80 Years of Michael John Flooring: Mark Lucas, Director
In the second part of a series of conversations with the people behind Michael John Flooring, we speak with Director Mark Lucas about his time with the company, the changes he has seen, and what the 80th anniversary means to him.
What was your very first day like?
It was my first full-time job, so I was slightly overwhelmed by the amount of products on offer and what I was going to need to learn.
How did you end up here — was it planned?
When I left school I wanted to be a chef. I'd applied to join the Army in the catering corps, passed my entrance exam and medicals, and had a start date arranged. But it coincided with going out to pubs, clubs and meeting girls — and at that time, one of the first postings was in Northern Ireland, which wasn't a great place to be in the eighties. So I wrote to the Army to let them know I'd had a change of heart. I never heard anything back, so I presume it was accepted and that I'm not AWOL.
I needed to fund my new social life, so I went to the careers office in the city centre that same day. They mentioned a sales position at Michael Johns. That was at 11.00 — I had an interview arranged for 2.00 the same afternoon. After a three-hour interview I was given the job and started the very next morning.
What was the business like when you first joined?
Everything was manual — no computers, no fax machines, no mobile phones. We kept rolls of carpet in the showroom and sold from stock, cutting off the roll in a showroom packed full of carpet stands and tombolas. A lot of the carpets were heavily patterned. It was an all-male environment — even the manufacturer representatives were male.
What part of the job do you still enjoy most?
Working with clients and advising on the best product for their needs. Supplying something different, and taking on installations that other companies can't do.
What's changed most in flooring since you started?
When I started, we only sold carpets, and people would carpet every room — including bathrooms, with carpet tiles in kitchens. Now we do far more hard flooring: engineered wood, LVT. We also work much more with developers, interior designers and the commercial sector.
What keeps people here for so long?
The company is run as a family business and we have a great team spirit.
Is there a moment or customer you've never forgotten?
After nearly 40 years there are many — some because they've been real characters, some because they've been very demanding. But on the whole most customers are lovely to work with, and that's what makes coming to work a joy.
What are your abiding memories of Michael John Molloy?
Michael — or John, as I called him — was a true gent. Always smartly dressed in a suit, invariably with a trilby or bowler hat. He taught us all great values: "Treat people how you would like to be treated yourself" and "the customer is not always right, but they are always the most important." He would teach us the origins of words and how to pronounce them correctly. Oh, and if you clean a window, make sure you clean right into the corners! 😊 He was highly respected and is sadly missed.
What are you most proud of when you look back?
The way the business has grown and evolved over the last 80 years.
What does the 80th anniversary mean to you?
It's a phenomenal achievement, particularly given how the economy has been in recent years. The whole team should be immensely proud. The goal is to keep growing and celebrate the next milestones — the 90th and the 100th.