Name: Howard Moss
Job title: CEO/owner
Company: Astonish Cleaning Products
What was your first job? Well, I’ve actually only ever worked at Astonish – so my first job was right where I still am today, almost 30 years later – older and much wiser!
What’s been your worst job interview? Thankfully, I have never had one (which I realise is pretty lucky!). I’m not sure where I’d even start with one these days.
What was the first music single you bought? Thriller by Michael Jackson – you can’t beat the classics.
How do you describe your job to your friends? It depends on who I’m talking to. Sometimes I keep it short and sweet and just say that I work in the cleaning sector. To others, I say creating new products, bringing how the brand looks to life, keeping processes efficient and people happy.
I usually leave out the ‘boring parts’ like finance and legislation. In all seriousness though, I feel privileged each day to work in a role which feels more like a hobby, in a company with a genuine purpose.
“I feel privileged each day to work in a role which feels more like a hobby”
What is the most rewarding part of your job? It has to be seeing new product launches land on shelf – that will never get old for me.
What makes it truly special is seeing them in the most unexpected and remote parts of the world. I’ll never forget seeing one of our launches in Mongolia recently. It’s those moments that make you realise the true reach and impact of bringing genuinely innovative products to market.
What is the least rewarding part? Handling legislation change, without a doubt. It’s of course essential, but navigating endless regulatory updates and deciphering the fine print is often quite tedious – I’d much rather be getting stuck into the fun stuff.
What is your motto in life? A simple one, but always believe in yourself. It’s kept me focused and motivated throughout multiple challenges and hurdles.
If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? I would love to be able to just pause and have time to stay still for a while – life moves so quickly, so having a moment to just be present in the moment would feel like the ultimate luxury.
Do you have any phobias? Spiders. Even the small ones make me jump.
If you could change one thing in grocery, what would it be? Price wars!
They often strip value out of categories and overshadow genuine product quality, innovation and brand building, which is a real shame. It can sometimes feel like a race to the bottom, where the focus shifts entirely to who can be cheapest, rather than who can deliver the best experience or make the most meaningful difference to consumers.
Our focus will always be on producing the highest-quality products at an affordable price point.
What luxury would you have on a desert island? Sky Sports, without question. I could be stranded for months as long as I had my live football fix!
What animal most reflects your personality? My star sign is Leo and I’d actually agree that a lion is the animal that most embodies my personality. Strong-willed, proud and always believing in themselves and others. If I do say so myself!
What’s your favourite film and why? Goodfellas. It is simply brilliant – the storytelling, the characters, the music. And the fact it’s based on a true story just adds another layer of fascination for me.
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What has been the most embarrassing moment in your life? Probably my first grocery meeting. I had prepped for days, only for it to last two minutes, and end with me standing awkwardly in a Morrisons canteen with the buyer. It wasn’t quite the life-defining pitch moment I’d imagined, but definitely a learning curve!
Which celebrity would you most like to work with and why? Jürgen Klopp. He is such an inspiring, highly charged and inspirational leader. He has the ability to motivate people to achieve things they probably never thought possible, which is a real talent and something that every business could benefit from.
What would your death row meal be? Anything and everything that you can order on a superb Chinese takeaway menu. I’d take a selection of starters and a variety of mains – just keep it all coming.
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