What inspired you to create TENUK?
To build a wonderful place to work and redefine what great service to individuals can be. We started with a strong consumer need for improved service - to free up time and reduce stress. We added in the principle that if we provide comprehensive services for thousands of people we could create value and knowledge for the business whilst also having unparalleled consumer loyalty. We currently do almost 2000 jobs a week for our clients - entrepreneurs, professionals, artists, sportspeople - all over the world. Jobs might be mending a boiler to throwing a birthday party or from waiting in for a delivery to organizing a family holiday.
Did you do any market research?
None - it's almost impossible to do strong pre-market testing of a new, big concept like ours.
What differentiates you in the market?
Our company culture of integrity and commitment to the individual member and our radical vision of what personal service can be.
What were the problems you faced when starting up the company?
We boot strapped our way through our first year - setting up the business in a spare room and a hall and living on bread and water - and borrowed computers and faxes. At one point our average staff member had taken a 65% pay cut to be with us. Also having to explain that we were a serious company when we were having supplier meetings in a bedroom of a tiny flat!
How did you get your first client?
Our very first member over heard us discussing our business plans outside a Soho bar and wrote us a cheque there and then. Word of mouth recommendation is by far the most important marketing for us.
Do you have Clients outside the UK?
Some of our clients do live abroad and we can very easily look after them from the UK. They may have been relocated and still have a property in the UK that we help them to look after as well as just help them manage their lifestyles. Our intention was to get the business up and running successfully in the UK and then to take it global. We have had an office in Sydney since March and the recent opening of offices in Germany (Frankfurt and Berlin) is our first step into the European market. Each country will be different and that is where we will use local expertise to ensure that the service is right for the country
What is the best part of your job?
Working with such fabulous people, making a tangible difference to how successfully our members live their lives.
If you were to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
There are too many things to start listing!
What advice would you give someone starting out?
Don't get put off by people who give pessimistic advice to make themselves look clever. Recruit people who are differently better than you are and make sure everyone in the company understand the vision at all times.
