Name: Deborah Barnett
Age: 39
Company: Essential Escapes. We specialise in?luxury spa, fitness and detox holidays worldwide.
Turnover: £3m
First job: Saturday girl at a local jeans shop in Brighton aged 13 (yes, I lied about my age). It was my first experience in sales and I loved it. I had to do everything else though including hoovering and making the tea, which took me away from the sales floor making it harder to reach target. But I got my commission almost every week (and spent it all on jeans!).
Dream job: Diving instructor in Barbados.
Car: Vauxhall Zafira for my children and their dozens of friends.
Economy, business or first class: If you’re offering to pay, I?ll fly first-class, please. Otherwise, it’s economy.
Most extravagant purchase: My house.
Most-played song on your iPod: “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John.
Best business book😕Anyone Can Do It: Building Coffee Republic From Our Kitchen Table?by Sahar and Bobby Hashemi.
Worst business moment: My on-going war with Barclays Merchant Services.
Proudest business moment: Closing our best year ever last year in the midst of an economic crisis.
Your business mentor: My brilliant late father, Bernard Barnett.
Next big thing: I guess there ll come a time when shops don’t exist and everything is bought online. My husband will be delighted.
