1. If you could put one thing in Room 101 what would it be?
Arsenal football club.
2. When did you start working as a packager and what were you doing before that?
I started the business back in September 2006. There were 5 of us to begin with, but then obviously we had to downsize the business when the recession hit... But we’re still here now, which I think is a testament to the company. And there are four of us now, due to our strength and commitment we’re starting to grow again, we’ve got a new lady starting in September too.
B&C: That’s nice, there aren’t enough women in this industry!
No there’s not. We have Amy Smith too, she’s been with me from day one and she’s fantastic with our brokers. I recently gave her a share of the business, I like to reward my staff, I’ve given her a directorship with a five per cent share. She really is very good, if I’m honest, men would rather deal with women than men.
What was I doing before 2006? Well I’d always had an interest in property, but I was actually working as an IT consultant in communications – so I’ve had a complete cross over. As a family we always had property and an interest in money... I almost fell into it really.
B&C: What about the name? How did that come about?
Pink pig loans? By accident really, I was driving home from a meeting in London on the M4 and we were trying out names, and then we came up with Pink Pig Loans – so there I was, on the Blackberry racing up the M4, reserving domain names for Pink Pig Loans!
B&C: What were you driving?
A black Volvo xc90. I never looked back... Oh god, why did I say that? I should have said a Ferrari or something shouldn’t I? I walked right into that one didn’t I?
3. What did you want to be when you were a kid?
Is it bad to say I always wanted to be successful? No? Well I always wanted to be successful; I always had a bite... I’m a keen golfer, even as a kid, back then I would do 36 holes in a day and now I can barely manage 18!
4. What would you be doing now if you weren’t working as a packager?
Oh god? It’s like an interview this? Like I’m applying for a job!
[James Starts yelling to Amy Smith] Smithy what would I be doing now if I wasn’t at Pink Pig Loans?
[Amy’s response is indiscernible]
Hmmm... I think I’d love to be on a beach selling big motor boats, in the south of France selling big luxurious yachts... I think I possibly would do that... I’m sure my good wife and children would enjoy the beach lifestyle!
5. What’s the best and worst thing about your job?
I think seeing the reward at the end, cases are very hard to work in today’s world, lots of effort and time goes into them. Seeing the hard work awarded by a completion, that’s the best thing. And it’s nice to give the client an opportunity that can change their life too, see them invest wisely and be successful. We get a lot of repeat business, those who have invested wisely come back to us.
I’m proud that I can honestly say that 99 per cent of people I do business with I can have a drink with. We’re a very transparent company; we work hard, we’re not a ‘yes’ place, if a deal can’t be done we will explain the reasons, we will of course look at all the possible options, but if it can’t be done we will say so.
And the guys get rewarded too here, there’s Pink Pig’s Big Bingo, which is an incentive; you fill a line to win a prize. Amy just made £10,000 net profit and she’s won a telly! There’s massages, days out, all sorts you can win, it’s a great incentive for the guys and a good point of the business...
The worst thing is not being able to switch off, I’m constantly working – even on the golf course. Coming home on the train last night, I got chatting to a couple who had just got back from five weeks in Thailand. They told me how they switched their phones off the whole time, and I just couldn’t do that – I’m too much of a worrier – I couldn’t leave the business. I think the team looks for support, I couldn’t leave it, I’m always striving to achieve more... that’s the worst thing... and my wife telling me to switch off.
6. What trends have you noticed within the bridging industry over the last 12 months and what do you predict to happen over the next 12?
It’s good to see the funders have an appetite to fund again; they will now digest a deal instead of giving you a straight no. In the last two years previous to this one, getting funding felt like hitting a brick wall, you were getting turned down constantly. Now it’s nice to see cracks appearing in the brick wall... we’re much more positive about our business, we can see the arrow going up again instead of taking a dip.
As for the next 12, gone are the days where we can predict what would happen, fingers crossed there will be no double dip... I’m going to remain positive.
7. Who do you fancy off the telly?
Oh god, oh god...
B&C: Come on, I warned you about this one!
I know, I know, I even asked my wife this. Who can it be? Anybody?
B&C: Anybody.
Oh god, who’s that guy you like Smithy? James shouts over to Amy Smith
Amy: But he’s a guy James...
I know, I know, but he’s married to, what she called? Katy Perry, that’s it, she’s awesome. [Voice goes gooey] She’s brilliant, definitely her.
B&C: Is it her music you like so much?
Yep, that and her... err assets... You won’t print that will you? I trust you.
8. What’s your favourite film and book?
Twin Town, it’s brilliant, very, very funny – it’s got the guy off Notting Hill, Rhys Ifans... great film.
My favourite book is The Crays, it’s brilliant, very, very good.
9. What’s one thing a person would be surprised to learn about you?
I was on blind date in 2001.
B&C: What!!!! Is it on YouTube? Tell me it’s on YouTube?!
Ha! No I don’t think it is. I was one of the doughnuts, contestant number 2. It’s all scripted and you don’t get to meet Cilla, not until the actual filming of it anyway. They give you your lines, they tell you what to say and you’ve got to do it to a 500 person live audience.
B&C: Err... and on prime time national TV.
10. If you could have a super power for one day what would it be and why?
To be invisible, I'd love to go to the Houses of Parliament to see what they actually discuss. I'd go behind the closed doors of all the heads of states and listen! I'm sure it would be a real eye opener! How awesome would that be?...
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