Adam Clark, Sales Director, went straight in at the deep end (pun intended) when he joined in March 2012, and says he has been living the dream ever since…
WHAT HAS CHANGED IN YOUR EIGHT YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY?
I’ve seen a quite a lot of change in a short time, but the one thing that stands out for me is the rise of automation and connectivity. There are a lot of great developments going on in the wet leisure industry right now, and at Golden Coast we’re working hard on a fantastic new product that, put simply, will revolutionise the service element of our industry. I can’t tell you any more at the moment but watch out for an exciting new innovation from #TeamGC in 2020.
WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST DAY TO DAY CHALLENGES?
None really, apart from there not being enough hours in the day. I have a great team and I love my job. We work in an ever-changing industry, and it’s important to adapt, so you could see that as a challenge. But I love it because you always have the opportunity to find new ways of doing things.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING YOUR CUSTOMERS?
Being environmentally aware is key. Golden Coast is a responsible company, and our team is working hard to promote our green credentials. In keeping with customer demand, we are also sourcing and developing the latest technologies, while continually ensuring that these are applied, installed and operated correctly. Golden Coast can provide education and training on new products so that ultimately our customers can deliver solutions to their end user clients on site. We do bespoke training days, open training days and factory visits to familiarise clients and help them evolve with the times. It’s all about keeping pace with the advances in technology.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE POOL MARKET EVOLVING SHORT AND LONG TERM?
The need for energy efficiency and eco-friendly solutions will continue to play a strong role in our industry. I do have to wonder what effect this will have on the pool market considering the extensive use of plastic-based products, and it will be interesting to see if these pressures lead to the development of alternative materials.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PIECE OF WORK ADVICE?
Something I read once stood out to me: ‘Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard’. Focus on what you’re good at and get better at that particular thing. Diversity isn’t always good.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU WISH YOU HAD HEARD WHEN YOU WERE 21?
Accept who you are and what you are, and above all else be comfortable in who you are. In addition to this it would be to keep reading, keep expanding your mind, keep learning and keep improving yourself.
WHAT DO YOU LISTEN TO ON YOUR JOURNEY TO AND FROM WORK?
In the morning I listen to a motivational gym playlist. It’s all about having a positive attitude and the importance of thinking differently. In the evening, it’s either acoustic music or my guilty pleasure, which is boybands. I love Westlife, Take That, N*Sync, Backstreet Boys and Boyzone.
WHICH THREE SPECIAL GUESTS WOULD YOU INVITE TO YOUR DREAM DINNER PARTY?
David Beckham — I’d love to meet him. I think it’s incredible how he’s built a brand out of himself.
Michelle Keegan — I enjoy a challenge and I’d love to try and make her laugh.
David Attenborough — The man is a legend. I find his voice great to listen to, but I bet he has some amazing stories that don’t make the television.
HOW DO YOU SEND YOUR TIME OUT OF WORK?
I go to the gym quite a lot, in the mornings and at lunch, and the evenings are very much family time. I also train my town’s under 10s football team, and I’ve just joined a CrossFit gym.
WHAT IS YOUR CLAIM TO FAME?
When I was 13, I was on the Gladiators spin-off junior show Train 2 Win on ITV. I was part of a team, but despite winning our heat, we unfortunately just missed out on a semi-final spot by a couple of seconds. I’ve still got the DVD of it.
