Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2015 | Page 29

INTERVIEW

“There’s more potential
on the mainland, but our
main concern will always
be keeping our Island
customers happy”

the business.
She admits they had to endure negative
comments from people, but says that
only served to spur them on. “If someone
says ‘you can’t do that’ it just makes me
more determined to do it.
“Despite what people thought, we didn’t
just inherit the business - we had to remortgage and paid a good amount for
the shareholding but we will always be
grateful that Steve’s parents gave us that
opportunity”.
Of course, it meant even more hard
work: whilst Steve and Caroline’s friends
would be enjoying Cowes week or
frolicking on the beach, they were in the
office seven days a week.
2002 also saw the birth of their son
Brandon – and not only did Caroline work
more or less right up to the birth, but she
also took her newborn son into the office
so that she could keep on top of things,

literally a few days after he was born.
“Everything that could have happened
at that time to make it more difficult, did”
she says. “People left and all I had were
agency girls and a new born baby in the
office, trying to answer the phone and
dealing with drivers until I got people I
could rely on.
“When I look back I regret the time I
could have spent with Brandon, but you
do always have to sacrifice something,
that’s just the way life is”.
Out of that tough experience, Caroline
and Steve managed to build a good
working team – which these days stands
at 72 members of staff, 24 vans including
five on the mainland.
Brandon is now doing well at school
in Lymington and Caroline says she’s
pleased he’s able to enjoy th HYX