Suzie Oulton

Independent Utility Warehouse Advisor at DC4U covering Shropshire

         1. IN A NUTSHELL, WHAT DOES YOUR COMPANY DO?

Looks at your current outgoings on Utilities, bundles them onto on bill, and direct debit, and saves you a shed load of money . . . providing you give me a cup of black coffee.

2. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN YOUR CURRENT JOB?

Three years now and I love it.

3. EXPLAIN A TYPICAL WEEK IN YOUR WORKING LIFE:

Oh my days, it depends, I spend a lot of time face to face with people simplifying their expenses and lives, and drink a huge amount of black coffee. I spend a lot of time in the car, and if you have seen my car – trust me, you wouldn’t miss it!

4. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING YOUR INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW?

Trust. People are disgruntled with utility suppliers and view what I do with suspicion, which is a shame, as it stops them from getting huge savings, this is part of the reason I work heavily using word of mouth referrals. Plus getting across the fact Utility Warehouse is a discount club, it’s not just about electricity and gas prices.

5. AND WHAT ARE THE BIG OPPORTUNITIES?

26 million households in the UK, all need what I do; and currently we have just 2% of the market share, which is mind boggling.

6. HOW DO YOU GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR STAFF?

I work customer facing, and have the full support of the 1000+ staff in London, who provide the customer service and help, once I introduce customers to our discount club.

7. WHAT WAS YOUR LAST MEETING ABOUT, HOW LONG DID IT LAST, AND WAS IT PRODUCTIVE?

Yes, very. Customer confidentiality means I can not say too much, but I saved a single mum which a disabled child, whose first language is Polish, over £800 a year. Normally It takes me about an hour, but with the language barriers we were together for three whilst I found a translator.

8. HOW MANY EMAILS DO YOU GET IN A DAY, AND HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE TO READ THEM?

People know to phone me, or whatsapp me for a quick response, I find email very dry I love speaking to people.  Before I set up my rules and unsubscribing to shops I used to get a few hundred a day, now it’s about 15, and I allocated time in the evening and morning to read them and respond. 

9. DO YOU ANSWER WORK CALLS OR EMAILS AT HOME? WHAT’S THE RIGHT WORK-LIFE BALANCE?

Yes, and no, if you saw my diary you will see I have time in there for my four year old which is swimming and his gymnastics. Then I have a day with family with dementia in Macclesfield, my home town. Due to their needs that routine has to be adhered too, the rest of the time, as long as I go to bed with a smile on my face, I am happy.

10. HOW DO YOU HOPE YOUR COLLEAGUES WOULD DESCRIBE YOU?

Fun, friendly, honest with integrity and a whizz at saving money.

11. BREXIT – WHAT’S YOUR VIEW OF WHAT IT’S ALL GOING TO MEAN?

Pass me a crystal ball! I only worry about what I can control these days, I firmly believe Brexit means higher gas and electricity prices, so please grab a fixed deal NOW, before that happens – approx. 74% of the UK population are on a variable rate price, paying over the odds.

12. HIGHLIGHTS OR LOWLIGHTS OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?

Low lights, the death of customers, I get to spend time a lot of time with lovely families, so I take the passing of them quite hard. Highlights, has to be the opportunity to work for myself, as I have Fibromyalgia so I am pretty much unemployable.

13. PET HATES?

Variable rate tariffs, milk in my coffee, and snow!

14. IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF SOME WISE ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

It’s none of my business what other people think of me, just be true to you, and sleep with your head light on the pillow, and don’t sweat the small stuff

15. HOW DO YOU RELAX AWAY FROM WORK?

I swim in a therapy pool four times a week for my Fibromyalgia, and have time at a local salon for my funky nails, and massages.  I also love rock music.

16. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE SHROPSHIRE BUSINESS COMMUNITY?

It is very supportive, coming from Cheshire, I was worried about how people would react to me, I needn’t have, I love Cheshire, but I prefer Shropshire.

17. TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY WOULDN’T KNOW.

I have pet snakes, a python called Bhuna, and a foster corn-snake called Edgar - that’s surprised a few delivery drivers recently.

18. YOU CAN TAKE ONE BOOK, ONE FILM AND ONE CD ONTO A DESERT ISLAND – WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

Film, easy – Shawshank redemption, never grows old, reminds me about he spirit of humanity, and the plot is fantastic,
CD, would be the relaxation one I have from Malmaison hotels, as I meditate to it, and the book, my journal, as I firmly believe in self reflection and growth.

19. YOUR FIVE DREAM DINNER PARTY GUESTS, DEAD OR ALIVE?

My grandma, as she was good fun, coupled with Marlon Brando for her – she would love that. Then for me, it would be Dynamo the magician for entertainment, Gordon Ramsey for the food, and my cat Gino, well you never said they had to be human. That would tick all my boxes.

20. WHAT WOULD YOU COOK FOR THEM?

Why do you think I invited Gordon, me cook – funny!