the front line in the family business! Plus, get an insight into selling and what the most important aspect of that is!

00:00 Intro

02:50 What John Pickering was like when he was younger

04:20 When Lynn joined the business

06:47 How different Sussex Beds is now to 35 years ago

07:30 When Julie joined the business & what she did before

11:30 Selling is all about connections

13:00 John & Julie both working in the business

14:15 Challenges of being a family member on the front line

17:20 Best parts of working in a family business

18:40 The story of the wardrobe

21:00 Lynns sister Wendy

22:30 How they both de-stress and relax

24:15 Quickfire Questions

30:42 Tip of the week

31:57 Outro

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It's episode 12, and we have done something a little bit different! Listen as Steve gets interviewed by Matt Southam, host of the Balanced Ambition podcast! Find out more about Steve as he opens up about the rewarding reality of running a growing family business. They talk about navigating financial turmoil and coaching challenges, installing company-wide KPIs and learning how not to micromanage - we find out more why Steve is An Unorthodox CEO!

00:00 Intro

01:00 Growing up above the furniture shop

04:30 Joining the family business full-time

05:00 Restructuring after a rocky period

05:40 How working with a business coach changed everything

07:23 What makes Steve’s leadership style so different

10:44 Performance reviews with his wife

11:00 Allowing people to fail (and why that matters)

13:25 Hiring people better than you

16:15 Building a culture that outlives the founder

21:30 Why Sussex Beds turns away low-quality sales

22:30 The power of real-time data and KPIs

27:20 Becoming visible as a CEO on LinkedIn

28:30 Resilience: “Knock, knock, knock… win”

33:00 Performance reviews around the dinner table

36:00 The struggle to switch off (even on holiday)

39:00 Why amateur theatre helps Steve decompress

41:30 Final advice for new business owners

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In this episode, listen as Sue chats with Steve about her journey and roles throughout her 30 years in the business, how she copes with challenging times and the best parts of working with her family. They explain the donkey story from Matts episode and Sue talks about her escapes from work!

00:00 Intro

02:00 The Early Days & School Life

04:08 How Sue joined the business

09:00 Managing Sleeping Solutions & the challenges

13:26 Becoming a Director & looking after Sales & Buying

15:11 Splitting the role of Sales & Buying 

17:27 The ups, the downs & challenging moments

21:50 How Sue de-stresses, her escapes & emotional times 

26:15 The donkey story

28:45 Quickfire Questions

31:49 Tip of the week

32:30 Outro

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