An Interview With Pete Bird

As Pete Bird Property Maintenance rebrands to Pete Bird Kitchens & Bathrooms, to mark a new exciting era for the company, we interview the man himself to find out just what has made the business so successful.

Let’s start with the most obvious question of all – why the name change?

We’ve changed the name simply to reflect more of the work that people ask for. While we can still help customers with all sorts of home improvement jobs, kitchens and bathrooms is and will probably remain our core work, so it seemed to make sense to be more open about that. We’ve also got some new developments that we’re working on that will make this change even more meaningful. But I can’t tell you about that just yet.

What made you start your own business?

When I started in the building trade I was working for a national firm, and I learnt a huge amount from this. But after a few years I became fed up of working for a company that treated their customers very badly. It didn’t sit well with me, and I knew I could do better. So I decided to start up a business of my own where I could control the customer service levels. One of our top priorities now is to provide excellent services to the local Peterborough people. It genuinely matters to me that we do that.

What first made you want to work in the building trade?

During work experience in my last year of school, I got a position in a furniture making company, and they let me carry out small tasks such as building bookcases or wardrobes. Straight away I realised, even at that early age, that I was destined to work in construction in some way. And here I am all those years later!

What do you love most about your job?

My favourite part of the job is seeing clients’ faces at the end of a project. It doesn’t matter how big or small the job was, their reaction is what makes us tick. We know we’ve done it right when we see their expression. The staff, and myself included, all absolutely love our work – every single part of it. We’re very lucky to be doing a job that we enjoy so much.

What do you find the most challenging?

The most challenging part is pulling together large renovation projects, as they have many moving parts. We always project manage the whole way through, but before any sizeable job begins, there are normally many moving parts to organise. It’s not always easy, but we do love it when it all starts coming together, and the reward every time is seeing the positive reviews or happy faces of our clients.

What do you think makes your business different?

I have made sure we have a very clear roadmap of our vision, our mission and the objectives. We are honest, reliable, have high standards, and we inspire. Our business is built from the ground up on a solid base of these 4 important values, and this is not an accident. I wanted to make sure we started with these values, and nothing has changed even as we’re seeing our massive growth.

If you had one piece of advice for anyone looking for a new kitchen or bathroom, what would it be?

The best advice I could offer is to make sure you know all the available options, then, when you are ready to proceed, you take one final look at the alternatives. We will never rush anyone into a project and we always allow them to take time deciding. But once the job is started, it’s too late then to change your mind, so take your time upfront. Of course, we will offer all the help we can to make the decision process as easy as possible.

What are your future plans for the business?

The very near future sees us taking a massive leap into something we have never done before. More will be revealed in the coming months, but I’m really excited. For now, we aim to continue to provide excellent customer service and we must remain a humble family business.

I run this business with my wife, and we work together to stay grounded with our core values always being at the heart of everything we do. This means keeping things small but mighty, on a track to slow but sure success. We never want to sacrifice our high standards of customer service.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

Anything with my wife and kids (they are the driver behind all my decisions).

If you’re looking for a new kitchen or bathroom, or any home improvement work, then please request a quote from Pete Bird Kitchens & Bathrooms. We can’t wait to help.