dream
Building a
Anne Ganley is the managing director of Thompson
Building Centres and plumbing merchants TAPS, the
region's largest independent building supplier. She
lives in Sunderland with her two daughters.
What inspired you to start your own business? Our
business was initially started by my father more than 50 years ago
when he saw a gap in the market for a scrap metal operation.
I came into Thompson's straight from school at 15 years old and
when the recession hit in the 70s we realised that we needed to
diversify to survive.
This is when the first Thompson's builders' merchants was set up.
The reason behind launching TAPS came after observing my national
competitors and believing it was a formula we could emulate.
How do you wind down? My business is a joy but also a hobby,
so I wind down by doing work on an evening as I like to get ahead.
I also do things I know really relax me, like the occasional beauty
treatment and reading, everything from business books written by
Stephen R Covey to the Dalai Lama. I also like my garden, although I
have to say that I'm a bit of an enthusiastic amateur.
Who is your greatest inspiration? Gosh, there are so
many people � all very different and from all of walks of life � who
I consider my inspiration, everyone from Nelson Mandela to Frank
Sinatra, who themselves have come through trials and tribulations.
The North East has some amazing entrepreneurs whom I also
admire greatly, particularly Sir Peter Vardy for both his business and
community work. I like to believe that business acumen is also in
the genes so I would have to include my father, Albie, who set up
Thompson's. He really was the first person to inspire me and make me
realise that anything is possible through hard work.
Who/what do you lean on for support? I am supported
by a great team and I make sure that I'm surrounded by the best
professionals for every project.
Over the years I think my team have probably taught me more than
I've taught them! I do sound out ideas with my operations director, my
son Brent, who has become extremely valuable to me.
More recently, I lean on my personal trainer � I've been promising
myself one for 10 years and have finally got round to it so that I can
get fit and disciplined � or I would never leave the office.
What was your greatest escape and what did you
learn from it? Being a bit of a workaholic I decided a few years
ago that the balance wasn't right in my life so I took myself off to a
spa retreat in Thailand.
This not only helped me wind down but gave me the opportunity
to read a lot of books on spirituality, compassion and love. I think this
helped me find my spiritual side and other ways of approaching trials
and tribulations in a compassionate way.
What's your biggest extravagance? I'm not really a high
maintenance person so I don't make massive extravagant purchases,
although I do spend quite a lot of money on flowers!
For me, my biggest extravagance was buying Fossway builders for
in excess of �3m � I certainly wouldn't have seen myself doing that 10
years ago!
I love my house and I'm very fond of interior design so I'm always
buying things for that, which my family say is clutter but I say is
character. I don't really live extravagantly because any extra money
just gets ploughed back into the business.
Thanks to all-female networking group WIN. To find out more, or to
become a member, visit www.womenintothenetwork.co.uk
business profileetc
80 magazine � October, 2009etc

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