A Southern Lad Now Settled Up North…

About Alan @ Customology

Hi… my name is Alan and this is my business – Customology.

A Southerner by birth, I moved ‘Up North’ in 2001 and now live in Todmorden on the West Yorkshire / Lancashire border. Having lived in many towns and cities across the UK, it’s undoubtedly one of the best places I have ever lived.

It was my career in retail that brought me up to this beautiful part of the country and until 2007 I was a senior manager at the warehouse club Costco in Leeds, with a multi-million pounds turnover and 200 employees.

Background

My 13+ years with the company included managing all areas of the business (including some run as separate P & L departments); the opening of two new locations from scratch; tutoring the in-house management training scheme; and a short term secondment to the Head Office.

It was a great experience and I mostly loved it, but in the end I felt increasingly unchallenged and unfulfilled in my work. (And yes, I’m well aware I may have been suffering from a minor mid-life crisis!)

The Journey

When I first left my job I wasn’t at all sure what I was going to do!

The decision was made at that time because my partner had an opportunity of promotion in her career, but to do so she had to work away from home all week. My shift patterns and children of 12 and 6 meant something had to give, and it was a leap I was happy to make.

I considered property investment and renovation because it was something I was interested in and had successfully tackled a few mid-sized projects around our home. With the crash in the economy the following year, I felt fortunate it was something I didn’t pursue at that time.

I started looking to the internet and the possibilities of setting up an online business. In doing so I began to teach myself to build websites and learned as much as I could about online marketing. It’s a never ending pursuit because things are evolving and moving on ALL the time.

Going out, meeting and networking with other business owners it made me realise what I really wanted to do – and what I could do – was to help them to better market their business online.

And so at the end of 2010 the first incarnation of my business was born when I created my first website for a local Deli.

Customology as it is today is not just about websites and online marketing – and to be honest it never was. It’s about any online, offline, or possibly even internal strategies that can help a business to get more customers and to grow and prosper.

I think the biggest difference between Customology and other marketing consultancies is my many years experience in business – and an understanding that everything you invest money or time in is expected to bring real and measurable results.

Biggest Strengths

Knowledge, experience, attention to detail, persistence, integrity, resourcefulness…

“There’s ALWAYS a way” – and if I don’t know what it is, I know where to find it 🙂

When I’m not at work

Time with the family of course, although my son is now studying at University – where did that time go!

I like watching and following a lot of sports, but cricket is my favourite.

Cycling – give me a wide berth as I’m puffing my way up the Yorkshire Hills

Golf – give me a wide berth as I’m teeing off at the first hole

Music – particularly anything from the late 70’s until current day. Always like to test myself against Popmaster on Radio 2 if I’m listening in the car. Anything from 5 to 35 if you’re wondering…

View From Customology Office

Coffee break time at my office in Tod!

Traditional send off on last ever day at ‘work’ – they loved me really…

GLBO Version 1

GLBO Version 2

After cycling 465 miles up the West Coast of Ireland – just off for a Guinness

Just ‘how’ did he get taller than me?