25 years in business, what an achievement! To celebrate we’ve caught up with Founder Mark to reminisce over the past quarter century, from favourite projects and pivotal moments to the people who made it happen, and of course, those eye-catching vans!
Q – Mark, what were you doing before you set up Mark Smith Glazing 25 years ago?
A – I was teaching Glazing apprentices at Edinburgh’s Telford College. I later went part-time to allow me to set up the business.
Q – What have some of your favourite projects been over the past 25 years?
A – We’ve been fortunate to work on some incredible projects. Some of my personal favourites include The Sheraton Hotel, Cala Homes at Boroughmuir, Monsoon, The Chez Roux Restaurant at Andy Murray’s Cromlix Hotel, Multrees walk and An Crùbh on Skye.
Q – Who has been key to making the business successful over 25 years?
A – Any business is only as good as its people and there are two main groups of people who I really credit with our success. The first is our staff, who consistently deliver high quality workmanship, and the second is our customers, who by sharing positive feedback have generated incredible word of mouth business for us. We are so grateful to both.
Q – Can you think of the most pivotal moments in the company’s history?
A – For the first 10 years we established the company in Bonnyrigg, this was key to creating a foothold in the local community. In 2005 we built on this by moving to Portobello, which gave us the chance to expand, build our presence and really create opportunities in the local area.
Q – Looking back, what are some of the best decisions you’ve made in the business?
A – Choosing such eye-catching van wraps and graphics! Our iconic fleet has been the best billboard for us over the years. Also our Portobello High Street unit and our fully equipped warehouse at Portobello Industrial Estate have really helped us to maximise the number of places where people can see and get to know about us.
Q – We’re currently in uncharted territory with the Covid-19 pandemic, what will business look like for Mark Smith Glazing when you are able to re-open?
A – Health and Safety has always been at the forefront of our business and this is evidenced by our accreditations. Our commitment to this remains as strong as ever and we will continue to follow Government advice to protect the safety of our team, clients and members of the public.
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