Up close and personal with – Malcolm Dyl
GETTING to know – Malcolm Dyl, managing director of Bridlington-based Rawfusion – one of Europe’s leading branded fashion and accessories companies.
What aspects of your job/profession do you enjoy the most?
I really love getting involved with the product right from the beginning of the process to its completion, and seeing the whole thing through. Selling the product then delivering out to the customers and receiving good news on the sell-through is a fantastic feeling.
What key challenges do you anticipate will affect your sector/profession over the next six months?
The global meltdown means that customers will become more selective in terms of products and the quantities they order; everybody will be looking at cost savings and especially looking closely at stocks, as no-one will want money tied up with the economy as it is.
What key skills do you think every entrepreneur should have?
Vision, self-belief and a bit of common sense!
Why do you think Yorkshire is a good place to start up/operate a business?
Yorkshire people are warm and dependable, and that’s a good starting point in businesses – businesses are made up of people, after all.
If you could improve anything in the region what would it be?
Better transport links to and from East Yorkshire would be a great improvement!
Do you think that red tape is hindering business growth in the UK?
It definitely is, and in many different ways. It can be difficult to make decisions sometimes without having to think about the real consequences of the bureaucracy involved, such is its impact these days.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Always look forward, never back – and that the proverbial glass is always half full, not half empty.
And the worst?
“Trust me!”
What barriers have you had to overcome in growing your business/developing your career, and if any, can you explain how you overcame them.
Being in business is constantly a challenge, and you have to react differently in each circumstance. A particularly difficult one is achieving the right balance between the customer and the company; the fashion industry is rightly known for being very fickle, and our customers need to see a certain amount of sell-through per square foot. If that doesn’t happen then they look to replace products with stronger brands, so we need to be constantly communicating on new initiatives.
What was your first job and what did you spend your first wage packet on?
I was an apprentice engineer, and I hated it. When I got my wage packet I gave most of it to my Mum and then spent the rest on clothes and parties.
If you could choose to start your career over again would you do anything different and if so what?
Of course there are things I would change, but in the main I don’t think I’d do much differently. I’ve had a very varied life, I did lots of travelling when I was younger, I started my own business abroad when I was 20, and I’ve been very fortunate in enjoying what I’ve achieved.
