As part of our 80th Birthday celebrations, we caught up with some of our longest-serving employees to learn about their experience and how things have changed for them over the years. Retiring this year, Tim Jones is our Area Sales Manager for West Midlands, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Mid Wales.
Can you give an overview of your journey at Marshall-Tufflex?
I started my career with Marshall-Tufflex nearly 36 years ago as a sales representative for the West Midlands, Warwickshire and Worcestershire and haven’t looked back. I have a real passion for sales and since those early days, I have worked in a number of sales focused roles.
I am incredibly proud of what I have achieved during my 36 years of service at Marshall-Tufflex and will miss the company and my colleagues immensely when I ‘hang up my boots’ in June 2022.
Tell us more about your role
I work with our distributor customers to support sales of our products as well as working with consultants, local authorities and electrical contractors to drive demand and ensure our range is optimised to meet their needs.
Sales is never easy or predictable, and while it is a bit of a cliché, it has been a rollercoaster adventure. We’ve had exceptional years and others that were more challenging. My approach throughout has always been to remain positive and maintain strong customer relationships.
How has Marshall-Tufflex changed during your time at the company?
One of the biggest changes is the size and scale of our cable management product range. When I started at Marshall-Tufflex, the catalogue was just a quarter of what it is today. Notably, I remember the introduction of our Sterling range in 1990 which continues to be a popular product to this day.
One thing that has remained consistent throughout my time is the company’s culture: there are so many good people, past and present, that have all contributed to the success of where we are today.
What are your highlights while working for Marshall-Tufflex?
My role is so varied, and no two days are alike. I have worked on some really interesting and varied projects over the years, from which I have so many fond memories. The people I have worked with have really made it special and I would say the family ethos at the company is what keeps me coming back. We all feel valued and have a great rapport with each other, which makes work a fun place to be.
A personal highlight was meeting the company’s founder Harold Cirket when he was on a visit to Hastings. Meeting the man that started it all has formed my outlook for the rest of my time at Marshall-Tufflex.
What do you think is the company’s biggest strength?
We have many strengths that set us apart. We have led the way in incorporating recycled content into our products for many years, and set an industry standard that we encourage others to follow – especially as the demand for more environmentally conscious products continues to rise.
Our products are manufactured right here in the UK, and we have a real focus on continuous improvement – so our customers have solutions which are of exceptional quality. I have mentioned it before, but our people are one of our strongest assets. Marshall-Tufflex has always employed great people who are customer-centric and go the extra mile to deliver.
What do you like to get up to when you’re not working?
Spending time with my lovely wife and two sons keeps me busy even now that they are all grown up – and I am looking forward to seeing even more of them once I retire. I also like to keep active in the gym and by going on walks with my energetic retriever. A lot of my time is also dedicated to coaching a local mens football team, which I really enjoy.
Lastly, if you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?
Top of my list at the moment is Italy – the food, history and sun are unmatched. However, after the last few years without travel, I have come to appreciate what is on our doorstep. So a trip over to Southwest England will do me nicely.
