Vicky Golding, Managing Director at The Carriage, talks about the switch from accountancy to bed retail, her admiration for Simon Spinks and rising demand of mattress toppers.
Let’s start with you. Can you share a bit about yourself and your background?
I live and work in a village just outside Ilkley in West Yorkshire. I initially trained as a Chartered Accountant after leaving Leeds University and spent a big part of my working life advising Solicitors on their accounts and how to run their practices! After having my boys (now in their late teens/early 20s) I decided I wanted a change of career and 10 years ago took a leap of faith to leave the world of Accountancy Practice for the world of Bed retail!
What is your current job role and key responsibilities?
I’m joint MD & Owner of The Carriage, a premium bed brand showroom, with my husband William. I pretty much do everything from selling our lovely bed brands, to being responsible for advertising to cleaning the toilet – it’s a very varied brief!
What do you love about your job?
The variety – no two days are the same, and being my own boss. Owning a small business, particularly at the moment, comes with a lot of stress and challenges but having autonomy over decisions and ultimately answering to myself makes it all worth it.
What time is your alarm clock set for and do you have a morning routine?
In my old accountancy career, when the boys were really young, I was always first up and out, I rarely got up any later than 6/ 6.30am as I’d need to be on a train to Leeds and from there travelled all over the country for meetings etc. One massive benefit to owning a business in the village where we live has been the change in gear in terms of the morning routine. I very rarely need to set an alarm and can take my time in the morning to get the house sorted and get to work not feeling rushed and stressed.
Why did you choose to work in the furnishing industry?
It was an opportunity that came along at a point in my life where I was looking for a new challenge – the only regret I have is that I didn’t do it sooner. Selling the beds and mattresses that we do is a privilege. We specialise in mainly higher end, naturally filled, pocket sprung product and it’s a pleasure to sell. I didn’t think it was possible to enjoy work as much as I do and I never imagined that I would be any good at sales, however, I think when you are passionate about a product, selling flows naturally from that and I am very passionate about the product we sell!
Who do you most admire in the industry and why?
Simon Spinks. Harrison Spinks, and particularly the Somnus brand, were a big part of our initial growth after taking over the shop 10 years ago. Simon’s passion for innovation, sustainability and springs has made the company/group what it is today, and I particularly like that he’s more recently pursued his passion for motor sports/cars through The Motorist, providing even more job opportunities in the region. On a personal level, he is down to earth and straight-talking, all qualities that I really respect as well as being a fellow Yorkshire person, what’s not to admire?
Have there been any special moments during your career?
I think coming runner up ‘NBF Small Retailer of the Year’ just 18 months after taking over the shop must be up there. Similarly, being a Finalist in this, our 10th anniversary year, has been pretty special too. We’ve entered twice and been recognised both times which is a massive honour as well as the boost it gives to our profile with customers and within the industry.
What is your favourite item of furniture you own and why?
Our Fama, Opera, sofa that we bought from our friends at John Doe of Diss. It’s bright orange velvet and I absolutely love that it lights up the room and is very much a talking point.
What do you think is trending within the industry at present?
On the bed front I’ve certainly noticed a shift toward mattress toppers in the last year or so. Pillow top mattresses (with a fixed topper on the mattress) that used to give a similar feel had the draw back that they limited the ability for the consumer to turn the mattress which ultimately has a knock on to the longevity and evenness of wear of the mattress. People are now buying a 3-part bed system where they have a top mattress on top of the traditional style mattress on top of a sprung base. You get an amazing feel of comfort and being ‘in’ not ‘on’ the mattress but still the ability to turn the top mattress which gets round the drawbacks of the non-turn pillow tops.
What would you change in the industry?
It’s not what I’d change in the industry, more the susceptibility of the retail sector to economic/political turmoil of which there has been a lot over the past few years. From Brexit to Covid to political upheaval and uncertainty, the retail industry seems to be the first to feel the pain and gets it in spades, but I’m not sure there’s a lot than can be done to change it I’m afraid!
What do you enjoy most outside of work / free time?
Spending time relaxing with friends and family. I very much believe in living life in the present so annual trips to Ibiza with the girls have been a feature of the last few years and are showing little sign of diminishing in the future!
What might someone not know about you?
Up until a few years ago, I had the original Sooty, Soo and Sweep puppets stored in my loft! My Dad used to be Harry Corbett’s Insurance advisor and he used to come to our house to do private shows. At some point he gave us the puppets and then they resided in my loft for many years. They’ve now gone to a new home somewhere in the States I believe.
If you had a different career, what would it be?
I guess I’d have stayed in Accountancy. 20+ years of Accountancy practice has given me a solid financial grounding, which has helped a lot with running the business, so, in a way, it’s still with me but being used in a different way to run my own business not advising others on how to run theirs.
Finally, if you were an item of furniture, what would it be and why?
It has to be a bed. Sleep is so important to general wellbeing. It would be pocket sprung, natural and supportive, the optimum configuration for the best night’s sleep!
Five Fun Qs:
1) If you could hack into any one computer, whose computer would you choose and why?
As I type this now at the start of October and with the prospect of waiting for the Budget till the end of November and the chilling effect that’s had on consumer confidence, purely hypothetically, it has to be Rachael Reeves. I’d release the Budget and get rid of the uncertainty holding consumers back from making decisions -good, bad or indifferent, people just need to know – the state of limbo we are currently in is very destructive for the economy and I wish they’d just get on with it.
2) What fact amazes you every time you think of it?
Nothing! Literally nothing ever surprises or amazes me.
 3) What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?
Agreeing to do this interview!
4) What is the most important object you own and why?
My reading glasses – I have numerous pairs and I usually have at least one pair on top of my head. They make life so much easier, I could not be without them!
5) What did you think was cool when you were young but isn’t cool now?Â
I’ve always loved music; I’d had a record player from an early age but the day I got a Sony Walkman Sports in bright yellow I thought it was the coolest thing ever! It’s still up in the loft and ironically, it’s so old now it’s probably quite cool again.
