An Unorthodox CEO

On this week's episode of An Unorthodox CEO, Steve chats with his friend Colin and original member of Sussex Beds all about what the business was like in the 80's and how its change to now. Plus, they chat about Colin's job in Windows, some contentious quickfire questions and how Steve & Colin work together on the Gangshow!

00:00 Intro
02:20 How Steve & Colin met
04:50 Why Colin ended up working at Sussex Beds
07:10 Colins jobs at Sussex Beds
08:10 What is was like moving from general furnishings to beds
10:20 Funny memories from the opening days
11:47 Opening ‘Little Bexhill’
13:10 How the opening of Haywards Heath changed the business
16:22 Colin became Steves manager
18:50 Hiding in wardrobes…
20:00 The opening of Eastbourne Shop & the sport shop
21:30 Colins jobs in the Window industry
22:50 Watching Sussex Beds evolve & what that was like & why good team is so important
24:10 Stage Managing Gangshow
27:19 Performing in Gangshow & other shows
28:54 Quickfire Questions
36:31 Outro
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On this weeks episode, Steve and Mark chat through his life before Sussex Beds and the jobs that led him into sales, how he has worked his way up with at Sussex Beds starting as a Sales Advisor and his journey to Regional Manager, plus how he de-stresses after work!

Question: Ketchup on Lasagna? Yes or No... Let us know in the comments!

00:00 Intro
01:56 Life before Sussex Beds
04:38 How made his way into Sales
09:53 Starting as a sales advisor with us
14:40 Going from a big to a small business
16:20 Becoming Uckfield Store Manager
18:45 Taking the leap to manage a brand new store
20:37 Becoming a Regional Manager & the kind of manager Mark wanted to be
26:00 80% people management and how that works
27:10 Hardest part of his job
29:44 How Mark has changed over the last 10 years
33:40 Mark & his family
36:20 Hobbies & how he de stresses
45:55 Quickfire questions
54:00 Outro
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In this episode of An Unorthodox CEO Steve chats with Oliver Bowen all about the premium bed world. Oliver has been in the industry for over 20+, listen as they chat about how he got into the industry, the businesses he worked for and what he has learnt along the way.

00:00 Intro
01:50 How Oliver got into beds
05:50 His time at And So To Bed & why the business changed
11:00 Why looking for the ‘why’ is so important
13:10 Olivers role at Feather & Black
14:19 Working out where the brand should sit in the market
18:24 Moving to Hästens - working in the luxury sector
22:30 Olivers job now working with Carpe Diem
23:50 How Carpe Diem design their beds
25:12 How Carpe Diem started
27:15 Biggest challenge of bringing in a premium supplier into the UK
29:30 Your team on the floor make a huge difference
31:30 What has changed most in the bed industry over the last 20 years
35:37 Quickfire Questions
44:30 Outro
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We are back! Its 2026, and season 3 is here! Listen as Steve and Shane chat through why he decided to take the job at Sussex Beds, how he moved through the roles and when he finally found his right seat!

Plus, like cooking steak? Listen for Shane's top tips!

00:00 Intro
01:31 Shanes life before Sussex Beds
04:00 How he ended up at Sussex Beds
05:55 Why did the initial job appeal to him
07:01 Working with Sarah (his fiance)
10:40 Working in sales as a ‘Sleep Consultant’
11:50 Moving on to being a Store Manager
14:31 A move into the office working on the website
18:50 The catalyst of becoming IT Manager
23:30 Benefits of in-house skills
24:17 Working with Matt & Chris in IT
27:28 Learning to train someone
29:30 Quickfire Questions
36:52 Outro

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Its our final episode of 2025! So we thought we would share with you our goals & aspirations for 2026. Listen as Steve and Victoria share their 2025 goals and if they completed them, plus their goals & the office team's goals for 2026. Have you got a goal? You can share with us in the reviews!

00:00 Intro
02:30 Goals & SB Meetings
03:20 Steve's Goals for 2025
03:30 Steves' 1st Goal
06:30 Steves' 2nd Goal
08:02 Steves' 3rd Goal
09:00 What Steve wanted to do as a leader in 2025
11:20 What Steve wanted to spend more time on in 2025
14:30 Steves 3 Personal Goals for 2026
18:25 Steves' 3 Goals as a Leader
22:40 Victoria Goals for 2025
25:20 Victoria's Goals for 2026
28:18 Sarah's Goals
33:23 Grace's Goals
39:25 Paula's Goals
45:15 Matt's Goals
50:39 John's Goals
56:20 Sue's Goals
1:00:56 Lees' Goals
1:08:39 Outro
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