October 2011 - Royal Automobile Club

words : sarah walmsley
Big Cheese
Marathon running philanthropist Trevor Pickett with words from on business high.
Trevor Pickett owns Pickett, the
luxury English leather goods
company. After leaving school
at 16 he was employed at a
leather shop in the Burlington
Arcade: ‘I sat on the shop floor
while I waited for the interview,
but when it got busy I started
serving customers. I sold a
crocodile wallet for £125.00 and
got the job.’ Two years later he
became manager, then in 1988
Trevor bought the shop. He has
since built Pickett into a
thriving business.
Who do you most admire in
business?
Caprice Holdings. Its consistency
of service is amazing. When you
go to one of their restaurants you
feel like you have arrived home.
What is your biggest unfulfilled
ambition?
I can shoot quite well, hit a golf
ball quite straight, have run a few
marathons and tried (very badly)
to do point-to-point. So I suppose
to become a better sportsman is
an ambition yet to be fulfilled.
What gives you greatest
satisfaction?
That everything in the shop
(unless it’s obviously foreign like
our kilim slippers) is handmade in
England. We work with people
from all over the country, I can
walk around the shop and think
‘That was made by Des, or Doug
made that’. We put a lot of energy
into what we make. I assume the
things we have will last forever.
What gives you cause for
optimism?
I am keen on the arts. I do like
going to see new art or culture.
Even if I don’t like it, it’s a valuable
experience, as it allows me to
stretch my mind and will help me
understand something I see later
that I do like. I find things that are
new and creative optimistic.
What single piece of advice
would you give someone starting
a career today?
I am very lucky. I have loved what
I have done so far. I would really
push people to do something they
really love. I think people put far
too much emphasis on money. I
have seen far too many people
who strive only to earn money,
then be miserable. I think if you
really love what you do there is a
freshness about you that brings
things your way that money
certainly doesn’t.
What is the most important
quality needed by a leader?
Certainly as an employer you
Club Business
should be there for your people.
When you have your down times
they will stand by you. It has
always worked for me.
What is your most treasured
place or thing to do in the club?
It’s the swimming pool. I used to
swim everyday. I promise to start
again. I think it’s the most
incredible place.
What will you do in your next
life?
A philanthropic beach bum. I’d
like to be free spirited, on a plane
to Ibiza, serving Pina Coladas at
the Jockey Club and then move on
to the next exciting place. I kind of
missed that gap year. I’d also like
to do some good work. When I
told my mother I was doing
charity work for the Royal
Academy, she said it didn’t count. I
think probably I agree with her, so
in my round the world trip I’d like
to do something worthy at the
same time.
What is your London Secret?
The John Soane Museum. If you
go on certain Tuesday evenings
you can take a tour by candlelight.
It’s rather beautiful and quite a
nice place to go to.
What is your favourite shop?
That’s so difficult. Definitely my
own shop! (he laughs) I think
there are less interesting shops
now than there were. I think you
should go to the City Lit website
and shop for a course. Feed your
mind. Shop for an evening class.
October 2011 | Issue 136 | 25