No man is an island. Giles Fuchs, a self-confessed serial entrepreneur
From Alice in Wonderland office spaces to an iconic island hotel Giles has always brought Pangbournian values to the business world.
Love made me buy Burgh Island although it’s probably the hardest project I’ve ever worked on. It has an incredible tidal island location opposite the small village of Bigbury-on-Sea, South Devon. The spectacular iconic Art Deco hotel has been welcoming the famous, and infamous, since 1929 with the likes of Edward and Mrs Simpson, Agatha Christie, Noel Coward, and Winston Churchill. It was their secret idyll and hideaway.
I bought a majority share of it back in April 2018 when the hotel was running with only 50% occupancy and needed very careful renovation and development everywhere you looked. With operational, management and staff issues I had to start from the ground up to restore it to its glamorous and highly luxurious heyday. Having become friends with the previous owners, Tony and ‘B’ Porter, I also managed to acquire their massive collection of original Art Deco furniture and other period pieces adding to our existing collection, which is one of the largest in the UK. Nowadays we are booked up for months in advance. But with something as unique as this island hotel you never really own it, I always say that you’re only ever the custodian.
“Giles, I hope you’re good with your hands.”
My father’s words were a massive size 12 kick up the rear. I’d failed my A Levels. I was only interested in sport those days, learning jarred with me but I had gained a great deal of other skills at Pangbourne and enjoyed my time there from 1978- 83. Resilience, honesty, integrity and confidence were instilled in me. It’s part of the Pangbourne DNA. It’s in the walls. It’s a reason that I have gone into business with fellow Pangbournians as they share the same values.
I knew that I wanted to become an estate agent. So the next day I knocked on the biggest estate agent chain in Northamptonshire to ask for a job. The three years I spent working for that estate agency taught me everything about business life - how to sell, marketing, systems, and most importantly, how to interact with people and keep them calm. In 1987, at the age of 21 I opened my own firm of estate agents with a friend.
It was a success and other profitable ventures followed including a disaster recovery company. I did say that I was a serial entrepreneur!
In 2010 I joined forces with my sister Niki and launched OSiT (Office Space in Town). Our first office opened the following year in the Euston Tower, London, using leased space. A year later we were able to start buying our own buildings. This was pivotal as it turned us from being a serviced office manager into a property company - and a successful one. We had the freedom to design and fit out our buildings to stand out from the crowd. This included themes from Monopoly to Alice in Wonderland. Our first deal was achieved with hurt money but a big payday enabled us to expand (and buy Burgh Island). Today the business is valued at £200m. Not surprisingly my parents are very pleased with both Niki and me.
Shaking up cocktails
I’m really excited by my new baby which is going to be bigger than anything else I’ve done. A Gunner is a very British refreshingly sparkling non-alcoholic cocktail of ginger beer, ginger ale, Angostura bitters and lime.
It was discovered in 1842 to quench the thirst of the expats in the Far East. It was then introduced to the home nation and has gone on to be served in sports clubhouses, pubs, bars and restaurants ever since. It's now available in cans as the classic Gunner Saint - the long, non-alcoholic drink with a grown-up kick, and we've also recently launched Gunner Sinner.
It’s the Gunner Saint mixed with a shot and a half of dark rum for a little more punch. We are hailing it as the Dark & Stormy of the 21st Century, all the same wonderful natural ingredients with aged dark rum. All you need to do is pour over ice, grab a wedge of lime, swizzle and enjoy, the perfect "sundowner" for an evening on the terrace, or in your favourite place. Keep an eye out for our new range!
Tips for budding Pangbournian entrepreneurs
I loved my Pangbourne days and visit the College on a regular basis to mentor the 6th Form to try and give something back. I’m often asked about tips for success so listed below are what I consider some real essentials for budding entrepreneurs. Although ‘follow your gut instincts’ has long been my personal mantra.
Don’t try to hatch a china egg. Make sure you start with a good idea that’s really worth pursuing. It’s an old family saying that makes sense the more you think about it.
Pick a good business partner. Choose them wisely as they need to complement what you bring to the business. For example, I’m no good on detail but my sister is. All my partners are people I trust - from my family or Old Pangbournians.
Always have total integrity. It’s a trait I’m proud of and if you don’t operate with integrity it could come back to haunt you. As Forbes said,”Success will come and go, integrity is forever.”
Confer and triumph. Keep talking to your partners, family - it makes you sparkle. You may not end up with your original idea but something even better.
