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Today, Helen and I are joined on the show by Anne Timpany, who is an award-winning businesswoman. What is interesting about this discussion is the fact that, whilst Anne is not a property investor or developer, her business provides service to the sector…and in fact, she gives some tips on how we could be more inclusive there!
We had a wide-ranging conversation with so many good points made about business, juggling family life and the key disciplines of marketing and finance, so let’s have a listen in now.
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Resources mentioned
Property Deal Tips & How to Reach me By Telephone
Link to the Podcast feedback survey
Contact Anne Timpany:
Instagram – Anne Timpany and also the greedy couple pages, Linked In, websites: www.annetimpany.com or www.atraliving.co.uk
Today’s must do’s
Subscribe to and review the show in iTunes…and while you are at it please help us to spread the word by telling all your friends too!
Send in your property stories, questions or moans to podcast@thepropertyvoice.net and we will try and feature YOU on the show too!
#PropTech: A guide to how property technology is changing how we live, work and invest – a link to the latest book.
Property Investor Toolkit – here is the book link on amazon.co.uk & amazon.com in case you would like to get yourself a copy to accompany this series
Get talking!
Join in the discussion, either here in the comments section below, or by emailing us at podcast@thepropertyvoice.net
Start a conversation on Twitter with us @PropertyVoiceUK or on our Facebook page
Transcription of the show
Hello, and welcome to another episode of The Property Voice podcast. My name is Richard Brown and as always, it’s a pleasure to have you join me on the show again today.
Today, Helen and I are joined on the show by Anne Timpany, who is an award-winning businesswoman. What is interesting about this discussion is the fact that, whilst Anne is not a property investor or developer, her business provides service to the sector…and in fact, she gives some tips on how we could be more inclusive there!
We had a wide-ranging conversation with so many good points made about business, juggling family life and the key disciplines of marketing and finance, so let’s have a listen in now.
Property Chatter
Discussion summary between Anne, Richard & Helen.
On Tap Plumbers formed in 2009, developed into a mechanical construction company 10 years down the line.
Originally from New Zealand, been in the UK for 15 years after an initial 6 month stay. Started in hospitality, in marketing and sales. Became redundant during the financial crisis, then accompanied her husband in his plumbing business.
Anne’s marketing background was a transferable skill that added value to the plumbing business, as her husband was an on-the-tools plumber. Having a woman at the helm of the company did help to build trust with the customers.
The brand identity made the business look bigger than the business actually was.
Many couples can’t operate in business together, but the reason that Anne’s business relationship works is down to mutual respect and a shared goal as a team.
Anne was confidence in her role and contribution to the business, even though she did have a wobble as the business expanded. She then rediscovered her role in the business as the business structure evolved.
Anne explains that women are often scared of failure, which often holds them back – Anne highlights that you cannot succeed if you don’t fail and more than once! But don’t let that stop you, as this builds resilience.
Successes
Winning awards, although some everyday experiences can be just as big! Becoming a shareholder and director of the business was an initial success. Moving from a smaller domestic to larger commercial plumbing company, required a major change in the business model, which was an initiative that Anne conceived and convinced her husband to take. This gamble or ‘leap of faith’ has worked.
‘Learning Curve’
Undertook a very large project, didn’t foresee some of the issues that arose through rapid growth and cashflow. Scaling up is not always right and best. Learnt from the experience.
Courage and confidence are required and go together. Also, some calculated leap of faith based on research and insights into the market.
Started a business at the same time as becoming pregnant! As were both from other countries, there was a lack of support for the young family. But all of this made Anne and her husband extremely focused on growing the business quickly as once the child arrived, things would change. Became known as the ‘pregnant plumber lady in London’.
Family Life
Couldn’t do it without one another. The flexible hours they could both have really helped. The child-minder is the ‘silent hero’. Shared childcare responsibilities between the parents. Work full-time, when you have the time! Building a business alongside the family with shared responsibilities has worked really well for her.
A home business can provide flexibility for working parents, although in Anne’s case, she wanted to run and own her business and control her own destiny.
Principles & Values
Passionate about business mechanics and building a business. We understand our limitations and surrounded by good advisors. Know how to talk to people and develop relationships. Working as a team. Be open and authentic…really honest!
Only become more self-aware more recently.
Customer service was really important, particularly in the domestic market with homeowners, it is really important. Sometimes, you just have to suck it up with a customer, even if you don’t like them.
Awards
Didn’t start the business to become award winners but realised they had something different about them and so decided to enter into a few awards, both as a business and personally. The awards have propelled Anne into the public eye, providing exposure and profile to the business. Now becoming a judge of awards rather than entering any more.
Tips and Advice to Property Investors
It’s much better when there is transparency in the supply chain…so developer client through the main contractor to the trades. Getting to know the trades can help a developer understand a project from inside out. Changes can lead to additional cost, designs are often not plumber-friendly, which doesn’t always work. Property developers should work closely with every element of the supply chain and bring in the insights in both directions. Be more inclusive.
Advice for people starting out or at an early stage
Don’t try and do everything, seek advice and support, find someone that can help you. As a business owner, the most important thing is to understand the money and so learn this and how it flows. If you don’t understand this, then get someone around you that does.
Contact Anne
Instagram – Anne Timpany and also the greedy couple pages, Linked In, websites: www.annetimpany.com or www.atraliving.co.uk
OK, so that’s all for this week. If you want to talk about anything from today’s show, or just talk property investing more generally, email me or Helen at podcast@thepropertyvoice.net, I would be happy to hear from you! The show notes can be found at our website www.thepropertyvoice.net
All that is left to say, is thank you very much for listening once again this week and until next time on The Property Voice Podcast…it’s ciao-ciao.