Ben Grace, marketing director at Bulldog Natural Grooming, on Durbar plate, Point Break and James Corden


What was your first-ever job? Working for The Gap store in Bromley as "head of deliveries" - thinly veiled title for stockroom boy.

You've got 25 words to describe your career to date. A varied array of fun and games from stockroom boy to marketing director via British Steel and one or two integrated agencies.

How do you describe your job to your mates? They're sick of hearing about it now. But when I first started at Bulldog I used to describe it as the only job I've ever had that I genuinely love getting up for in the mornings.

What is the worst job you've ever had? British Steel. There's only so much anyone can do to market metal. But I did learn about HPS200 and Durbar plate.

If you could change one thing in grocery what would it be? Big companies taking a cookie-cutter approach to launches and turning categories into boring, homogenised selections of identical products.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? Taking on big companies and bringing something new to a category.

What is the least rewarding part? Competitor analysis. It really is very boring when your competitors are all the same in their approach.

If you didn't work in grocery where would you work? I'd definitely work for myself, either as a graphic designer or a carpenter.

What's your best interview tip? Always make sure your interviewer has had more to drink than you. The Bulldog founders were all over the place by the time we'd shaken hands and gone our separate ways.

What was your worst job interview? An interview for a small ad agency for my student placement. I got half way through an answer and had to be reminded of the question. We live and learn.

If you were allowed one dream perk what would it be? Deep tissue sports massage every morning.

What is your motto in life? Never doubt the power of a small group of people to change the world. That's about the only way it has ever happened in the past.

What do you like to do outside work? Chill my boots with my lovely wife.

What's your favourite movie? Point Break. I shouldn't have to explain, it's there for all to see.

Which celebrity would you pick to join your staff? James Corden. Like the Bulldog, he may not be nature's prettiest beast but he's very funny, charismatic and I think he'd have some great ideas.

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