Page 11 - BOSS Today Issue 30

MIKE JAMES:

OUTSTANDING

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

ike James left school admitting that “Holding Take a pride he gives this advice: “Take a
Mat 16 to join the Green it together was my main pride in the industry: don’t go
Shield Trading Company, but in objective! People have been in the around apologising for the fact
1978 joined the office products amazingly kind, I have literally that you’re involved in office
industry with Dymo, who were had hundreds of congratulatory industry…. supplies! Without us, nothing
subsequently taken over by emails from all around the would happen: we would have
Esselte. He then spent a ‘difficult’ world, some from people I Without us, no businesses, no education,
four years in a partnership with worked with many years ago. It the King James Bible would
Amberley Office Supplies, but in makes you feel very humble.” nothing would never have been written, we
1991 he joined Roltech (where His career has certainly wouldn’t have gone to the
he later became Sales Director), seen him work with – and be happen: we moon… We are the basis of
who were of course also later influenced by – many industry would have everything.”
taken over by Esselte. Finally greats: “I’ve been really lucky to James is also keen to
leaving Esselte in 2008, James be mentored and inspired by so no businesses, further the future of the whole
started Dundale Associates, his many people. Jonathan Straker industry: “I love this industry.
sales and marketing support was one of my industry heroes: no I’m absolutely passionate
business. throughout my career he about The Worshipful
Despite this long and varied always took an interest in me. education… Company of Stationers, and
career, James admits to being There was also Stanley Vaughan, my mission now is to work
very surprised to have won the who kept the Old Friends We are the with them to try and up
Award: “It’s quite funny: you are going, and I learned a lot from the profile of the industry.
sitting there listening to the Nigel Gunn, even though he’s basis of I’m also trying to help the
description of the winner, and a lot younger than me! When I everything.” independent sector to try and
you think ‘Oh, he sounds like was made redundant, people adapt to what’s happening in
quite a nice guy’, and suddenly like Peter Duncan, Geoff Betts, these changing times. I’ve also
they mention 1952 and Kentish Eileen Ward, Nick Afriat, Sammy started to move into some
Town, and you think ‘There can’t Bartley and Tina Russell all very basic sales training for
be many people in this room rallied around to help me set clients, going back to some of
who were born in 1952, and up my business. I treasure their but was just an amazing the old maxims that people
certainly not in Kentish Town. friendship: without their help, I success”. tend to forget, like ‘People
Oh, It’s me!’ That was when the wouldn’t be where I am today.” Believing that anyone who buy from people first’ and ‘Sell
penny dropped.” Indeed, James believes that has received so much should features and benefits’. I’m also
From seeing a picture of making such good friends has also give something back, passionate about The Society
himself and his father being put been one of the highlights of his his current activities include of Old Friends: if I can instill
up on the screen, to his wife and career: another was the mentoring Academy students, some of that passion in other
daughters appearing on the Dymo Labelwriter campaign a “To make sure that the people people to help secure the
stage, James found the whole dozen years ago, “which was a we attract to the industry we future, I think I would have
experience very emotional, huge risk for the corporation, keep in the industry”, to whom done a pretty good job.”

November/December 2015 | BOSS TODAY 11

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