Steve Plarre, CEO, Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, answers our quickfire questions…1. What’s the first thing you check online in the morning?
The weather! The biggest influencing factor on our sales (other than our own quality and service) is the weather. If it’s cold, sales will be up. If it’s hot, sales will be down. We’ve studied this and for every one degree colder than the forecast, we can expect (on average) a one percent growth in sales. So I like to see the forecast.
2. What was the last movie you watched?
Avengers, The Age of Ultron with Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson and others (I rarely get to watch a movie with a three year old and five month old at home, so I was lucky enough to get this on a recent flight). Good, solid, fun action movie. Plenty of funny moments. Steve’s movie score: 4/5.
3. Why do you get out of bed in the morning?
Firstly, to give my daughters a cuddle. Secondly, it sounds corny but I seriously LOVE what I do. I get to work with my family and we sell products that make people genuinely happy – it’s a great feeling.
4. What’s been your best idea this year?
Nutella Donuts. Yes…we started them well before they became famous.
5. What does your LinkedIn profile say about you?
That I don’t update it enough 😉 Unlike most people on LinkedIn, my employment history has been entirely with one company. In all honesty it should really start in 1980 when I started as an eight year old cleaner…