Nickie has Gott it – but it didn’t come easy

Dec 22 2008 by Graeme King, The Journal

Nickie Gott: CV

1979-1982 Convent of The Scared Heart School, Malta

1983-85 Worked for family business and part time at college

1986-1988 Area sales merchandiser for Cuprinol

1988-1990 Area sales rep for Trader Newspaper series

1990-1991 Area sales and marketing rep for Carlton Cards

1991-1994 ‘Stay at home mum’ and did various part time jobs including working in a café, running party plan business (dried flowers), and telesales

1994-1996 Undertook volunteer fundraising in local village for a Millennium Green project

1996-1999 Various freelance contracts working on project delivery of events for local authorities and regional organisations

1999-2002 Sedgefield Borough Council working on delivery of arts projects and marketing. (part-time role and part-time developing the business idea)

2002-present Founder and managing director, She’s Gott It!

Questionnaire

What car do you drive?

It’s a Renault Megane cabriolet with a hard retractable roof. I hate it. I used to have a soft top, then replaced it. I want to get an Audi convertible next year.

What’s your favourite restaurant?

Kamper Park in Prague. I love the city and this restaurant overlooks the river.

Who or what makes you laugh?

I love comedy generally, but my favourite comedian is Lee Evans – I saw him at the MetroRadio Arena recently. I love Norman Wisdom too – it’s the school yard behaviour, the slapstick, the stupid comedy.

What’s your favourite book?

Anything by Jodi Picoult. I also love Enid Blyton books for the storytelling. In the Winter Festival we run in Edinburgh, we had Santa arrive with 10 reindeer, and then he was telling stories to the children.

What was the last album you bought?

The Script by The Script.

What’s your ideal job, other than your current one?

I have two ideal jobs – a TV presenter and an archaeologist. I love talking, so I think TV would suit me, and I love the history behind things, so being an archaeologist would be great.

If you had a talking parrot, what would you teach it to say?

”Ask your Dad.” I have two teenage children and as soon as I get in the door every day, it’s “Mum, can we do this, Mum, can we do that,” when I just want 10 minutes to sit down, so I would teach the parrot to say what I say.

What’s your greatest fear?

Bats. I have a real fear of them. I once got one stuck in my hair, and we get a lot around our house on summer nights. I don’t like vermin generally – mice, rats, hamsters.

What’s the best business advice you have received?

Never hire anybody after the first interview. I used to do that, and I made some big mistakes. Now I sleep on it, bring them back, and then you always learn something new about them.

What’s the worst business advice you have received?

A lot of people say “Before you go to bed, write a list of all the things you need to do tomorrow”. I disagree, as those things can just prey on your mind more.

What’s your poison?

Chocolate and champagne.

What newspaper do you buy, other than The Journal?

I get the Mail on Sunday, and I read a lot of trade magazines.

How much was your first pay packet, and what was it for?

I worked in a clothes shop in Durham as a Saturday girl when I was 17. It was a pittance, maybe £8 per day? Then I went to a shoe shop which was even worse.

How do you keep fit?

I’ve just started going back to the gym. I used to go quite regularly before this last year. I also have a dog called Snitch, so I walk him.

What’s your most irritating habit?

I talk too much, and I’m a bit of a control freak.

What’s your biggest extravagance?

I have a massive shoe fetish. I’m told Pisceans tend to have a shoe fetish, so that’s my excuse. I have about 120 pairs of shoes and 30 pairs of boots. The higher and shinier, the better.

Which historical or fictional character do you most identify with/admire?

This will sound strange, but when I was little, I always wanted to be Wendy in Peter Pan because she could fly and she did something new and exciting every day.

Which four famous people would you most like to dine with?

I have a crush on Robbie Williams, so definitely him. Richard Branson, because I admire his guts and his ethos. And the other two would be Ant & Dec. I really admire how successful they have been at being themselves. I would like to cook for them all as well.

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who liked to do things well – and who had a lot of passion and enthusiasm for lots of things.