Member Spotlight on Tony Bogusz of Style Home Improvements in Peterborough & Huntingdon
IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH MEMBER ...
Tony Bogusz
When you were a child, what did you aspire to be?
I actually wanted to be a vet. We always had pets, dogs, hamsters etc and I always liked the thought of being able to look after them.
Did you enjoy school?
Honestly, school wasn’t my thing. I got on alright at school but I always preferred working with my dad at weekends and school holidays.
What motivated you to learn your trade?
I remember getting close to the end of my school years and not really knowing which way to go and what to do. The advice from my mum was to get a skill/trade in something as even if I decided to go in a different direction I would always be able to go back to that trade as a backup. As it turned out I loved laying bricks and just continued to add skills from there.
What motivated you to start your own business?
I was in my early 20s when I teamed up with my dad and we were working for a couple of other companies on a self-employed basis. We weren’t overly happy with the way they wanted the jobs doing or their communication with customers so we decided we would set up our own company (Style) and run the projects as we thought they should be run - high end finish with customers kept informed, up to and throughout the project.
Do you wish you had started your business earlier?
In some ways yes, but if I’m honest I needed those early years to lean and improve within the trade.
What are the rewards of being your ‘own Boss’?
I love that term ‘own boss’ - the only difference is I don’t have one boss to impress; I have loads! Every customer becomes your boss in some ways, they set your hours as you try to work around their family/work life, they come up with an idea/job that you have to find a way to achieve, they set a budget you need to try and work to etc... I think the main reward is looking back at projects, happy customers and knowing that you did that.
How did you support yourself financially to start your own business?
It was hard to get started but you just build and improve as you go.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking about starting their own business?
Do it... just don’t expect it to be easy! You’ll have to put the hours in, add plenty of stress and worry to the mix but if it’s what you love to do, and you want to put you mark on every project, then you’ll succeed.
What made you decide to join Safe Local Trades?
Eileen Le Voi! She came out to see me and my dad over 10 years ago and we loved the idea of being on a site where customers could see our work and give feedback but not only that, Eileen was so passionate about having a site full of trades people that customers could trust it just won us over.
How has Safe Local Trades worked for your Business?
Safe Local Trades has been a vital building block for our company over the last 10 years. We have found it helps reassure customers that we are a reputable, trustworthy company and with the help of reviews and photos, customers can decide if we are the company for them before contacting us.
What are the incentives that keep you with Safe Local Trades?
Year after year, Safe Local Trades becomes more known and trusted and we’re happy to be part of that. I also love that Eileen and the SLT team are so involved with the tradespeople, not all trade sites are like that.
See Tony's Safe Local Trades profile at Style Home Improvements
Read other member spotlights:
Chris Rutter of JC Rutter Carpentry & General Maintenance
Quentin Pain of ProofMedia
Pat Barker of Bluebell Blinds
Victor Sacks of VS Associates
Clayton Fisher of Install Fascias & Windows and Doors
Karl Newman of Direct Peak
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