Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2011 | Page 141

Island Life - February/March 2011

Mike
rides a
roller
coaster

Mike Reader admits his career in the
family business has been a real roller
coaster ride. He has enjoyed the good
times and endured the not so good.
Now, after more than 40 years, Mike
has put Readers Interiors in the safe
hands of family members while he
pursues his other great interest, that of
music, and has been promoting shows
at the Venue in Ryde, Medina Theatre,
and more recently Shanklin Theatre.
Mike recalls how he first joined his
father in the business, and how he had
to overcome several major setbacks to
ensure its survival after taking charge.
He said: “My father Reg started Readers
(IOW) Ltd in 1947 in Cowes, and
Readers Fancicrafts Ltd in Freshwater
in 1954. Readers (IOW) manufactured
lampshades and tables lamps, and
Fancicrafts manufactured wire products
such as dish drainers and flower pot
holders.
“I worked Saturday mornings and
some holidays in the factory from a very
early age. At 14 I was thinking of my

career to become an architect. But my
father sat me down and talked to me
about the opportunities of the family
business, and the benefits of being self
employed.”
Mike admits he was influenced by
his father, and started in the business
on the shop floor at the age of 15 in
1964, after being persuaded that his
education would be more beneficial
working in the business than staying
on at school - not a view shared by his
mother Rose!
“I worked on the shop floor for just
over a year, and learned the importance
of respect for everyone who worked in
the business. Everyone was important
and we had to work as a complete
team. Over the next seven years I
developed through the offices, learnt
management, and found that my
natural ability was selling. This became
my real forte for the rest of my career,”
he recalls.
In 1971 Mike was stunned when
his father was diagnosed with

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terminal cancer. Within weeks his
father arranged from his bedside
a semi-retirement dinner at the
Holmwood Hotel, Cowes, with senior
members of staff, all the suppliers, and
a director from Woolworths, the prime
customers.
Reg announced his semi-retirement,
so at the age of 22 Mike was officially
made the new managing director of the
Readers Companies. He said: “It was a
very difficult time, coming to terms with
my father's illness, personal emotions
and taking on the job. My father died
some 10 months later. Supported
by every member of staff I started a
journey that I had no idea what I was
taking on. I will never be able to thank
all those members of staff for the
support and friendsh