‘We want to keep our integrity and deliver on our promises’
Craig Smith is the Director of Brighouse Windows, a window, door and conservatory company based on Leeds Road, Stump Cross.
WHY DID YOU GET STARTED IN BUSINESS IN THE FIRST PLACE?: The company was started by my Dad in 1985 and was originally just selling glass over the counter in Brighouse town centre. Gradually as people asked for more services, we moved into windows and uPVC. In 2002 Brighouse Windows was officially incorporated as a limited company, and we were based out of Kershaw’s garden centre for 12 years. During this time, I was doing an apprenticeship playing at Halifax Town Football Club, but I transitioned into helping my dad in and around the business, which was where I saw the opportunity to join in and become a bigger part of it. I started having a more active role in 2007, and we relocated to our new headquarters here at Stump Cross where we still are today. Since then we’ve gone from strength to strength.
WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS MOTTO?: We want to keep our integrity as a business and deliver on our promises. When we work with a client, we do what we say, as our reputation and recommendations are the core of our business. Trust is important, particularly when working in a trade as you’re going to be going into people’s houses. For almost everyone their house is their biggest expense, and you’ve got to appreciate that when someone hires you to work on what can be a major project. I’d like to think that we’re at a size now where we can handle any job, while still provide that local, personal customer service orientated approach.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYONE STARTING THEIR OWN BUSINESS?:
I would advise people to visualise where you want to be. Make a five-year plan and stick to it. It’s easy to get frustrated when day-to-day things aren’t going at the speed you want them to but keep that end goal in mind. You can’t afford to get sentimental, so try to be objective and recognise when something’s failing. Don’t over expand, and don’t get complacent.
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU
FACED STARTING YOUR BUSINESS?: When I was younger, I always wanted to be a footballer, so that was a big transition going from that to working in a trade. Once
I’d made that decision and committed, I had a whole new way of thinking. Our industry is always changing, and a lot of people have managed to give it a bad reputation, so our biggest challenge will always be building that trust with customers, so they know we’re here for them. Customers nowadays are more informed and aware of the products than ever, and there’s a huge variety of windows and doors available. We’ve found that we are selling to customers less and less and acting more as consultants to ensure they get the product and look they’ve always wanted.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY
MOST ABOUT BEING SELFEMPLOYED?: I enjoy the flexibility of being able to manage home with work. I like that I can do the school run and still be a Dad that’s there for my kids, while running the business. Being self-employed, there’s the added benefit that my success is in my own hands, and no one else’s.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY
LEAST ABOUT BEING SELFEMPLOYED?:
I would say the thing I enjoy least is also one of the things I enjoy most, it’s a double-edged sword. There’s always the insecurity around the future of the business, no matter how good a position you are in, but because of that it drives me to be the best, provide the best service and source the best products for our customers. I want to keep growing and keep moving forward for our customers. WHICH BUSINESS FIGURE DO YOU MOST ADMIRE AND WHY?: I would say it’s most likely Alan Sugar, because he’s the typical example of the rags to riches story. He went from nothing to complete financial comfort, and it’s something we can all dream of doing one day. WHAT ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUR CAREER ARE YOU
MOST PROUD OF?: I’d say the whole journey is something
I’m proud of. I went from being a young man with dreams of being a footballer to a man in a van to achieving over one million pounds in sales. Achieving that sales figure is amazing, but also the fact that we’ve done it without chasing the money or sacrificing the integrity and ethics that my dad started the company with. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR BUSINESS GOING IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?: I’d like us to continue expanding like we have been doing over the past few years, not overextending and continuing from a position of strength. Naturally I will always want the business to grow, but not if we can’t maintain the current high standards we put on ourselves.
‘Trust is important, particularly when working in a trade as you’re going to be going into people’s houses’