Let's get down to business: Shiuli Davis

SHIULI Davis runs an interior design consultancy from Royal Mansions in Henley. She has lived in the town since 2005 with her husband Philip. They moved from London after he was diagnosed with MS. She also fundraises for HOPE, which supports street children in Kolkata and has been a trustee of the charity for four years.

Describe your business

It’s an inerior design consultancy that covers project management and property development.

How many people does it employ?

I’m a sole trader but tend to buy in services and skillsets as and when needed.

What did you do before you started this business?

After reading environmental sciences at London University in the Eighties, when climate change was less topical than today, I went into advertising and organising conferences around Europe. I then went back to the drawing board to study interior design.

When did you start your business?

1997.

What was your objective in starting your business?

Being independent coupled with a desire to work in design in which I both excelled and enjoyed.

Who influenced you to set up your own business?

My late mother, who had such an innate sense of design and flair in both fashion and interiors. She always encouraged me to follow my dream.

Do you have a mentor or role model?

My lifelong mentor, repeat client and close family friend for almost 50 years is James Caan, the former Dragon’s Den investor, business entrepreneur and philanthropist. His path to success has been phenomenal.

My role model is Maureen Forrest, who founded HOPE Kolkata in 1999 to protect, educate and nurture street children by offering hope for a better future.

What would you do differently if you started again?

Start younger. Think bigger. Realise there are limitations to what you can achieve alone and that you need to invest in talent, knowledge and expertise in order to grow.

How is your business doing compared with last year?

Better. The business is surprisingly robust.

Do you compare on a regular basis?

Monthly.

How do you market your business?

Word of mouth.

What's the best thing about running your business?

I am my own boss and can pick the projects to work on. This matters.

What's the biggest challenge?

Self critiquing, always looking for an investor with a similar vision or collaboration on property development.

Where is your business headed?

1. Design and project managing for high net worth individuals on interior projects in the UK and internationally.

2. Working with investors to convert large vacant commercial space into residential.

3. Collaborating with trusts and foundations, funds and institutions to curate holistic environments for active elderly communities.

4. Building a national care model with cross party support where caregiving becomes an intrinsic part of civic education in the school curriculum as everyone either becomes a caregiver in their family or a care receiver at home or in the community at some point in their lives.

Do you have a five-year plan?

Post Brexit and covid, I prefer to have two-year business plans where I constantly revise goals.

How do you have a work-life balance?

I still strive to have a work-life balance.

Do you set any goals at the start of a new financial year?

The focus of my goals is that I do everything to the best of my ability to ensure my clients are happy.

What's the most valuable thing you've learned?

That I was right to stick to what I enjoyed and what motivated from within, recognising that I am good at it and that constant hard work, honing and refinement do matter and that everyone you meet along the way is a potential client.

What advice would you offer to anybody considering starting a business?

Do it now. Write the business plan today. You are more likely to take risks when you are younger. Do not wait for tomorrow or until you are older or more financially stable, wiser or have retired.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made?

Not starting at a younger age and gearing up faster with the right team in place.

How organised are you?

Once there is a plan for a project with the right team in place I am focused.

What are you most looking forward to?

Stability, peace and a less divisive world.

How are you planning for retirement?

Never.

What’s the secret of your success?

Self belief and having a loyal repeat client business.

What three qualities are important to be successful?

Self belief, integrity and fearlessness in managing change.

How do you dress for work?

Casual and comfortable for everyday work; appropriate attire for business meetings as first meetings always count.

What can’t you be without every day?

Chocolate.

Lunch at your desk or going out?

I rarely go out for lunch.

Do you continue to study?

Wish I could find the time. That said, daily life is a constant learning process.

What do you read?

Books by Indian authors.