Face To Face

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU...

Where you were born and live, currently…

Born in Braintree, Essex, travelled about a bit in early 20s lived and worked abroad but settled back in my home town - got married etc. Its where family and friends are.

Your education and the subject or activity in which you excelled…

Local comprehensive school - Enjoyed History and Art the most, I could have probably come away with more in the way of certification, let’s just say I enjoyed the ‘social’ side of school more than anything else.

Your favourite activities or interests…

Season ticket holder at Fulham (inherited team from Dad). Also love eating out with friends and family, don’t know whether I qualify as a ‘foodie’ but it’s definitely something I enjoy. I’ve always loved Scooters too although I’ve just sold my 1964 Vespa SS. There’s always got to be some music playing too.

Your biggest regret in life…

I’m not sure that I have any actual regrets. If you don’t make mistakes you can never really learn. There are definitely a few Fulham games I wish I was at…and also a few I wish I hadn’t been!

Someone or something that inspires you…

Anyone who just gets on with it no matter what - you make your own luck.

I like stories about people who have made something out of nothing or in the face of adversity. There’s no achievement in being gifted something.

The temptation you can’t resist…

Cheese and biscuits probably ….I just can’t walk past a Buffet!!

THIS MONTH: Tom Barfield, Self-employed sales consultant, main client Tommy Trinder.

Happily married 23 years to Emma we have three great kids - 2 sons Chris (21) and Dan (20) and daughter Milly (17). A lifetime of experience in the window industry at all levels and all product types (Steel, Aluminium, Timber & Upvc). I’ve sold in customers houses, on building sites and in architects’ offices. Passionate about customer service.

YOUR CAREER...

When and how you joined this industry…

It’s pretty much all I’ve ever done really - left school at 16 but my first job in the window world was not until I was 18 - at a local firm (Crittall windows), if you live in Braintree chances are someone in the family was already working there or had worked there before. I was third generation in my family! I did plenty of other jobs before I was married on construction sites, in factories on the roads even - but always came back to windows and doors.

The job you do…

After selling windows and doors to homeowners, builders and architects etc for a living - I now (for last 18 months) sell a truly amazing bit of window industry software (Framepoint Technology by Tommy Trinder). It’s a fantastic bit of kit that is completely revolutionising the way installers sell to the homeowner. It’s an absolute pleasure to work with the team at Tommy Trinder I think we all know we’re involved in something a bit special; it’s so positive. As with millions of others; working from home was sort of forced upon me because of the lockdown but I’ve really embraced selling online and the whole virtual conference thing, I’ve pretty much hung up the car keys these days. I find that it’s such an efficient way to work.

Your greatest achievement

That’s a tough one - obviously marriage and children are at the top. But from a working point of view there have been so many highs along the way (not without challenges too I’d hasten to add); Look I hope it doesn’t sound too dull but - all roads lead to where you are right now; and I’d have to say I’m the happiest I’ve ever been doing what I’m currently doing - I guess that’s an achievement that’s difficult to beat?

AND YOUR FUTURE...

What you would like to do if you weren’t in this industry…

..Not in the window industry….? Wow, there are other industries??!! Seriously though, I really don’t know ... If I had the time and the money perhaps something a bit more philanthropic I’d like to think? With an emphasis on it being somewhere warm, eating delicious food, getting a new scooter, watching Fulham and spending time with family and friends ;-)

A particular ambition…

From a work point of view - to continue working with the amazing team at Tommy Trinder and playing my part in helping to develop the Framepoint software. It really feels like we’re at the beginning of something huge…. so establishing Framepoint in the market so that it’s what homeowners will expect to experience when they buy new windows and doors. Outside of work? well there are a whole bunch of exciting things that we’d all be able to note down on a bucket list, so all of those really…. and to be happy, content and healthy at the same time.

The way you want to be remembered…

“wow he knew a bit about windows!!!” only joking, I don’t really mind - as long as more often than not it’s with a smile.